Quick Links
Game Of Thrones has done a lot for the fantasy genre since its release more than a decade ago. The show revitalized a lot of people’s interest in the genre as a whole from its incredible action, heartbreaking moments, and stellar soundtrack. While the music of the series may not be the first thing that comes to mind for everyone, it is an aspect that many feel deserves more love.
That iconic opening theme is probably the first piece of music from the series that everyone thinks of, but the much more important The Rains Of Castamere is likely the second. Only cropping up from time to time, no one could be blamed for assuming the tune doesn’t have much behind it. It’s actually the opposite, with The Rains Of Castamere standing out in Game Of Thrones as a tune with a distinctly ominous nature to it.
Game of Thrones: The Water Dance, Explained
The unique sword combat technique Arya learns early in the series has strengths and weaknesses, but its history remains fascinating.
What Is The Rains Of Castamere About?
The Rains Of Castamere | |
|---|---|
Associated Houses: | House Lannister, House Reyne |
Created For: | House Lannister, Tywin Lannister |
Song Meaning: | Retelling the destruction of House Reyne at the hands of House Lannister |
Associated Event: | The Reyne-Tarbeck Revolt |
Song Usage: | Symbolism for House Lannister domination |
It might be easy to just assume that some silly bard came up with The Rains Of Castamere in order to further their fame throughout Westeros, but that would be far too simple. Any fan who knows how bleak Game Of Thrones can be will likely already suspect that the tune itself is quite dark. While not as utterly bleak as one particular moment the song is featured in, it does tell a sad tale. Thanks to the events of the Red Wedding, and even before it, The Rains Of Castamere very much should be known as a song of warning across the lands.
In A Storm Of Swords, Tyrion Lannister does a great job explaining the relevance and meaning behind the song in his thoughts:
Lord Tywin did not suffer disloyalty in his vassals. He had extinguished the proud Reynes of Castamere and the ancient Tarbecks of Tarbeck Hall root and branch when he was still half a boy. The singers had even made a rather gloomy song of it.
The Rains Of Castamere tells the tale of House Reyne, a house that took residence in the castle known as Castamere, and the house’s destruction at the hands of Tytos Lannister, and his son Tywin Lannister. During the time of Tytos’ dominance, the houses beneath him attempted to rebel and rise up to challenge the Lannisters. This proved to be a bad move as Tytos sent his son Tywin to march on Castamere to show House Reyne why the Lannisters are not a house to be trifled with. In short order, Castamere had been sieged and House Reyne had been utterly obliterated. The destruction of House Reyne was then remembered through the lines of The Rains Of Castamere, reminding Westeros of the power of the House Lannister.
What Are The Lyrics To The Rains Of Castamere?
While the entirety of the song isn’t necessarily known, the refrain of the song is shown off in A Storm Of Swords:
And who are you, the proud lord said,
that I must bow so low?
Only a cat of a different coat,
that's all the truth I know.
In a coat of gold or a coat of red,
a lion still has claws,
And mine are long and sharp, my lord,
as long and sharp as yours.
And so he spoke, and so he spoke,
that lord of Castamere,
But now the rains weep o'er his hall,
with no one there to hear.
Yes now the rains weep o’er his hall,
and not a soul to hear.
Even though there are only a few lines to examine, they paint a haunting picture. The first few lines seem to be from the perspective of the Red Lion of Castamere, Roger Reyne, as he defies Tytos Lannister. It was a challenge of red lions battling against gold lions, but despite the lord of Reyne stating his House was just as powerful as the Lannisters, they were eventually wiped out. The Rains Of Castamere describes this, almost in a mocking way, when it mentions the rains that no one can hear, something that indicates the destruction of House Reyne in Castamere.
While this level of importance of the song may not necessarily be highlighted in Game Of Thrones to its fullest extent (to some), it has been shown to be quite a powerful tune. In fact, in the novels, Tywin Lannister uses the song to remind his enemies of the wrath of House Lannister, something that results in favorable outcomes for his house. Words have power, and the striking lines from the refrain of the tune will always remain a stark reminder of why there is no longer a house Reyne and just who there is to thank for that fact. The song is so ingrained in the history of the Lannisters that some can even consider it the official song of the house.
How Is The Rains Of Castamere Used In Game Of Thrones?
Game Of Thrones Episodes The Rains Of Castamere Appears In | |
|---|---|
Season 2: | Episode 1 "The North Remembers", Episode 2 "The Night Lands", Episode 9 "Blackwater" |
Season 3: | Episode 2 "Dark Wings, Dark Words", Episode 8 "Second Sons", Episode 9 "The Rains Of Castamere" |
Season 4: | Episode 1 "Two Swords", Episode 2 "The Lion And The Rose" |
Season 7: | Episode 3 "The Queen's Justice" |
Unsurprisingly, The Rains Of Castamere appears throughout the series, typically sung by those associated with the House Lannister. It is first introduced all the way back in the second season by Tyrion Lannister, though he only whistles the tune. Later in the same season, and indeed across the rest of the series, drunken Lannisters can be heard singing the tune while drinking either before or after conflicts. It’s quite common for various characters to sing the famous tune in the midst of their travels.
The song is additionally explained by Cersei Lannister in a memorable moment from the show’s third season, but it is most notoriously known for being played during weddings. The least noteworthy example of that would be when the tune was played at Joffery’s wedding feast in the fourth season of the show. Much more remembered in horror would be the Red Wedding, an event that saw the deaths of many key characters, with Robb and Catelyn Stark being the two most significant deaths. The tune acted as a signal for House Bolton and House Frey’s assassins to make their move, officially sending the War Of the Five Kings on a route to its conclusion.
Game Of Thrones is available to stream on MAX.
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones, based on the Song of Ice and Fire book series by George R.R. Martin, tells the sprawling story of warring families in Westeros. This includes the Starks, the Lannisters, the Baratheons, and the Targaryens. Along with human conflicts, Westeros is also threatened by the re-emergence of dragons, and an undead enemy from beyond the Wall.
Game of Thrones: The Drowned God, Explained
The Iron Islands ignore the dominant religion in Westeros to worship a cruel Sea God with a fondness for pillaging.
