Junior Rasmussen
The Red Wedding is one of the most memorable events in George R. R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire, adapted for television as Game of Thrones. During the Red Wedding, Robb Stark and his bannermen are massacred. The song that plays during this scene is called The Rains of Castamere, a Lannister song that foreshadows the slaughter. The song is based on the downfall of House Reyne at the hands of Tywin Lannister and serves as a testament to the power and cunning nature of the Lannisters.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the song | "The Rains of Castamere" |
| Lyrics | Foreshadow the Red Wedding and the downfall of House Reyne at the hands of Tywin Lannister |
| Based on | The Lannister family |
| Played at | The wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey |
| Played by | Will Champion, the drummer and backing vocalist of the band Coldplay |
| Other notable appearances | During King Joffrey's wedding; in the final episode of the show |
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What You'll Learn
The Red Wedding is based on the 'Black Dinner'
The Red Wedding, one of the most memorable and shocking events in George R. R. Martin's ["A Song of Ice and Fire"] book series and its adapted TV series, "Game of Thrones", is based on two ruthless and belligerent events in Scottish history. One of them is the 15th-century historical event known as the "Black Dinner".
The Black Dinner refers to an event in late medieval Scotland, where the principal heads of the Douglas Clan, the most powerful clan in Scotland at the time, were invited to dine with King James II. They were offered bread and salt, which, according to sacred laws of hospitality, put them under the protection of their host and meant that during their stay neither the guest nor the host could harm each other. However, upon the arrival of the Douglas brothers, a great feast began, and suddenly, on the beat of a drum, the doors were shut. A man walked into the dining chamber and served them the fresh head of a black boar, still dripping blood, which was the symbol of death according to customs. The king was persuaded that it was done at the command of the Douglas boys and that they were conspiring against him. They were then dragged outside, tried on the charges of high treason, and beheaded almost instantly.
The Red Wedding is a similar incident of betrayal and slaughter. In this wedding massacre, Robb Stark and his banner-men are killed. The Stark army arrives at the Twins, where Robb apologizes to Walder Frey and his daughters for not keeping his promised betrothal. Edmure marries Roslin, and Walder calls for the bedding ceremony, after which the couple is taken away. A Lannister song, "The Rains of Castamere", begins to play, and Catelyn realizes that they have been betrayed. The Freys attack, killing many of the Starks, including Talisa and her unborn child, and Robb's direwolf Grey Wind. Catelyn's corpse is also desecrated, and Arya escapes on horseback with the Hound.
The Red Wedding is considered one of the most pivotal events in the entire "Game of Thrones" storyline, concluding the Stark-Lannister war while setting new plotlines into motion. It is regarded as one of the best and most harrowing episodes in television history, receiving high praise for its performances and final "Red Wedding" sequence.
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The Lannister song 'The Rains of Castamere' plays during the massacre
The Lannister song, "The Rains of Castamere", plays during the Red Wedding massacre, one of the most memorable and pivotal events in George R.R. Martin's book series "A Song of Ice and Fire" and its television adaptation, "Game of Thrones". The song, with its poignant lyrics, serves as a testament to the power and cunning nature of the Lannisters, while also foreshadowing their eventual downfall.
The Red Wedding is a significant event in the storyline, concluding the Stark-Lannister war and setting new plotlines in motion. During the wedding of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey, Robb Stark and his banner-men are massacred. The song "The Rains of Castamere" is played by the band at the wedding right before the slaughter begins, with its lyrics foreshadowing the bloody events to come.
The song's appearance during the Red Wedding is particularly notable as it is one of the most harrowing episodes in television history. The episode received critical acclaim, with high praise given to the final "Red Wedding" sequence and the performances of the actors, particularly Michelle Fairley, who portrayed Catelyn Stark. The song's tune evokes a sense of dread, sorrow, and impending tragedy, making it one of the most recognisable and popular tunes in "Game of Thrones".
The use of "The Rains of Castamere" during the Red Wedding is not the only instance of the song's strategic placement in the series. Throughout the show, the song is associated with key Lannister moments, reinforcing the family's formidable strength and conniving nature. However, in the later seasons, the show also uses the tune with cynical irony, contrasting it against moments of the Lannisters' downfall, such as during King Joffrey's wedding and in the final episode of the show.
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The song's lyrics foreshadow the Red Wedding
"The Rains of Castamere" is a song that foreshadows the Red Wedding in George R. R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" novels and the TV series "Game of Thrones". The song is played at the Red Wedding right before the slaughter of Robb Stark, his mother Catelyn, and his bannermen. The lyrics of the song allude to the power of House Lannister and serve as a warning to their enemies.
The song tells the story of the Reyne Rebellion against Lord Tytos Lannister and the eventual extinction of House Reyne. It begins with the question "And who are you, the proud lord said, that I must bow so low?". This line sets the tone for the song, as it highlights the power dynamic between the Lannisters and their enemies. The song continues with the response "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". Here, the singer compares themselves to a lion, symbolizing the strength and ferocity of House Lannister.
The song then describes the outcome of the rebellion: "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". This line reflects on the destruction of House Reyne and how their hall stands empty after their defeat. The image of rain weeping over an empty hall creates a sense of melancholy and loss.
At the Red Wedding, after the bedding ceremony of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey, the musicians start playing "The Rains of Castamere" as a signal for the forces of House Frey and House Bolton to turn on the Starks and Tullys. The song's lyrics, which boast about the power and sharpness of the Lannister lion's claws, foreshadow the brutal slaughter that is about to unfold. The song serves as a reminder of the threat posed by a Tywin-led House Lannister, and its inclusion in the Red Wedding emphasizes the betrayal and violence that is about to occur.
The Red Wedding is considered one of the most pivotal and shocking events in the entire "Game of Thrones" storyline. George R. R. Martin drew inspiration from Scottish history, particularly the "Black Dinner" and the Massacre of Glencoe, to create a traumatic and unforgettable scene that left a lasting impact on the audience.
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The song is also played during the downfall of the Lannisters
"The Rains of Castamere", a song belonging to the Lannister family, plays during the Red Wedding, a massacre of the Starks and their bannermen. The song is also played during the downfall of the Lannisters, which is brought about by Cersei, who ruins relations with other houses and sends the Tyrell armies on pointless missions. Cersei's actions cause the Lannisters to lose their hold over Tommen to the Faith of the Seven, and after she destroys the Great Sept of Baelor, she takes the throne. With the deaths of Cersei and Jaime at the Battle of King's Landing, Tyrion becomes the head of House Lannister, and gives up the crown in favour of an elective monarchy.
The Red Wedding was conceived by George R. R. Martin during the early stages of planning his saga. It was inspired by two events in Scottish history: the "Black Dinner", where the Scottish king invited the Clan Douglas to a feast, serving a bull's head (a symbol of death) as the last course, while a single drum played in the background, and the Clan Douglas members were murdered. The other inspiration was the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, where Clan MacDonald hosted the Campbell Clan, who killed thirty-eight of their hosts overnight.
The song "The Rains of Castamere" is played by a band at the Red Wedding, right before the slaughter begins. The song also plays during the downfall of House Lannister, which is brought about by Cersei's actions. While Cersei does not dip into the Gold reserves of Casterly Rock to build her navy or raise armies, she sends the bulk of the Westerland army home, allowing the realm to defend itself. She also allows the Westerland Navy to protect its shores instead of demanding they come to the capital. Despite her actions, Cersei has been conservative with the use of the Lannisters' powers.
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George R.R. Martin always planned for Robb Stark's death at the Red Wedding
While George R.R. Martin has stated that he did not plan out every detail of his books in advance, he did establish a general outline that included major plot points and important character deaths. One of these pivotal events was the Red Wedding, which was conceived during the early stages of planning for his saga.
The Red Wedding was inspired by two events in Scottish history: the "Black Dinner" of the 15th century, and the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe. Martin has said that writing the Red Wedding was the hardest thing he has ever done.
In the Red Wedding, Robb Stark and his bannermen are massacred. Martin planned Robb Stark's death at the Red Wedding from the beginning, as he wanted to catch readers off-guard and make the story unpredictable. He also killed off Robb because he believed that the audience would assume the story was about Ned Stark's heir avenging his death, and he wanted to keep them guessing.
In an alternate storyline, Catelyn Stark, Robb's mother, was not present at the Red Wedding. Instead, she was meant to die at the hands of the White Walkers, or the "Others" as they are known in the books. This would have given the Starks a more rooted reason to fight the northern threat and seek revenge. However, Martin ultimately decided to include Catelyn in the Red Wedding, creating one of the most iconic and heart-wrenching moments in the series.
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Frequently asked questions
The song that plays during the Red Wedding scene in Game of Thrones is called "The Rains of Castamere".
During the Red Wedding, Robb Stark and his bannermen are massacred following his wedding to Roslin Frey.
"The Rains of Castamere" is a song belonging to the Lannister family. Its lyrics foreshadow the Red Wedding and it is played by the band at the wedding right before the slaughter begins.
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