Released June 19, 2012 Genre Television soundtrack Label Varèse Sarabande | Recorded 2011 Length 2:23 | |
Writer(s) Ramin Djawadi, George R. R. Martin | ||
"The Rains of Castamere", is a song in A Song of Ice and Fire and of the television series adaptation Game of Thrones. It plays multiple times in the show and was composed by Ramin Djawadi in 2011, after series creator David Benioff and D. B. Weiss approached him requesting the song to be made. The lyrics are provided by George R. R. Martin from the original novel, with Djawadi writing the tune.
Contents
History
The season 2 soundtrack contains a rendition of the song "The Rains of Castamere" by the indie rock band The National, sung by their vocalist Matt Berninger. On the published track list, the title is spelled "The Rains of Castomere" rather than "Castamere" as in the novels. The spelling is corrected on the printed listing on the liner notes that come with the disc. It was played over the end credits of the ninth episode, "Blackwater".
In the series, the song was first heard when Tyrion Lannister whistled a small part in the first episode of the second season. An instrumental version can be heard during Tyrion's speech right after King Joffrey abandons the battlefield in the same episode. In season 3, an instrumental version of "The Rains of Castamere" plays over the end credits in episode 7, "The Bear and the Maiden Fair". In episode 9 of season 3, an instrumental version of "The Rains of Castamere" is played by the musicians at the Tully-Frey wedding. In episode 2 of season 4 of Game of Thrones ("The Lion and the Rose"), Icelandic band Sigur Rós makes a cameo appearance as musicians performing their rendition of "The Rains of Castamere" at the wedding of Joffrey and Margaery. Joffrey stops them midway by throwing coins at them. Their version also plays over the closing credits of this episode.
The song's lyrics are taken from the A Song of Ice and Fire novels, in which "The Rains of Castamere" is sung or mentioned several times. It remembers Tywin Lannister's victory over his rebellious vassals Reyne ("the Reynes of Castamere") and Tarbeck, about 40 years before the events of the novels. The stanza of the song that is reproduced in the novels and adapted for the series tells of the vassals' defiance – "And who are you, the proud lord said / That I must bow so low?" – and the subsequent obliteration of their houses: "But now the rains weep o'er his hall / With no one there to hear." Tywin eliminated the Reynes by sealing them in Castamere and diverting a river, drowning all surviving members of the House, thus bringing another meaning to Reynes.
Source of the Song
There is a reason that Tywin Lannister never laughs, and it is his father Tytos Lannister, also known as “The Laughing Lion.” House Lannister was not always the powerful faction it is at the time of the show “Game of Thrones,” Which takes place around the year 297 AC (After Conquest- In reference to the conquest of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, by Aegon Targaryen). Tywin’s father, Tytos, ruled house Lannister from 244 to 267 AC. He was considered a very cheerful and generous man, but a weak ruler. His vassals saw this weakness, most notably House Reyne and House Tarbeck who racked up considerable debt to the house without any thought to paying it. With previous skirmishes and conflict in the past, this antagonistic relationship climaxed in the year 261 AC when Tywin Lannister, Tytos’ eldest son demanded that the leaders of Houses Tarbeck and Reyne answer for their crimes. Instead the two houses rose in rebellion against the Lannisters. Immediately Tywin, only 19 years old, summoned the banners of House Lannister and rode against House Tarbeck with a force of 3,500 men including 500 armored knights.
Lord Walden Tarbeck, leader of house Tarbeck, foolishly faced Tywin in the open field before he had summoned his full strength and underestimating the inexperienced Tywin. Tywin’s forces crushed Lord Walden’s in a short battle, Lord Walden and two of his sons being captured. Rather than gaining a hefty ransom for his captives, Tywin beheaded all three, along with every other captive that wore the crest of House Tarbeck.
Lady Ellyn Tarbeck then closed the gates as Tywin’s force approached, sending word to her brothers at House Castamere. However, Tywin immediately stormed the walls of Tarbeck Hall, smashing the main gate, while the other two were opened from the inside. The battle was over very quickly. All Tarbecks in the castle, including Lady Ellyn were put to the sword, the only rumored survivor being a small child of three, Lady Ellyn’s son Rohanne.
Lady Ellyn’s brother Lord Roger Reyne, the head of House Reyne arrived at the castle just in time to see the flames. His force, being rushed together, was only about 2,000 men including around 200 knights. Lord Roger decided to strike quickly and surprise Lord Tywin’s forces, attacking before the Lannisters had formed up. But his charge was not enough and Lord Roger retreated, losing around half his men and being injured by a crossbow bolt in the process. The injury Lord Reyne sustained was serious enough so that he had to be carried back to Castamere.
Many of House Lannister’s liege lords had come to bolster Lord Tywin’s army, the example of Tarbeck Hall still fresh in their memory.
Lord Roger was injured, so command of House Reyne fell to his more cunning brother Ser Reynard Reyne. Ser Reynard faced superior numbers and knew he could not defend the walls of Castamere. However, the castle was situated upon a mine with deep burrowed shafts. It is here that Ser Reynard retreated with his entire house, realizing he could defend against superior numbers in the cramped tunnels. Ser Reynard’s attempts to bargain with Tywin fell upon deaf ears.
Tywin quickly sealed the entrance to the mine, trapping the 300 men, women, and children inside. Then he had his men build a Dam on a nearby stream, diverting the waters to seep into the sealed mine of Castamere. Supposedly only faint cries were heard coming through the sealed walls, but nothing else.
Thus, the inspiration of for the song, “and now the rains weep o’er his halls, with not a soul to hear.”
Credits and personnel
Personnel adapted from the album liner notes.