[Verse 1]
I was born at the ends of the earth
Where the wind sang us songs, and we sang them back
We know how to keep our footing
It's our job to keep our footing
When the wind is your teacher, your father's its voice
And we know how to keep our footing
But I've got two left feet
[Chorus]
But I'm learning, I'm learning, I'm learning, I'm learning
To step a little lighter, and talk a little quieter
Sometimes I mumble, sometimes I overstep
Sometimes I wish my mother hadn't left
[Verse 2]
I have a family who moves likе the wind does
They laugh when I laugh, and I laugh when they don’t
They know how to catch my footing
And nudge me into place
Sometimes I feel there’s a burning within me
Sometimes I want to scream
And they know how to catch my footing
But I can walk just fine
[Chorus]
I’m learning, I’m learning, I'm learning, I’m learning
That burning needs earth, wind, and water to balance
Sometimes I’m angry, sometimes I get sad
But when our directions go bad, I can be our compass
[Verse 3]
I have a partner who said that he loves me
It took me some time, but I said it back
We can watch each other’s footing
I love to watch his footing
His wings and his wonder make him one with the elements
His words and his laugh fill my heart like the wind does
The wind lives forever
[Chorus]
But I'm learning, I’m learning, I’m learning, I’m learning
That passing through fire can help things grow again
Sometimes it’s hard, and sometimes I don’t want to
But sometimes I hear the wind speak, I was born to
Pick up the mantle and speak for the storm
And my people and family and home
[Verse 4]
Now I’m back where the wind sings me songs
My family’s all safe, but I’ll see them gone
I know how to keep my footing
It’s my job to keep my footing
Now I can speak at a pace that is fitting
Step with the confidence wisdom has given
I can keep my footing
And give it to the wind
Keyleth’s mother Vilya embarked on a journey necessary to prove herself worthy to become Voice of the Tempest, known as an Aramente, but she never returned.
Keyleth was given a ring with the inscription “I have passed through fire” as a gift from guest player character Kerrek.
Half-elves like Keyleth usually have a lifespan of “often exceeding 180 years”. However, she has the 18th-level druid ability “Timeless Body”, which means she ages 1 year for every 10 years that pass. Due to this, she will long outlive almost everyone around her, including her parents and the rest of Vox Machina.
Vax died towards the end of the campaign, and was brought back only temporarily. Leaving Keyleth alone without her love.
The song’s focus, Keyleth, had a lover named Vax'ildan, or Vax for short. They fell in love slowly, as they met each other in a life of danger, and neither were sure if it was safe for them to begin a relationship. Vax made the first move, but Keyleth was hesitant. Eventually, they worked things out and officially started their romantic relationship.
This is in reference to the adventuring party Keyleth travelled with, Vox Machina. When they first started out, Keyleth was significantly more sheltered than the other group members, which led to some more awkward moments. But as they grew closer, they became each other’s family, and Keyleth was no longer the sheltered outsider she once was.
Keyleth’s village was led by a druid known as the Voice of the Tempest, a position held by her father Korrin. After her mother’s disappearance, Keyleth is now next in line to succeed her father as Voice of the Tempest and feels a lot of pressure to prove herself.
For the most of the campaign, Keyleth was one of the few characters with a strong moral compass. Her and the party’s cleric, Pike, tended to be the ones who pushed for the party to do the morally right thing.