Break Free (Lead the Way)
| "Break Free (Lead the Way)" | |
|---|---|
| "Break Free (Lead the Way)" in Super Mario Odyssey | |
Image from Nintendo Music | |
| Composed by: Naoto Kubo | |
| Vocals | Kate Higgins (English) Aimi Mukohara (Japanese) |
| Key | C major |
| BPM | 165 |
| First appearance | Super Mario Odyssey (2017) |
| Latest appearance | Mario Kart World (2025) |
"Break Free (Lead the Way)"[1] (titled "Honeylune Ridge: Escape" in the Music List) is a song in Super Mario Odyssey. It is the game's second song with lyrics after "Jump Up, Super Star!" and plays in the last section of the escape sequence at the end of the game's story, as well as in the ending cutscene. It has both a version with Japanese lyrics and one with English lyrics. The Japanese version can be played from various boomboxes, and an 8-bit version (without vocals) can be unlocked exclusively in the Music List by fulfilling at least three of Jammin' Toad's requests.
The song features arranged snippets of music from previous Super Mario games: halfway through the song, an electric guitar rendition of "Bowser's Theme" from Super Mario 64 and "Bowser Battle 1" from Super Mario Odyssey, and the 25m theme from Donkey Kong can be heard in the variation used during the ending cutscene, in the full version available on iTunes, and in the Super Mario Odyssey Original Soundtrack.
The song is performed by the Super Mario Players and was composed by Naoto Kubo,[2] and it is sung by Kate Higgins (credited as Kate Davis) in English and Aimi Mukohara in Japanese.
The song also appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as selectable music for Super Mario stages.
An instrumental arrangement of the song appears during routes and Free Roam in Mario Kart World.
Lyrics[edit]
The following lyrics are for the full version of the song. In the in-game Music List version, the song ends at the fourth to last verse (third to last for the Japanese version) before looping back to the beginning.
English[edit]
Smash through the blocks that bar your way
No time for fear just let it all fall away (all fall away)Nobody believes in me and you, just look at the way they stare
So what if we live in a walled garden, as long as I've got you then I don't careKick off the wall and take the plunge
Tripping through two dimensions
Up on the moon we'll twirl and swoon
Just lead the way (and I'll follow you)I'll throw my hat in the ring, 'cause you're the one
A miracle in three dimensions
Follow the brick path straight to my heart
And we'll grab the flag together the fireworks are gonna startShake off the chains, you're running free
You'll be amazed at all that there is to see (there is to see)Together we're racing for the goal, and no one can stop us now
Maybe we don't know where we're going, but we're gonna get there somehowClimb up the vine and land in the clouds
Maybe then we'll swap up for down
'cross the sea we're still you and me
I'll follow you (just lead the way)You've got me over the moon, and that's no jest
We're miles above the rest
Look in your eyes and I know we'll be fine
So let's shoot for the stars and make this love really shineNobody believes in me and you, just look at the way they stare
So what if we live in a walled garden, as long as I've got you then I don't careKick off the wall and take the plunge
Tripping through two dimensions
Up on the moon we'll twirl and swoon
Just lead the way (and I'll follow you)I'll throw my hat in the ring, 'cause you're the one
A miracle in three dimensions
Follow the brick path straight to my heart
And we'll grab the flag together the fireworks are gonna start
Japanese[edit]
| Japanese lyrics | Romanization | Translation |
|---|---|---|
|
感情の ブロック壊したら 無理無駄と 決めつける 奴ら尻目に 蹴り上げた この足で 2次元を 跨げば 積み上げた 体積が 3次元の 奇跡が 未来への プロット 描いたら くどくどと 垂れ流す 小言塞いでさ 擦り減った この靴で 地平線 越えれば 錆びだらけ この船で 水平線 越えれば のこのこと現れた僕らのチャンスが クシャクシャの その切符を 今こそ取り出してよ 振りかざせ その腕を 空高く突き上げろ |
Kanjō no burokku kowashitara Muri muda to kimetsukeru yatsura shirime ni Keri ageta kono ashi de nijigen o matageba Tsumi ageta taiseki ga sanjigen no kiseki ga Mirai e no purotto egaitara Kudokudo to tare nagasu kogoto fusaide sa Suri hetta kono kutsu de chiheisen koereba Sabi darake kono fune de suiheisen koereba Nokonoko to arawareta bokura no chansu ga Kushakusha no sono kippu o imakoso toridashiteyo Furikazase sono ude o sora takaku tsukiagero |
As I break the blocks of emotions, I don't care about those who claim so blindly "it's impossible", "it's futile". Striding over the two-dimensional with this foot kicked up, The volume heaped up, the miracle of the three-dimensional As I drew the plot to the future, Block out all those verbose scolding they discharge— Running beyond the horizon with these worn-thin shoes, Sailing beyond the horizon with this rusted ship, There our chance nonchalantly appeared, Now it's time to pull out that crumpled-up ticket Brandish your arm, thrust it up high into the sky. |
- Footnotes
- ^ 「
箱庭 」(hakoniwa; lit. "box garden"): May refer to the sandbox-like gameplay seen in Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario 64, and Super Mario Sunshine.
Multimedia[edit]
| File info 0:30 |
Gallery[edit]
Image of "Break Free (Lead the Way) - Instrumental", "Break Free (Lead the Way) - Japanese Ver.", and "Break Free (Lead the Way) - 8-Bit" from Super Mario Odyssey on Nintendo Music
Names in other languages[edit]
Honeylune Ridge: Escape[edit]
| Language | Name | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese | ハニークレーター - 脱出[?] Hanī Kurētā - Dasshutsu |
Honeylune Ridge - Escape | |
| Chinese | 甜蜜环形山—脱逃 (Simplified) 甜蜜環形山—脫逃 (Traditional)[?] Tiánmì Huánxíngshān - Tuōtáo |
Honeylune Ridge - Escape | |
| Dutch | Kathedraalkrater: ontsnapping[?] | Honeylune Ridge: Escape | |
| French | Cratère Lune de miel - Fuite[?] | Honeylune Ridge - Escape | |
| German | Mondscheinkrater: Flucht[?] | Honeylune Ridge: Escape | |
| Italian | Cresta Selenica - Fuga[?] | Honeylune Ridge - Escape | |
| Korean | 허니 분화구 - 탈출[?] Heoni Bunhwagu - Talchul |
Honeylune Ridge - Escape | |
| Russian | Брачный хребет: Бегство[?] Brachnyy khrebet: Begstvo |
Honeylune Ridge: Escape | |
| Spanish | Huida de Cresta Lunamiel[?] | Honeylune Ridge Escape |
References[edit]
- ^ オリジナルサウンドトラック | スーパーマリオ オデッセイ | Nintendo Switch | 任天堂. Being Inc. (Japanese). Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ SUPER MARIO ODYSSEY ORIGINAL SOUND TRACK. VGMdb. Retrieved November 3, 2020.