#The Ride of The Witcher

[ladycibia]

it howls for theeeee

[tielmamon]

im just here thinking what scene are they gonna have Jaskier sing this banger in. In a tavern with the people stomping and clapping, going fucking wild for him??? Are geralt and the others there to witness this???

will Yen/Ciri just turn to Geralt mid performance and whisper “Oh, he’s good.” and he’ll just smirk and turn back to Jaskier absolutely killing it and proudly say “I know.”????

I need these questions answered immediately

[flootzavut]

After recent developments, I have improved this meme.

[spoonietimelordy]

The ride of the witcher

transcription by me and @smolalienbee with modification made by @wren-of-the-woods

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that moves the trees

Ride witcher ride

For the child of destiny

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that moves the trees

Ride witcher ride

Bring the storm that sets her free

Sleepless under frozen suns

Treachery and chosen ones

Rise anew, the time has come

To take hold of the skies

Once betrayed, but not again

Steel restored onto his name

With silver coursing through his veins

And vengeance in his eyes

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that blows the trees

Ride witcher ride

For the child of destiny

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that moves the trees

Ride witcher ride

Bring the storm that sets her free

Twisted lies and sorcery

Make no match for destiny

You won’t rest till worlds collides

So stake your claim and choose a side

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that moves the trees

Ride witcher ride

For the child of destiny

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that moves the trees

Ride witcher ride

Bring the storm that sets her free

[Joey, with Polish singing in the background:]

Humans more monsters than creatures

Witcher more human than them

Butcher, white wolf or a saviour

No(/The?) witcher returns in the end

[background, Polish:]

Z ukrytego lasu

Przez góry[?] i ciemność

[?] ruszysz znów

Przez ogień i wodę

Nic cię nie zatrzyma

Dzikość bestii w tobie tkwi

[in Polish, repeating:]

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią 

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią 

[Joey:]

Come on!

[in Polish, repeating:]

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią 

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią 

[Joey:]

Ooooo[…]oooooh

[in Polish:]

Jego córka [?]

Więc rusza wiedźmin

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that moves the trees

Ride witcher ride

For the child of destiny

Ride witcher ride

With the wind that howls

It howls for thee

Oh, ride witcher ride

Don’t fear that wind, it howls for thee

Don’t fear that wind, it howls for thee

It howls for thee

[mandalorianbird]

The Ride of the Witcher

Just to make this clear, while I might not have mentioned it before, this a Jaskier/Joey Batey/The Amazing Devil stan account. I have a feeling that's going to be painfully obvious for the next two months. Starting with this masterpiece.

AHHHHH. IT'S SO GOOD. And that growled "come on" is peak sexy Joey. Up there with his "let's bury this" from Old Witch Sleep. And all the growliness! It's... wow. Someone has been listening to TAD and realized they weren't using Joey to his full potential and decided to give the fans what we've been asking for and will subsequently ruin us all over again.

[hannibard]

The way Jaskier sings "with vengeance is his eyes" and the little breathy sounds he makes in The Ride of the Witcher....... oh boy

[clowncarcrossing]

don't worry mr batey i heard your amazing devil reference in the ride of the witcher

[wren-of-the-woods]

Thinking about Geralt riding “like the wind that blows the trees” in Ride of the Witcher in the context of “the wind don’t cower to powerful men” from Whoreson Prison Blues…

[my-jokes-are-my-armour]

A funny little thing about not being native English speaker and not exposed to a lot of IRL English speakers is that I train my ear on people I hear on movies, songs, interviews, videos and things like that.

When I am a fan of someone, my ear trains on their way of speaking, accent etc. And then I understand them more than others.

Joey was first a challenging one for me as he varies often from an interview to another. The percentage of geordiness changing 😅. But once I adapted, I was like : this is the norm and everything else sounds weird.

Also Joey singing in TAD is not Jaskier. Jaskier has is own inflections and sometimes I just brain fart trying to understand lyrics when he sings as Jaskier more than when he sings as himself.

Yeah "The ride of the Witcher" caught me off gard with some pronunciations 😅.

[harleycao]

This poll is aimed specifically at people who have read The Witcher book series and/or played the games and not those who have only watched the show.

[fingons-rad-harp]

that’s twice now a witcher song has referenced secret worlds, that ain’t a coincidence babes

[thenightling]

A theory about "The Ride of The Witcher"

Netflix and Sony music have released the latest Joey Batey song for The Witcher Season 3. The song is to be sung by Jaskier (Joey Batey) and was a collaboration between Joey Batey, Joseph Trapanese (composer), and Percival Schuttenbach (Polish composers and band who did the music for The Witcher 3 video game).

Joey Batey is the front man for his own band that he had before he was ever cast as Jaskier. The band is known as Amazing Devil. And my personal favorite song of theirs is The Horror and the Wild. Anyway, the song was released early and it is probably the most elaborate Jaskier song to date in regard to production values. Only four other Jaskier songs have this much quality. Toss a Coin to your Witcher, Burn Butcher Burn, The Golden One and Song of the Seven. Song of the Seven didn't do quite as well as Netflix hoped. Before I proceed with my theory let me state here and now I cannot speak or read Polish. I barely know that Jaskier translates to Buttercup (though Dandelion is used in the English language video games and novels). I had to find a rough translation of the Polish chanting part of Ride of The Witcher on Tumblr. I would like to thank @spoonietimelordy for the Polish portion.

Now on with my theory. All of the bigger Jaskier songs tell a story. Toss a Coin to your Witcher tells an exaggerated account of Geralt and Jaskier's meeting with the exiled Elven King. Burn Butcher Burn is Jaskier venting his heartbreak at Geralt leaving him on the side of a mountain. Golden One tells the story of the golden dragon encounter from episode six of season one of The Witcher. And Song of the Seven was inspired by the events of The Witcher: Blood Origin. The Ride of The Witcher is no different. We are told a story.

Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that moves the trees. Ride, Witcher, ride For the child of Destiny. Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that moves the trees. Ride, Witcher, ride. Bring the storm that sets her free. Sleepless under frozen suns, Treachery and chosen ones. Rise anew, the time has come. To take hold of the skies.

Once betrayed, but not again. Steel restored onto his name. With silver coursing through his veins, And vengeance in his eyes! Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that moves the trees. Ride, Witcher, ride For the child of Destiny Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that moves the trees. Ride, Witcher, ride. Bring the storm that sets her free. Twisted lies and sorcery Make no match for Destiny. You won’t rest till worlds collide. So stake your claim and choose a side!

Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that moves the trees. Ride, Witcher, ride For the child of Destiny. Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that moves the trees. Ride, Witcher, ride. Bring the storm that sets her free.

(Now with Polish vocals in the background)

Humans more monsters than creatures. Witcher more human than them. Butcher, White Wolf, or a saviour. The Witcher returns in the end!

(The Polish background chanting)

Z ukrytego lasu

Przez góry i ciemność

ruszysz znów

Przez ogień i wodę

Nic cię nie zatrzyma

Dzikość bestii w tobie tkwi

(In Polish repeating)

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią 

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią 

(Jaskier calls out)

Come on!

(Polish chanting chorus repeating)

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią 

Szumią lasy, lasy szumią

Szumią lasy, szumią  (Polish translated:

From the hidden forest Through mountains and darkness You will move again. Through fire and water Nothing will stop you. The wildness of the beast is within you. The forests are humming! The forests are humming! The forests are humming! They are humming! The forests are humming! The forests are humming! The forests are humming! They are humming!

Jaskier:

Oooooh! Oooooh!

(in Polish background:)

Jego córka

Więc rusza wiedźmin *(Special note here. This is the first time we actually see the original polish word for "Witcher." "Wiedźmin" is the original title of the book series in the original Polish.) (Translation: His daughter! So The Witcher sets off!

Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that moves the trees. Ride, Witcher, ride For the child of Destiny. Ride, Witcher, ride With the wind that howls. It howls for thee! Oh, ride, Witcher, ride. Don’t fear that wind. It howls for thee! Don’t fear that wind, it howls for thee! It howls for thee! _____________________________ There are a few special things to note. This song is different from other Jaskier songs. For starters it is the only one to have Polish lyrics even if they're just sung in a background chorus / chant. It's also the first time we hear the original Polish word for Witcher.

The song is also co-written by Percival Schuttenbach, who did The Witcher video game songs. This is their first time writing music for The Witcher Netflix series. And I sincerely doubt they would have hired the original Polish composers just for a typical Jaskier tavern bard song.

No. Something is definitely different here. And it's not just because it has a Heavy Metal-esque Polish chorus and chant. Some fans have speculated that Jaskier will perform this in a tavern but I don't think so.

Now please hear me out. This might be a bit controversial but I always felt The Witcher Netflix series was a bit like a strange cross between Xena: Warrior Princess (for some of the character dynamics and the way the show uses Polish and central to Eastern European folklore the way Xena used Greek and some others), Buffy The Vampire Slayer (for the chosen one aspect and the found family), and a little bit of Highlander: The series (mostly because at least two of the main characters are not aging, the great music, and the sword fights). And this song made me think of something. It actually made me think of the resurrection spell in Buffy The Vampire Slayer season 6 that raised Buffy from the dead, tearing her out of Heaven so that she could again be the hero of the people. ("Here lies the warrior of the people! Let her cross over!") I don't think this is just a Jaskier song. For starters up until this point the "Common" language of The Continent has been English (though in the novels it's probably Polish). So what race is using the Polish language? Is it the Dryads? Is it some Ancient Elvish language? What is the Polish language to this universe since it doesn't sound like the common language of the show? Who is chanting during Jaskier's song? Can you really imagine the Power metal chanting during one of Jaskier's tavern performances? Perhaps. They do look like rock concerts sometimes. Especially in season 2. But instead of "You have been the most beautiful audience. If anyone needs me I'll be at the bar." Instead we have an intense "Come on!" like Jaskier is trying to do something, trying to accomplish something. This is not merely a song. It feels like a spell. Yes, he IS telling the story of The Witcher. The Child of Destiny is Ciri, Geralt's adopted daughter. And "Once betrayed" is probably in regard to Yennefer last season unless Jaskier accidentally betrays him this season because of his new lover's evil inclinations. (Cough.) "You will move again" doesn't seem like a normal lyric. And "The forest is humming." Humming is often a sound described for strong and intense magical energy. I'm not saying that Jaskier is a latent sorcerer but perhaps he's beseeching someone to cast a spell or helping with a spell. And doesn't "Ride, Witcher, ride" sound an awful lot like "Rise, Witcher, rise"? "The Witcher Returns in The End!" And think about the ending of the song. "Don't fear that wind, it howls for thee!" "Thee" isn't a normal lyric for Jaskier. His lyrics are usually very modern sounding compared to the usual language of the characters in the show. And why would Geralt have to fear the wind howling? "Wind howling" is a sly video game reference or... sounds one might hear when being called back to the land of the living.

I think Geralt might get killed and magick will be needed to bring him back. I think Jaskier's new song is a combo anthem and resurrection spell. Maybe they intensify a scene of the Dryads healing Geralt from the novels. There, There's my possibly VERY wrong theory about "The Ride of The Witcher."

https://youtu.be/b3-ybo1qMA4

[boookfreeak]

I just found out through coincidence that Jaskier's Season 3 song "The Ride of the Witcher" is already out so I immediately dived in to listen to it and I have Thoughts.

Already the first line 'Ride, Witcher, Ride' is so significant. It's a parallel to "Burn, Butcher, Burn". A song Jaskier wrote with clear intent to hurt Geralt. He is adressing him as Butcher which we all know has a very deep effect on Geralt and brings up many bad memories, even if he tries to hide it. And Jaksier is the one doing it. Jaskier, the bard who spent decades composing songs and trying to show humans that witchers aren't monster and that they musn't fear them. Jaskier, the guy willing to beat up men stronger than him for mistreating Geralt. Jaskier, Geralt's friend, one of the only people willing to show up for Geralt over and over again and to prove to him that he is worth sticking around for.

And then Geralt went and lashed out and hurt him. And I gotta say, Jaskier's reaction is justified. He spent the better part of his life next to Geralt, joining him on his Path, sharing his bread and coin, making a friend. But for the most part, Geralt didn't really reciprocate. He acted annoyed by Jaskier's constant chatter and singing, never admitted they were friends and was very distant in general. No matter how much or how little that reflected his actual feelings towards Jaskier, he still acted this way and even someone like Jaskier, with his strong hubris and optimism, will eventually crack under all that.

And he did. And I don't really blame him.

So it's so nice to see that, apparently, season 3 will hold very much-needed healing for both Jaskier and Geralt. 'Ride, Witcher, Ride' is a very big change from 'Burn, Butcher, Burn'. He calls him Witcher again and instead of wanting to see him hurt, Jaskier is encouraging Geralt. Again, he is advising him to take care of his Child Surprise. I'm also very excited to see the relation between Jaskier and Ciri blossom.

Just everything I've heard and seen about season 3 so far sounds very positive and I have high hopes.

Only that thing with Jaskier and Radovid broke something in me but I could write a whole other paragraph about that, yes our bard is bisexual now but at what price

The fact that there are multiple voices next to Jaskier's and (I think) in a different language (at least I don't understand/recognize it) makes me wonder under which circumstances the song was made and in what setting it was performed.

[carrieeve]

*chorus in Elven*

It's just fucking polish! 😆

[ladyannemarie5]

I am very upset that we didn't get a scene of Jaskier singing The Ride of the Witcher.

They could have created a monumental scene with Joey just being THE BARD.

They better give me that scene in the next season.

[imnothawkdevil]

NEW JASKIER SONG STAY CALM EVERYONE