Zelda's Lullaby

"Zelda's Lullaby" is a recurring song in the Zelda series. Since its debut in A Link to the Past, it usually serves as background music whenever Princess Zelda appears and is thus considered to be her theme song. It appears as a playable melody in Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess.

A Link to the Past
"Zelda's Lullaby" plays in the background when Link meets Princess Zelda for the first time and whenever Link rescues one of the Seven Maidens.

Ocarina of Time
"Zelda's Lullaby" is taught by Impa after initially meeting Princess Zelda at her courtyard in Ocarina of Time. It is a sacred song with mysterious powers passed down by the Royal Family for generations, and it also served as a lullaby for the young Princess Zelda. "Zelda's Lullaby" plays a major role in solving numerous puzzles in the game, such as raising water levels in the Water Temple, to entering Zora's Domain as young Link, and opening other hidden passages. The mark that usually signals the need to play "Zelda's Lullaby" is a Triforce symbol, as seen when opening the Royal Family's Tomb and changing the water levels in the Water Temple.

According to Impa, only members of the Royal Family are allowed to learn "Zelda's Lullaby"; as such, playing this tune helps prove Link's connection to the Royal Family. After Ganon has been defeated and Link and Princess Zelda are talking in the sky, the princess sends the young hero back to his original time by playing "Zelda's Lullaby" on the, further demonstrating the melody's mysterious powers.

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, "Zelda's Lullaby" can be heard as background music during the flashback scene where Princess Zelda gives Link the Ocarina of Time. In the northern part of Termina Field, "Zelda's Lullaby"'s notes sometimes appear on the wall where Link can play a song for Rupees.

The Wind Waker
"Zelda's Lullaby" is played in The Wind Waker when Tetra is revealed to be Princess Zelda. Furthermore, it is heard during the staff credits as part of the ending theme.

Four Swords Adventures
Similar to A Link to the Past, "Zelda's Lullaby" plays after Link rescues one of the Seven Maidens.

The Minish Cap
"Zelda's Lullaby" occassionally plays when Princess Zelda and Link go to the Picori Festival in The Minish Cap. It also appears when Zelda first visits Link's house and during the ending credits.

Twilight Princess
"Zelda's Lullaby" appears as a playable melody again in Twilight Princess. Upon first entering the Sacred Grove, Wolf Link must howl the lullaby in order to make the Skull Kid appear. Once Link defeats him, the Skull Kid will open the way to the inside of the grove. He must howl it again after he reaches the inner part of the forest to activate the guardian statues and solve their puzzle to access the path to the Master Sword.

Zelda's theme is also heard on both occassions that Wolf Link meets Zelda inside her chamber in Hyrule Castle, and it's played once again when Princess Zelda receives the Light Arrows from the Light Spirits and asks Link for his help. A distorted version of "Zelda's Lullaby" can be heard when battling against Puppet Zelda.

Phantom Hourglass
A darker version of "Zelda's Lullaby" is played in Phantom Hourglass when Tetra pleads for Link's help as she gets swallowed by the Ghost Ship. The normal tune is later heard after Tetra returns to normal inside Linebeck's ship.

Spirit Tracks
Spirit Tracks heavily features "Zelda's Lullaby" as background music whenever Princess Zelda is on screen. A few mentions are:


 * during Link's graduation ceremony,
 * as the pair are sneaking out of Hyrule Castle,
 * when Zelda meets Link as a ghost in her chamber,
 * and when Zelda tries to get her body back before the final fight against Malladus

Skyward Sword
In Skyward Sword, "Zelda's Lullaby" is played just before Zelda goes into her slumber. This could be the reason the song is called Zelda's "Lullaby".

A Link Between Worlds
In, Zelda's Lullaby first plays when Link meets Zelda in Hyrule Castle to warn her that Yuga has transformed Seres and the Captain of the Guard into paintings. A darker version is later played when she is transformed into a painting herself. During the final battle, a piece of it is played when Zelda gives Link the Light Arrows, and finally, Zelda's Lullaby is one of the songs that can be played at the Milk Bar in Kakariko Village.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, "Zelda's Lullaby" is heard at the beginning of the "Ocarina of Time" medley, and it appears alongside other familiar melodies such as the "Song of Storms", "Epona's Song", "Saria's Song", and the "Song of Time."

Trivia

 * The left, up, and right C-Buttons used to play "Zelda's Lullaby" in Ocarina of Time creates a pattern that could be compared to the Triforce, which is often associated to Zelda's Lullaby in Ocarina of Time.
 * The Ballad of the Goddess from Skyward Sword is an orchestration of "Zelda's Lullaby" played in reverse.


 * This may be more than a simple aesthetic choice on the part of the developers. Skyward Sword, the first game to feature the Ballad of the Goddess, is the first game chronologically in the Zelda Timeline, and the incarnation of Zelda seen in this game founded the Royal Family of Hyrule. Although the circumstances under which the song was reversed are unclear, it would nevertheless be logical to assume that the Ballad continued to be handed down through the Hylian monarchy, eventually becoming the version heard in later games- Zelda's Lullaby.