You know that part in Barbie: The Movie where the iconic doll, played by Margot Robbie, disrupts the party vibe by asking, “Do you guys ever think about dying?” as if it’s the most casual question ever?

That’s how I feel about the Final Fantasy 14 raid theme, Ride the Rhythm. It’s a catchy tune, yet it subtly hints at deeper, more profound themes of life and struggle. Square Enix follows its traditional post-release practice of revealing the actual lyrics for FF14’s raid themes only after they’ve debuted in-game, which always jolts me back to reality, as I realize what I’ve misheard for months.

The upbeat disco track has managed to keep my spirits high, but the context reveals a much darker narrative. The characters in the Arcadion saga, which features a wrestling-themed raid series, are all portrayed as figures who are either aware of their impending doom or who succumb to their circumstances. Here are some lyrics that reflect that duality:

“No one said that life’d be easy
Workin’ hard from nine to five
Grindin’ daily, nightly, weekly
Turn to the left to the right
Ain’t no end in sight.”

Translation: Everyone is trying hard to survive and the struggles seem never-ending.

In sum, Ride the Rhythm, while undeniably fun, is wrapped in a narrative of despair, highlighting the duality of joy and existential crisis we often face in life.