The Rains of Castamere (song)

Around 40 years before the reign of Tywin Lannister, his father and the grandfather of his children Cersei, Jaime, and Tyrion, Tytos was the ruler of the Lannister's seat in Casterly Rock. During this time, the Reyne's and Tarbeck's were closely aligned to the house as vassals. House Reyne were so closely alligned that Lady Ellen Reyne, a member of the Reyne's was betrothed to marry into the Lannister family through Tywald Lannister. However, upon his death, Lady Reyne struck a sexual relationship with his twin brother Tion, and was able to convince him to marry her. Shortly after, Tion also died, and desperate to keep the Reyne's close to the Lannister's, she attempted to attract Tytos. Loyal to his wife, however, Tytos informed her, and the promiscuous Lady Reyne found herself married off Walderan Tarbeck.

When Tytos became Lord of Casterly Rock, he was initially loved by the houses, and known affectionately as the "Laughing Lion" on account of his jovial nature. However, the houses quickly realised that he was a weak leader and began to ridicule him in private, particularly the Reyne's and Tarbeck's. Although Lady Reyne was not allowed at Casterly Rock, her brothers Roger and Reynard were still permitted. They obtained vast loans from the Lannister's, and Lady Reyne used the money to refurbish Tarbeck Hall, and then refused to pay the money back to Tytos. At the time, Tywin was fighting in the War of the Ninepenny Kings, and returned to find the Lannister's being embarrassed and ridiculed. Upon his return, he ordered the immediate repayment of the loan or a hostage from each family until the loan was repaid. Believing that Tywin did not have power, Walderan Tarbeck went to Casterly Rock to talk with Tytos, but was met by Tywin at the gates. He was arrested and thrown in the dungeons, and was only released when Tytos, fearing the retribution of the Reyne's threats of war, caved and released him. Tytos then forgave the debts, and partook in a feast with Roger Reyne in which they decreed friendship forever.

After a year, Tywin recanted and recalled the Reyne's and Tarbeck's back to Casterly Rock and ordered them to pay their debts. In response, they rose in rebellion, exactly as Tywin had predicted they would, and the Lannister's quickly raised their army. Caught off guard, Walderan Tarbeck was forced to fight the Lannister's with only his household knights, and was promptly killed along with his sons. Their heads were placed on spears in the Lannister's vanguard section for the march to Tarbeck Hall. Lady Reyne sent ravens warning her brothers of the oncoming invasion in the hopes they could raise an army to break what she thought would be a lengthy siege. However, on Tywin's arrival, he broke the castle within a day, killing Lady Reyne and her son Tion in the collapse, and then burnt the remains of the castle after the Tarbeck's surrendered.

In the end of the battle, Roger Reyne and his army arrived, just in time to witness the massacre of the Tarbeck's. Enraged, he attacked the Lannister camp believing he had the advantage, but lost half of his army and was injured by a crossbow bolt instead. The remaining forces fled back to Castamere and were pursued back by the Lannister's. Fearing the insecurity of his castle, the Reyne's took refuge in the mines that lay underneath their castle in the belief it offered them a stronghold of sorts. From there they sent terms of surrender to Tywin in the hopes to avoid a long siege. Instead however, Tywin encircled Castamere, and had all exits from the mine sealed. From there, he ordered the moat redirected into the last opening into the mine, and drowned the Reyne's that were hiding there.

The song's lyrics first appear in the novel A Storm of Swords, in which "The Rains of Castamere" is sung or mentioned several times. It remembers Tywin Lannister's victory over House Lannister's rebellious vassals of House Reyne ("the Reynes of Castamere") and House Tarbeck, about 40 years before the events of the novels. The stanza of the song that is reproduced in the novels and adapted for the television series tells of the vassals' defiance – "And who are you, the proud lord said / That I must bow so low?" – and the subsequent extermination of their houses: "But now the rains weep o'er his hall / With no one there to hear." Late in the novel, the song is performed at the Red Wedding, another massacre of Tywin Lannister's enemies.[1]

In the TV series, the tune is first heard when Tyrion Lannister whistles a small part in season 2 episode 1 ("The North Remembers").[2] In season 2 episode 9, Bronn sings "The Rains of Castamere" with the Lannisters' soldiers. When one of the soldiers asks, "Where'd you learn the Lannister song?", Bronn replies, "Drunk Lannisters." An instrumental version can be heard during Tyrion's speech right after King Joffrey abandons the battlefield in the same episode. The season 2 soundtrack contains a rendition of the song "The Rains of Castamere" by the indie rock band The National, sung by their vocalist Matt Berninger.[3][4] The song is also played over the end credits of the season 2 episode 9, "Blackwater".

In season 3, an instrumental version of "The Rains of Castamere" plays over the end credits in episode 7, "The Bear and the Maiden Fair".[5] In episode 9 of season 3, also titled "The Rains of Castamere", an instrumental version of the song is played by the musicians at the Red Wedding.

In episode 2 of season 4 ("The Lion and the Rose"), the Icelandic band Sigur Rós makes a cameo appearance as musicians performing their rendition of "The Rains of Castamere" at Joffrey and Margaery's wedding. Joffrey stops them midway by throwing coins at them. Their version also plays over the closing credits of this episode.[6]

An orchestral rendition of the tune appears as House Lannister's theme throughout seasons 3 and 4, available in the soundtrack as "A Lannister Always Pays His Debts".

A new version of the song was released on the Season 8 soundtrack featuring Serj Tankian of the American heavy metal band System of a Down on lead vocals.

Personnel adapted from the album liner notes.[7]

• Game of Thrones Theme
• Music of Game of Thrones