Ballad of the Wind Fish

The "Ballad of the Wind Fish" is a recurring song in The Legend of Zelda series.^[1]

Overview[]

Link's Awakening[]

The "Ballad of the Wind Fish" is also known as a song of awakening in Link's Awakening,^[2]^[3] for it has the ability to awaken sleeping people. A girl named Marin, who lives in Mabe Village of Koholint Island, can be seen in the village's square singing the song. Later on during the adventure, Marin will accompany Link around the island, and will help him by singing the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" to the sleeping Walrus who blocks the entrance to the Yarna Desert, which will wake him up and have him move out of the way. Afterwards, Marin will be found in the square of Animal Village, surrounded by Animals and still singing the song. When Link obtains the Ocarina, he can talk to Marin either in Mabe Village or in Animal Village, and she will teach him the song. Playing the song on the Ocarina is necessary to open the Wind Fish's Egg after acquiring all Instrument of the Sirens. After defeating the Shadow Nightmares, Link plays the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" to awaken the Wind Fish, making the island disappear.

The "Ballad of the Wind Fish" can be heard multiple times on certain occasions. In the opening scene of the game, some notes of the song can be heard playing in the background. Part of the song also plays when Link acquires any of the Eight Instruments of the Sirens. A remixed version of the song is used as the Southern Face Shrine theme. The song also plays during the final scene, the credits, the secret ending, and the game over screen.

Lyrics[]

Although the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" does not feature lyrics in Link's Awakening itself, the Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch trailers feature lyrics in English, Japanese and Korean. These are the English lyrics:

Sleepers wake

Dreams will fade

Although we cling fast

Was it real?

What we saw?

I believe

Lost in dreams

We sleep on

Tossing and turning

Stay with me

By my side

Never leave

What if the worst comes?

If someday this sweet reverie ends

We too

Our memories

For real

Fade us by

Dream with me

By the sea

We watch the waves crash

Hold my hand

Think of me

And I'll fly

Majora's Mask[]

The "Ballad of the Wind Fish" is a popular song by The Indigo-Go's in Majora's Mask.^[4] It is vastly different from the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" in Link's Awakening.

While in the Milk Bar, Toto, the manager of the Indigo-Go's, asks Link to play the song as a sound check,^[5] with each part of the song played by one of Link's transformations. Gorman, who also sits in the Milk Bar, becomes nostalgic upon hearing the song and, as thanks for playing it, rewards Link with the Troupe Leader's Mask.

Notes[]

Character	Notes
Link
Deku Link
Goron Link
Zora Link

Tri Force Heroes[]

The "Ballad of the Wind Fish" from Link's Awakening is one of the many tunes the Lucky Lobby Ball plays when hit with the Sword in Tri Force Heroes.

Other Appearances[]

Non-Canon Information

Link's Awakening (Cagiva)[]

In volume 1 of the Link's Awakening manga by Ataru Cagiva, Marin sings the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" for Link while at Toronbo Shores. According to her, it is a song passed down Koholint Island and is loved by the animals at Animal Village. In volume 2, Link plays the song on the Ocarina alongside the eight Instruments of the Sirens in order to open the Wind Fish's Egg. After the Wind Fish appears, he asks Link to play the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" so they wake up together. As Link plays the song, the inhabitants of Koholint Island sing along while the Island disappears.

Hyrule Warriors[]

In Hyrule Warriors, part of Marin's moveset when wielding the Bell includes her singing part of the "Ballad of the Wind Fish", creating a blast of water that damages enemies. Her pre-fight intro features her singing part of the ballad.

Trivia[]

A remix of the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" from Link's Awakening was meant to appear in Super Smash Bros. Brawl but was later dropped.^[6]

Nomenclature[]

Names in other regions
Language		Name	Meaning
	German	Ballade vom Windfisch ^(LANS)	Ballad of the Wind Fish
	Italian	Ballata del pesce vento ^(LANS)	Ballad of the Wind Fish
This table was generated using translation pages. To request an addition, please contact a staff member with a reference.

Gallery[]

Marin singing the "Ballad of the Wind Fish" from the Link's Awakening manga by Ataru Cagiva

Video Gallery[]

"Ballad of the Wind Fish" with English lyrics from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

"Ballad of the Wind Fish" with Japanese lyrics from Link's Awakening for Nintendo Switch

References

↑ Encyclopedia, Dark Horse Books, pg. 120^(LA)
↑ "Hoot! That girl sang her song in front of the Egg! Her 'Ballad of the Wind Fish' is a song of awakening! Did she actually intend to wake the Wind Fish?! The next Sirens' Instrument is in the west. Play your melodies so the unliving stones might hear! Show your courage! The Wind Fish waits for you! Hoot!" — Owl (Link's Awakening DX)
↑ "PLAY THE EIGHT INSTRUMENTS! PLAY THE SONG OF AWAKENING!!" — Wind Fish (Link's Awakening DX)
↑ "The Indigo-Go's is the popular group that we Zora are so proud of. They've put out a lot of songs. One of their hits is "Ballad of the Wind Fish." You know that song, don't you? Huh? You don't? Really? Even one that famous?" — Toto (Majora's Mask)
↑ "We were scheduled to do a show, but it got canceled. This place has a reputation for being a great live venue, so it's a shame. I'd like to do a sound check, though. I just want to see what it would have been like... Hey, you! Could you help me with a performance?" — Toto (Majora's Mask)
↑ Super Smash Bros. Brawl Missing Music, The Cutting Room Floor, retrieved July 15, 2015.