Demystifying the Song

[Luckers]

Demystifying the Song

 

The Song is one of the favourite topics for discussion amongst the fans, with theories ranging from how Perrin will find it, how the Aiel who went to the Tuatha’an will find it, how Rand will use it to sing close the bore, and half a hundred other things as well. But whilst people love to think about the finding and use of the Song, very rarely do people actually consider the Song itself.

 

What is the Song?

 

Elyas describes the Song thus...

 

They're looking for a song. That's what the Mahdi seeks. They say they lost it during the Breaking of the World, and if they can find it again, the paradise of the Age of Legends will return.

 

[tEotW; 25, The Traveling People]

 

So a Song which will bring peace and return the world to the paradise it knew in the Age of Legends. Unfortunately for the Tuatha’an this Song does not, and never has existed. We see the origins of this belief in the Shadow Rising, when the Tuatha’an first broke away from the Aiel.

 

Sulwin stepped back, then held his ground with his companions. “No, Adan. We are supposed to find a place of safety, and some of us mean to do that. My greatfather used to tell me stories he heard as a boy, stories of when we lived in safety and people came to hear us sing. We mean to find a place where we can be safe, and sing again.”

 

“Sing?” Adan scoffed. “I have heard those old stories, too, that Aiel singing was a wondrous thing, but you know those old songs no more than I do. The songs are gone, and the old days are gone. We will not give up our duty to the Aes Sedai to chase after what is lost forever.”

 

“Some of us will, Adan.” The others behind Sulwin nodded. “We mean to find that safe place. And the songs, too. We will!”

 

[tSR;  26, The Dedicated]

 

In this it is made clear that the Song that what the Tinkers seek is not a magical song, but rather an expression of the desire of their Aiel forbearers to find a safe place and regain the culture they lost. It a symbol, not a real thing.

 

But What About the Seed Singing?

 

Ok, there is no Song which will magically bring back the Age of Legends, but it cannot be denied that the Aiel did do some pretty magical stuff with their singing. And whilst we know that the Tuatha'an belief that finding the song will bring back the Age of Legends is the result of a myth, we also know that there can be truth in myths. The Song--or rather, the Singing is a powerful thing, and something that RJ has layered into the story deeply between the Aiel not singing and the Tuatha'an's desire to regain that.

 

And lets not forget the current food crisis in the Westlands--people are dying in the thousands very soon due to the taint the Dark One (and Rand) has caused in food. It may well be that the 'Song', or rather the Singing will play its part in this. It is also noted that the Dai’shain Aiel’s singing could be used to enhance channeling, so the old theories about it being used to seal the bore and other such achievements might yet be true. But before you rush off down that path pause for a moment and consider the actual nature of the Seed Singing.

 

What is the Singing?

 

We know from The World of Robert Jordan’s The Wheel of Time that the Singing is a Talent that draws upon and focus’ the One Power through a vocalized song.

 

Farmland produced optimum yield through use of the One Power. In a method called "seed singing," Ogier (a separate race of beings gifted with the ability to aid and enhance growing things), Nym, and Da'shain Aiel worked as a team, focusing the One Power to insure perfect growth for every field they "sang."

 

[The Guide; 3, The Age of Legends]

 

It’s main use is as was stated above, in crop production, but from the Guide we also know that it could also be used to enhance channeling.

 

Sources are not clear concerning whether or not Da'shain Aiel could channel, though they do agree that the Aiel could often enhance channeling.

 

[The Guide; 3, The Age of Legends]

 

Whilst it seems the Aiel were primarily the only humans to use the Singing in the Seed Songs, there is some evidence that other people also had the Talent. Consider,

 

"Lord of the Morning," he said, "I have come for you."

 

The laughter cut off as if it had never been, and Lews Therin turned, seeming unsurprised. "Ah, a guest. Have you the Voice, stranger? It will soon be time for the Singing, and here all are welcome to take part. Ilyena, my love, we have a guest. Ilyena, where are you?"

 

[tEotW; Prologue, Dragonmount]

 

Of course Lews Therin was delusional at this stage, and so may have thought he was talking to an Aiel—he may even have just been talking gibberish—but it doesn’t sound that way. All who have the Voice are welcome to take part in the Singing—it implies that the Voice does crop up in other people if for the simple fact that an Aiel would already know he was welcome to the Singing.

 

The Singing Returns; a Bundle of Problems

 

Ok, so the Singing could be very beneficial in all the ways listed above, but there are problems. For starters the Singing is not using magical words to cause effect, it is the vocal expression of a talent. The words do not matter--indeed they dont even seem to be words in the Song, it is the power behind them which causes the effect.

 

Discovering it will not be as simple as having one of the Tuatha’an walk the Glass Columns, hear the words, and repeat it. They will need the Talent of the Voice, and even then it might take training with someone else with the Talent—this is the One Power we are talking about. It kills those that don’t know how to use it properly, and that’s presuming the Talent even remains in the gene pool—which, given the decline in Talents since the Age of Legends, may well be a pretty big presumption.

 

Secondly, say someone does rediscover the Talent, will it be effective? The Ogier never lost the Treesinging, yet the Talent declined so much that they could never hope to perform the roles they did in the Age of Legends. And the Nym are extinct—without them how effective will the modern Singers be?

 

Conclusions

 

The Song does not and never did exist, except as a symbol for the Tuatha’an. The Singing might be recovered but it may not be as simple as everyone thinks it will be, nor as effective. Even if it is I rather doubt the Tuatha’an will be impressed—indeed, they might be rather devastated. They’ve spent three thousand years chasing something that isn’t real. The revelation of the Singing may well destroy their hope for the Song, and through that, destroy them.

 

Some suggest, of course, that it might be the first step in the right direction. Yes, the Singing will not magically bring back the Age of Legends, but it will start a more natural reversion to AOL society. The problem with this, to my mind, is the same as the problem in suggesting Manetheren will come again. It goes against the themes RJ developed--the Wheel turns forward, not backwards, and the only way the Age of Legends will come again is when the Wheel turns around to the Second Age once more.

[Random Man]

You know, there isn't any indication that in the AoL the Da'Shain Aiel were ever a distinct race who alone possessed the talent of the Voice. They could have very well been the Peace Corps. It's natural that over a long period of time descendants would be drawn to the same lives of service -- and especially after the Breaking there would have been less breeding from outside -- but being Da'Shain Aiel could have very well just been initially a vocation that those with the Voice were drawn to.

[zach]

Luckers i have a question!

 

Since talents are directly linked to the power would using a talent drive a man insane before the taint was removed? and also if someone could remind me about the males we've seen with talents. thank you much.

[ravenfier]

Zach where in the world did you get the impression that Talents are directly or even indirectly linked with the power?

 

dreamwalking is a talent- we have seen people who can't touch the sorce dreamwalk, how about the wolf brother, also not related to the power far from it, last one mins aura reading is also a talent that has been repeadely been confermed that has no relationship with the power.

 

we have also seen a talent that has sofar only manifested in men- sniffers, also been confermed that this has no relation with the power.

 

so in summery if a man had a talent, unless he uses the power then he would not go mad or be affected by the body rotting of pre cleaning would have caused.

 

 

 

edit: got to carried away there and forgot to argue semantics with Luckers, lol. ah i'm too tired to night to have a long debate with him tonight. ;)

[Luckers]

You know, there isn't any indication that in the AoL the Da'Shain Aiel were ever a distinct race who alone possessed the talent of the Voice. They could have very well been the Peace Corps. It's natural that over a long period of time descendants would be drawn to the same lives of service -- and especially after the Breaking there would have been less breeding from outside -- but being Da'Shain Aiel could have very well just been initially a vocation that those with the Voice were drawn to.

 

I actually made that point in my post--Lews Therin asking if Ishamael had the Voice and telling him all are welcome in the Singing suggests that non-Aiel could have the Talent.

 

But I will say that I think more was in play than just being drawn to the same vocation. That they are Dedicated in their bones to peace in battle, in an Age that knew nothing of war--indeed, the Aes Sedai, sworn to serve, are served by those sworn to peace—could channelers and Aiel be working to correct some great evil they did in the past? A war of genocide or near extinction or something? Could this be the First Covenant? A pact of peace following some terrible world war?

 

Since talents are directly linked to the power would using a talent drive a man insane before the taint was removed? and also if someone could remind me about the males we've seen with talents. thank you much.

 

It depends on how the Singing works in relation to the Singer being touched by the Power. Certainly we know the Aiel didn't slow, but on the other hand maybe this is why the Aiel lost the Singing.

 

This would be a good question to ask Team Jordan.

 

Zach where in the world did you get the impression that Talents are directly or even indirectly linked with the power?

 

Maria told us.

 

Maria's Answer #8 - Jim says of Talents: “A Talent is a special ability with the One Power.  While the name is used for other things, a Talent is, in truth, something which is inborn in the person and not something that can be learned.”

 

So whilst Dreamwalking gets called a Talent by modern Aes Sedai, this is a mistake on their part. And it is perhaps not even a mistake in them not knowing properly what a Talent is, but a mistake in the perception that dreamwalking is a thing of the Power, and therefore a Talent. To my memory I do not recall Aes Sedai referring to any other non-power Skill as a Talent--not Min's viewings or Perrin's Wolfkinship, nor Sniffing.

[yoniy0]

Exactly. So the Voice must not be a Talent, because if any Aiel had the ability to channel they would have become AS. It's therefore something akin to Min's viewings or Perrin's wolf-brotherism (:)), an ability some people have.

 

Random, don't you consider the distinct hair color evidence of a separate race? Indeed, Da'Shain were recognized on sight in the AoL, and it can't all be about their hair style (one of Rand's ancestors said people were copying that by the time the Bore was made). I suspect not a lot of mixed breeding took place in the AoL (we know next to none occurred since).

[Luckers]

Exactly. So the Voice must not be a Talent, because if any Aiel had the ability to channel they would have become AS

 

The Singing uses the One Power, and can thus be said to be a special ability with it. For all that, though, the Singers are not channeling, but drawing and focussing the Power in an entirely different manner.

[yoniy0]

The Singing uses the One Power, and can thus be said to be a special ability with it. For all that, though, the Singers are not channeling, but drawing and focussing the Power in an entirely different manner.

You're missing my point. Aviendha doesn't channel when she 'reads' ter'angreal, but she CAN channel, hence she (potentially) has Talents. Didn't RJ say only channelers have Talents?

It might be claimed that, since the Source fuels the Wheel, every action (certainly the 'supernatural' ones, such as entering tel'aran'rhiod or predicting the future) one makes is using the Power in some sense, but that does not a Talent make.

[Shadow Rider]

There is a song...The Ogier Can sing to wood and they can't channel.

I think of the singing as a focus of energy.... as for the Aiel, I think that a lack of Male channelers put an end to the song.

I think they will find the song in Rhuidean.

 

[Etzel]

One point that isn't mentioned in the first post is the following (apparently pretty accurate) 4th Age text from the beginning of EotW:

"And it came to pass in those days, as it had come before and would come again, that the Dark lay heavy on the land and weighed down the hearts of men, and the green things failed, and hope died. And men cried out to the Creator, saying, O Light of the Heavens, Light of the World, let the Promised One be born of the mountain, according to the prophecies, as he was in ages past and will be in ages to come. Let the Prince of the Morning sing to the land that green things will grow and the valleys give forth lambs. Let the arm of the Lord of the Dawn shelter us from the Dark, and the great sword of justice defend us. Let the Dragon ride again on the winds of time." [emphasis mine]

 

While the emphasized part might just be a metaphor for Rand giving hope to the people and his connection to the land as a kind of "Fisher King", it possibly might also specifically allude to the Signing. According to the Guide, the Tinkers actually search "the Old Song". This could mean that there is an original "ur-technique" of Signing, from which the following, different Seed Songs were by and by derived. Maybe Rand (or someone else like Aviendha) will teach the Tinkers, how to use it again to cleanse the world from the DO's influence. Plot-wise it's definitely interesting that RJ put most Tinkers together at one place near Ebou Dar. This indicates that they might have a more important part to play.

[Luckers]

You're missing my point. Aviendha doesn't channel when she 'reads' ter'angreal, but she CAN channel, hence she (potentially) has Talents. Didn't RJ say only channelers have Talents? It might be claimed that, since the Source fuels the Wheel, every action (certainly the 'supernatural' ones, such as entering tel'aran'rhiod or predicting the future) one makes is using the Power in some sense, but that does not a Talent make.

 

I get the point your trying to make, but it is not applicable. RJ said (in the notes) that a Talent is a special ability with the One Power, not that they were skills in channeling. The Singing is a special ability with the One Power--not just something tengentially related to the Power due to the Power's role in running the Wheel, but an actual use of the Power itself. Their Singing draws on and focus's the One Power. It is not channeling, but it is still a use of the One Power, and subsequently a Talent.

 

There is a song...The Ogier Can sing to wood and they can't channel.

I think of the singing as a focus of energy.... as for the Aiel, I think that a lack of Male channelers put an end to the song.

I think they will find the song in Rhuidean.

 

Re-read the first post Shadow Rider. What you are speaking of is not the Song. From there the Ogier Treesinging is much like the Aiel Seed Singing--a use of the One Power, though it is different to channeling. Neither the Ogier or the Aiel (or the Nym for that matter) channel the Power when they sing, but their songs do use it.

 

One point that isn't mentioned in the first post is the following (apparently pretty accurate) 4th Age text from the beginning of EotW

 

I'm not actually trying to predict how the Song will return, I merely wanted to address some of the misconceptions people have about the Song, differentiate it from the Singing, and examine how the Singing works.

[Etzel]

I'm not actually trying to predict how the Song will return, I merely wanted to address some of the misconceptions people have about the Song, differentiate it from the Singing, and examine how the Singing works.

 

Yeah, but I think it wouldn't hurt to additionally quote in this context the passage from the 4th Age text to have the full picture, since it explicitly mentiones Rand "singing" to the land. ;)

[Luckers]

Nah I'm more or less content with the way it is. I'll leave the theorizing on this to others.

 

Besides I would have thought Perrin's struggle with violence and the viewing of trees and flowers blooming all around him would stand stronger. The singing part of the Fourth Age history could just be flowery language speaking of the effects of Rand's dark ta'maral'ailen, and his need to lighten up.

[FallingBullets]

I'm thinking Aviendha's trip through the rings will play a part in this.

 

Also, you saying they focus OP, but which half? and if both, do men focus Saidin and women do Saidar?

[Luckers]

Wouldn't it be wierd if men can sing saidar?

 

Perhaps there are aspects of the Power we know nothing about--certainly there are ter'angreal that make no noticeable weaves.

[Demiandre]

Also, you saying they focus OP, but which half? and if both, do men focus Saidin and women do Saidar?

 

Just look at the Bowl of Wind. When the circle used Saidar in it to rectify the weather, a lace of saidin was also coming from the bowl. Just look at the singing like knitting. You have the knit (The Singing) and the wool (the OP). You sing and knit threads of OP to make something beautiful (well, depending of the person's ability, I saw some knitted pullover very awful, but BREF!).

 

Perhaps there are aspects of the Power we know nothing about--certainly there are ter'angreal that make no noticeable weaves.

 

We indeed know quite nothing about the Power. Just facts. Not the reasons why it is so... Why the Bowl did use the saidin as well as saidar, without someone channeling the male half, why do some person have beeter affinities with Earth, Air, Water or Fire, but Spirit is equally shared? Why colors are important in ter angreal or shape, size, or else?.

 

My thoughts about the song is that it will be indeed be discovered. The fact that the Nym were the one "melding" the voices to make thingd grow could be a problem (maybe someone will create them again ;) ) and all the new Ogiers could be powerful Treesinger, but they never tried (IIRC). And the Aiel and Tinkers could join to sing again, and Rand or Perrin will somehow be liked with it. But I do not agree with Luckers (could be dangerous... better to be on his side heh! :) )with the fact that the song will not bring another Age of Legend. Maybe not so, just singing. But if the Song could make seed grow again, it could leed to happy people, end of misery, and possibility for army to supply with food, and maybe at some point help during the Last Battle, and so in the end bring another AoL... Just a thought...

[reson8]

In this it is made clear that the Song that what the Tinkers seek is not a magical song, but rather an expression of the desire of their Aiel forbearers to find a safe place and regain the culture they lost. It a symbol, not a real thing.

 

I think this statement may be the key. We know as of TGS that the Tinkers are now gathering in Ebou Dar, and that some of them are considering staying there. This gathering could be the beginning of a renewal of their society. Scattered and wandering in separate groups never would have brought a progression of their society, only a regression. Get a bunch of people together in one area, and suddenly things start to advance. So maybe in this, they will eventually "find the song" as it were.

[clu7ch]

Do we know of anyone in the series signing anything? I cant remember if at some of the earlier books while they were crashing in a bar for the night if singing or any type of marry making was being had.

[singogreatest360]

I stand firm to the Theory that "To Dance with Jack o' Shadows" is the Song.

 

Did anyone try singing it backwards ;}

[Charlz Fel]

Luckers, thanks for this post.  I am sick of people thinking that "the Song" really exists, in spite of the fact that we know exactly how the myth of "the Song" came about, and it never existed as such.

 

I do have one minor complaint.  "Sworn to peace in battle" is a translation of gai'shain, not Da'shain.  While the words are undoubtedly related, I think it's reasonable to suppose that "Da'shain" may be something about peace, with no reference to battle.

[birtikidis]

IF there is a song, who's to say that it wasn't written into the story to make it look like a Talent when in reality it wasn't?  kinda like the whole "Aes Sedai think they know everything but are really just pompous asses". 

 

What I like so much about these books is it has a feel of mythology to it.. there are certain things that we will never know because they are lost to time.  Many of our assumptions are probably so far off of what Jordan had in mind that it makes him chuckle to read these..

[Lacanos]

Luckers, thanks for this post.  I am sick of people thinking that "the Song" really exists, in spite of the fact that we know exactly how the myth of "the Song" came about, and it never existed as such.

 

I do have one minor complaint.  "Sworn to peace in battle" is a translation of gai'shain, not Da'shain.  While the words are undoubtedly related, I think it's reasonable to suppose that "Da'shain" may be something about peace, with no reference to battle.

 

The prefix Gai from the old tongue means battle, so I suspect you're right. Da'shain will mean something like Followers of Peace or some such

[Luckers]

Da'shain Aiel means, literally, 'One who is dedicated to peace in their blood and bones'.

 

The prefix Da means 'one who'. Shain means 'peace'. Aiel means 'Dedicated', but a dedication so strong it is written in their blood and bones.

[Shard]

I think that's the problem in alot of storys where you have someone or a group looking for something, the reader expects it to be found. Though I do think Luckers makes an excellent point the Song isn't what the Tinkers now think it is. I think it's very simply the Growing Song or whatever the Ogier call it. It's been turned into something it isn't, I think the Tinkers are really just looking for their old way of life.

[Sid]

Does the 'remnant of a remnant' prophecy only refers to Aiel, or do Tinkers fall into it too?  Depending upon if it means ones that 'call themselves Aiel' in the current day or ones that did at the time the prophecy was spoken (whenever that was), the offshoot Tuatha'an might be included too.  If so, the realization of there never being an actual "Song" could break them as much as the Aiel of the Three Fold Land were broken by Rand's revelation that they once followed the Way of the Leaf.