To Keep an Oath: An Analysis on Don't Think Twice
by lazy
Don’t Think Twice is about a person’s determination to be with the one they truly love and how they will not hesitate to follow their desires. As the theme song of KH3, it perfectly encapsulates Sora’s motivations and feelings at the end of KH3. So in order to understand the song, we have to examine where Sora was emotionally throughout the game. From learning how to fight “with all his heart,” to realizing why Kairi is his light in the darkness, Don’t Think Twice is about how Sora’s love for Kairi matures during KH3 and how his actions lead to his inevitable end.
Table of Contents
♡ Essay Series Intro
♡ Part 1: Kairi’s Oath (Chikai Essay)
♡ Something to Fight For
♡ I’ll Keep You Safe
♡ The Light in the Darkness
♡ Not For One More Second
♡ I’ll Come Back to You, I Promise
♡ Conclusion
♡ References
Notes: This is Part 2 of a series of essays exploring the relationship between Chikai and Don’t Think Twice, and how each song corresponds directly to Kairi and Sora’s perspectives. You can also check out the Intro and Part 1. This essay will contain KH3 spoilers and will be sokai centered. This is my personal interpretation of the song and is not meant to be taken as fact. So, please remember to take the essay with a grain of sea salt.
Sora is constantly faced with adversaries who try to diminish his beliefs.The opening lyrics of Don’t Think Twice:
How did I live in a kingdom of thieves
And people who say things they don't really mean, really mean
immediately connect to Sora’s fundamental conflict throughout KH3. Sora begins his quest to regain his strength and to learn the “power of waking” by going to Olympus to reach out to Hercules for help. After running into some trouble, he meets Xigbar, who diminishes their heroic efforts by saying that Sora’s sacrifices will only lead to his downfall.
Sora lives in a “kingdom of thieves”, where the thieves refer to those who try to take the light and twist it for their own selfish purposes. Sora feels an annoyance and anger towards his adversaries because he feels like they only say vague and malicious comments to tick him off.
Immediately, we see the beginning of the song connect to Sora’s perspective. His enemies tell him that it’s pointless to put others first, but Sora believes that fighting for other people is just. Although he doesn’t figure out how to regain his strength in the beginning, he knows what direction he needs to go. He’s looking for something he can fight for “with all his heart.”
The expression “with all my heart” is strongly connected to the theme of Don’t Think Twice. The title itself is an expression used to indicate you shouldn’t look back and should stick to your decisions, whereas “with all my heart” is an expression meaning to give your full effort into something. These phrases both have an impression that is very reminiscent of Sora’s character. Thus, this essay will examine how Sora learns to fully follow these phrases and what they mean in terms of his relationship with Kairi.
It is no secret that Sora and Kairi have always had romantic feelings for each other since the very beginning of the series, and the lyrics from the first verse of Don’t Think Twice express exactly what Sora was feeling in the Paopu Fruit scene. In the first verse, the lyrics:
You're only everything I ever dreamed
Ever dreamed of, ever dreamed of
describe the moment Kairi offers Sora a paopu fruit because we know Sora has always wanted to share the fruit with Kairi. This desire of Sora’s has been known as early as KH1, when Sora altered a cave drawing of Kairi and him to show himself giving a paopu fruit to Kairi.
The first verse lyrics continue with:
You must be kidding me
Did you really think I could say no?
which point directly to Sora’s initial gasp of surprise when Kairi offers the fruit and says nonchalantly, “I want to be a part of your life no matter what. That’s all.” Kairi is not usually one to make direct and bold gestures, so this catches Sora off guard. It is an offer he is willing to take very seriously, so these lyrics perfectly describe Sora’s reaction.
While the second half of the first verse is Sora’s initial reaction to Kairi’s proposal, the chorus:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
describes Sora’s response to sharing and accepting the fruit. After Kairi gives her reason for offering a paopu fruit, Sora takes it and responds with “I’ll keep you safe.” According to Phoenix Downer’s translation and analysis of the Paopu Fruit scene, they claim that “in this moment, while Sora is accepting Kairi’s protection offered by the magic of the paopu fruit, he’s also vowing to protect her in return. To my knowledge this is the first time he’s done so.” [1] Thus, this indicates a dramatic shift in their relationship. The chorus in Don’t Think Twice provides context of how seriously Sora is willing to elevate his relationship with Kairi. From his actions, it is apparent that Sora has always been willing to go the distance to make sure Kairi’s safe. But by declaring it verbally, Sora further proves that he will not hesitate to be by Kairi’s side.
In the first verse and chorus, there is an established theme that the speaker is resisting hesitation and increasing their devotion for the one they love. Sora’s actions in the Paopu Fruit Scene tie directly to the beginning part of the song and the overall theme because it is the first time he openly declares his affection for Kairi and creates a promise much deeper than the ones he’s made before.
Furthermore, Sora’s determination to not hesitate on his feelings during the Paopu Fruit scene is also depicted in the bridge:
If you want to take it to an even higher level
All you gotta do is say the word You know I'll follow
If you wanna take it to an even higher level (I don't, I don't bite)
which is descriptive of how Sora responds to Kairi’s bold gesture. Sora makes it known that he is willing to take their relationship to a new level, and he responds to Kairi’s initiation with eagerness. Much of Sora and Kairi’s relationship has been put on the back burner because of Sora’s duties to his friends. Nevertheless, with Kairi’s offer to share the paopu fruit, Sora has a new conviction to take his relationship with Kairi seriously.
At the point when the Paou Fruit scene happens in KH3, Sora is able to use the power of waking to save Ventus from sleep which he was able to call “with all [his] heart”. However, Sora hasn’t figured out what his something to fight for “with all [his] heart” is. Even though Don’t Think Twice clearly reflects how Sora is willing to take his relationship with Kairi to the next level, it is not until he is faced with a tough decision that Don’t Think Twice really begins to connect with Sora’s journey.
At the Keyblade Graveyard, Sora and his friends perish. Yet Sora arrives in the Final World, a place where people are in limbo, and meets the Dream Eater named Chirithy. Chirithy explains to Sora that he died, but is still intact because “Something is holding [him] here-- refusing to let [him] go.” This something is Sora’s “light in the darkness”, and when Sora leaves the Final World, Chirithy tells him to follow it.
After using the power of waking to save all of his friends, he follows the path to the Keyblade Graveyard to search for Kairi. In the Light in the Darkness scene, when Sora floats in the darkness, he sees Kairi, beaming a radiant light around her, waiting for him. And, when they reunite, Sora realizes that Kairi is the light in the darkness that kept him from fading away.
This is not the first time Sora falls into the darkness and is protected by Kairi’s light. When Sora is trapped in darkness and turned into a Heartless in KH1, Kairi was able to save him because of her desire to protect Sora and her love for him. Although, back then, Sora merely believed she was able to save him because their connection was so strong.
But in KH3, something different happens this time. In the Light in the Darkness scene, when Sora admits that Kairi saved him from fading away, she humbly responds that “All I did was believe that you wouldn’t.” From this, Sora starts to piece together the reason why Kairi was able to hold him together in the Final World. He remembers two strong moments where he has seen the same power of light being used. First, according to Sora’s Gummiphone post, when Rapunzel saves Eugene, he’s in awe of Rapunzel's “powerful magic”, and notes that it’s a power that he has never seen before. But, when he witnesses Anna’s frozen body come back to life, he understands Anna’s sacrifice to save Elsa was because of love.
When he thinks about those two moments together, he realizes that Rapunzel used her power of light out of love, and Anna’s act of love was actually her power of light. Just as Chirithy explained, something held Sora together from perishing completely. And in the Light in the Darkness scene, Sora realizes that it was because of Kairi’s faith in him. With all these thoughts circling throughout Sora’s mind, Sora finally comes to an epiphany. Kairi used her light to save him because she loves him.
The central theme of Don’t Think Twice can be summed up by all of these key moments in KH3 leading up to Sora’s reasoning for his decision at the end of KH3. These lyrics from the first half of the second verse strongly illustrate Sora’s character and why Don’t Think Twice is from his perspective:
I really don't get what everyone else believes
So why do I say things I don't really mean, really mean
Earlier in the essay, we talked about how Sora is antagonized by people who tell him putting others first will end in tragedy. Yet Sora believes the exact opposite because he’s the kind of person to go above and beyond to help his friends. It begs the question: why would Don’t Think Twice be about Sora when he' already is exceptionally good at not hesitating to help his friends? Well, Sora is actually hesitant about one thing: putting Kairi first. This characteristic of Sora’s is clearly shown in Blank Points, where he feels guilty for leaving Kairi, but he feels it’s his duty to save his friends.
Sora has always been selfless and makes decisions based on how his actions will benefit his friends. However, it is only in the Ending Scene of KH3, after losing Kairi, that Sora understood the hypocrisy of his actions. In KH1, Sora began his journey across worlds to find her, but was preoccupied by a calling to defeat the darkness. Even so, when he thinks of Kairi’s actions in the Light in the Darkness scene, he sees how Kairi keeps her word to protect him every time he’s in danger. So the lyrics above show Sora’s introspection on how he was unable to keep the promise he made with Kairi to protect her when they shared the paopu fruit. He believes he is guilty of making weak promises because he only gave the girl he loves half of his heart.
Because Sora feels a sense of guilt for not keeping his promise by the Ending Scene, Sora is devastated that Kairi is gone. The lyrics from the second half of the second verse:
I'm only crying 'cause I never dreamed
It'd take this long, It'd take this long
are able to capture how Sora feels when he loses Kairi. It describe the regret, frustration, and sadness Sora feels for waiting too long to share a paopu fruit with Kairi. Furthermore, it poignantly paints the pain Sora feels after Xehanort kills her because he only just realized how much she loved him during the Light in the Darkness scene. And most importantly, the lyrics strongly enhance Sora’s urgency to be with Kairi. He cannot make the same mistakes again.
Since the lyrics in the second verse are written to describe Sora’s melancholy, the meaning of the chorus explains why he comes to his decision in the Ending Scene to save Kairi. This time, the chorus:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
narrates his rationale for saving Kairi. Even after he saves everyone and the World, his heroism cost him the most important person in his life. While Sora got himself caught up in prioritizing the fate of the World, he forgot that all he wanted was to just go home with Kairi and stay in Destiny Islands.
Kairi clung on to Sora’s life when he died, and now Sora wants to reciprocate her actions by doing the same. Specifically the lyrics:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
is a call back to the promise Sora and Kairi made in the Paopu Fruit scene. Sora knows that he’s guilty of breaking his promise to Kairi, so he figures that saving her immediately is the only way he can fulfill his promise to protect her.
Amongst his friends, Sora is the only one who believes everything will work out in the end. Mickey warns Sora what the risks of searching for Kairi with the “power of waking” will be, but Sora is convinced that going after her now is the only option. These lyrics from the bridge show the kind of mindset Sora has when he makes his decision:
If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible
All you gotta do is say the word, the walls will crumble
If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible
From past experience, Sora and Kairi have performed leaps of faith and miracles to reunite with each other despite the obstacles that continually tear them apart. Sora has always tried to save Kairi in the past, but the intention is different this time. His understanding of the risks shows his maturity and growth since he is not trying to prove his valor or strength. He experienced how Kairi used the strength of her heart to protect him, and now he’s going after her because he cares deeply for her well-being, regardless of how his actions will affect his own. Just as it’s reflected in Don’t Think Twice, Sora learns to not hesitate on his own desires and feelings.
In the Ending Scene, Sora is weak from overusing his “power of waking”, but he desperately wants to save Kairi. He understands the consequences of saving Kairi, but he rationalizes that this is something he must do. He’s already determined in his mind that he will risk his life for her and that he will not second guess anymore. Sora makes this decision not just for Kairi’s sake but mostly for his own sake. He finally found his “something to fight for with all [his] heart.”
Sora heroically decides to follow his desire to be with Kairi. Nevertheless, it ends tragically for him. Fortunately, Sora was able to be with Kairi for a brief moment in the last few seconds of KH3.
We’ve been looking at how the chorus’ meaning changes throughout the song as it connects to Sora’s growing determination, and as a matter of fact, the chorus shows up for a third time after the bridge. Again, the chorus:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
continues to call back to the initial promise Sora made to Kairi while sharing the paopu fruit. It’s fitting that their final scene happens exactly as the chorus plays and is the exact spot they shared the paopu fruit, making a direct callback to the scene.
The first run through of the chorus is an indication of Sora’s initial promise to protect and stay with Kairi. Additionally, the second run through of the chorus is Sora repeating his vow to be with Kairi when he declares his decision to save her. The third run through, however, still calls back to the promise. This time, Sora is unsure of whether he will be able to stay with her. These lyrics:
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
describe Sora in his last moments with Kairi. He is content with his decision, living up to his desire to be with her. He doesn’t want her to hesitate or try to change the past because he believes what he did was the right choice. These lyrics describe the moment Sora holds Kairi’s hand before he drifts away from her, which is reminiscent of the final scene of KH1 when he promises to come back to her.
This time no words are exchanged as Sora squeezes Kairi’s hand, a tender and comforting gesture to let her know that he’s still there with her. Even as Kairi turns to him teary-eyed and with a pained smile, Sora grips her hand and shifts his body towards her. He continues to look deep into her eyes with a content smile before disappearing.
Throughout the song, the meaning of the chorus progressively changes from Sora becoming more mature and determined to be with Kairi to now begging Kairi to not think twice about his decision. In the final chorus, Sora’s determination is still there, but he doesn’t want there to be any doubt in his mind or Kairi’s. He’s actively expressing his devotion to her and asking her to accept how he decided to give his life for her. Despite the consequences, Sora knows what has been done was always meant to happen. In the end, Sora was able to fight “with all his heart.” Just as the song goes, Sora’s determination to be with Kairi is what fueled him to make the sacrifices he needed in order to make sure Kairi was safe again. He promised to protect her, and he succeeded in the end.
Don’t Think Twice is a tragedy disguised underneath a sweet love song. It directly reflects Sora’s personality because his optimism overpowers the awful moments of his life. Because of the events laid out in KH3, Sora matures emotionally and learns to follow his heart’s desires which are consistent with the song’s message. The reason why Sora and Kairi’s relationship is a tragedy is because of how the timing of their feelings never syncopate together. And yet, there is something to take from Don’t Think Twice. For Sora, the sacrifices that he made were not in vain.
Don’t Think Twice is about a person’s determination to be with the one they truly love and how they will not hesitate to follow their desires. As the theme song of KH3, it perfectly encapsulates Sora’s motivations and feelings at the end of KH3. So in order to understand the song, we have to examine where Sora was emotionally throughout the game. From learning how to fight “with all his heart,” to realizing why Kairi is his light in the darkness, Don’t Think Twice is about how Sora’s love for Kairi matures during KH3 and how his actions lead to his inevitable end.
Table of Contents
♡ Part 1: Kairi’s Oath (Chikai Essay)
♡ Something to Fight For
♡ I’ll Keep You Safe
♡ The Light in the Darkness
♡ Not For One More Second
♡ I’ll Come Back to You, I Promise
♡ Conclusion
♡ References
Notes: This is Part 2 of a series of essays exploring the relationship between Chikai and Don’t Think Twice, and how each song corresponds directly to Kairi and Sora’s perspectives. You can also check out the Intro and Part 1. This essay will contain KH3 spoilers and will be sokai centered. This is my personal interpretation of the song and is not meant to be taken as fact. So, please remember to take the essay with a grain of sea salt.
Something to Fight For
How did I live in a kingdom of thieves
And people who say things they don't really mean, really mean
immediately connect to Sora’s fundamental conflict throughout KH3. Sora begins his quest to regain his strength and to learn the “power of waking” by going to Olympus to reach out to Hercules for help. After running into some trouble, he meets Xigbar, who diminishes their heroic efforts by saying that Sora’s sacrifices will only lead to his downfall.
Sora lives in a “kingdom of thieves”, where the thieves refer to those who try to take the light and twist it for their own selfish purposes. Sora feels an annoyance and anger towards his adversaries because he feels like they only say vague and malicious comments to tick him off.
Immediately, we see the beginning of the song connect to Sora’s perspective. His enemies tell him that it’s pointless to put others first, but Sora believes that fighting for other people is just. Although he doesn’t figure out how to regain his strength in the beginning, he knows what direction he needs to go. He’s looking for something he can fight for “with all his heart.”
The expression “with all my heart” is strongly connected to the theme of Don’t Think Twice. The title itself is an expression used to indicate you shouldn’t look back and should stick to your decisions, whereas “with all my heart” is an expression meaning to give your full effort into something. These phrases both have an impression that is very reminiscent of Sora’s character. Thus, this essay will examine how Sora learns to fully follow these phrases and what they mean in terms of his relationship with Kairi.
I’ll Keep You Safe
You're only everything I ever dreamed
Ever dreamed of, ever dreamed of
describe the moment Kairi offers Sora a paopu fruit because we know Sora has always wanted to share the fruit with Kairi. This desire of Sora’s has been known as early as KH1, when Sora altered a cave drawing of Kairi and him to show himself giving a paopu fruit to Kairi.
The first verse lyrics continue with:
You must be kidding me
Did you really think I could say no?
which point directly to Sora’s initial gasp of surprise when Kairi offers the fruit and says nonchalantly, “I want to be a part of your life no matter what. That’s all.” Kairi is not usually one to make direct and bold gestures, so this catches Sora off guard. It is an offer he is willing to take very seriously, so these lyrics perfectly describe Sora’s reaction.
While the second half of the first verse is Sora’s initial reaction to Kairi’s proposal, the chorus:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
describes Sora’s response to sharing and accepting the fruit. After Kairi gives her reason for offering a paopu fruit, Sora takes it and responds with “I’ll keep you safe.” According to Phoenix Downer’s translation and analysis of the Paopu Fruit scene, they claim that “in this moment, while Sora is accepting Kairi’s protection offered by the magic of the paopu fruit, he’s also vowing to protect her in return. To my knowledge this is the first time he’s done so.” [1] Thus, this indicates a dramatic shift in their relationship. The chorus in Don’t Think Twice provides context of how seriously Sora is willing to elevate his relationship with Kairi. From his actions, it is apparent that Sora has always been willing to go the distance to make sure Kairi’s safe. But by declaring it verbally, Sora further proves that he will not hesitate to be by Kairi’s side.
In the first verse and chorus, there is an established theme that the speaker is resisting hesitation and increasing their devotion for the one they love. Sora’s actions in the Paopu Fruit Scene tie directly to the beginning part of the song and the overall theme because it is the first time he openly declares his affection for Kairi and creates a promise much deeper than the ones he’s made before.
Furthermore, Sora’s determination to not hesitate on his feelings during the Paopu Fruit scene is also depicted in the bridge:
If you want to take it to an even higher level
All you gotta do is say the word You know I'll follow
If you wanna take it to an even higher level (I don't, I don't bite)
which is descriptive of how Sora responds to Kairi’s bold gesture. Sora makes it known that he is willing to take their relationship to a new level, and he responds to Kairi’s initiation with eagerness. Much of Sora and Kairi’s relationship has been put on the back burner because of Sora’s duties to his friends. Nevertheless, with Kairi’s offer to share the paopu fruit, Sora has a new conviction to take his relationship with Kairi seriously.
At the point when the Paou Fruit scene happens in KH3, Sora is able to use the power of waking to save Ventus from sleep which he was able to call “with all [his] heart”. However, Sora hasn’t figured out what his something to fight for “with all [his] heart” is. Even though Don’t Think Twice clearly reflects how Sora is willing to take his relationship with Kairi to the next level, it is not until he is faced with a tough decision that Don’t Think Twice really begins to connect with Sora’s journey.
The Light in the Darkness
After using the power of waking to save all of his friends, he follows the path to the Keyblade Graveyard to search for Kairi. In the Light in the Darkness scene, when Sora floats in the darkness, he sees Kairi, beaming a radiant light around her, waiting for him. And, when they reunite, Sora realizes that Kairi is the light in the darkness that kept him from fading away.
This is not the first time Sora falls into the darkness and is protected by Kairi’s light. When Sora is trapped in darkness and turned into a Heartless in KH1, Kairi was able to save him because of her desire to protect Sora and her love for him. Although, back then, Sora merely believed she was able to save him because their connection was so strong.
 |
| Kairi looking to the distance wondering how long it will take him to figure it out. |
But in KH3, something different happens this time. In the Light in the Darkness scene, when Sora admits that Kairi saved him from fading away, she humbly responds that “All I did was believe that you wouldn’t.” From this, Sora starts to piece together the reason why Kairi was able to hold him together in the Final World. He remembers two strong moments where he has seen the same power of light being used. First, according to Sora’s Gummiphone post, when Rapunzel saves Eugene, he’s in awe of Rapunzel's “powerful magic”, and notes that it’s a power that he has never seen before. But, when he witnesses Anna’s frozen body come back to life, he understands Anna’s sacrifice to save Elsa was because of love.
When he thinks about those two moments together, he realizes that Rapunzel used her power of light out of love, and Anna’s act of love was actually her power of light. Just as Chirithy explained, something held Sora together from perishing completely. And in the Light in the Darkness scene, Sora realizes that it was because of Kairi’s faith in him. With all these thoughts circling throughout Sora’s mind, Sora finally comes to an epiphany. Kairi used her light to save him because she loves him.
Not For One More Second
I really don't get what everyone else believes
So why do I say things I don't really mean, really mean
Earlier in the essay, we talked about how Sora is antagonized by people who tell him putting others first will end in tragedy. Yet Sora believes the exact opposite because he’s the kind of person to go above and beyond to help his friends. It begs the question: why would Don’t Think Twice be about Sora when he' already is exceptionally good at not hesitating to help his friends? Well, Sora is actually hesitant about one thing: putting Kairi first. This characteristic of Sora’s is clearly shown in Blank Points, where he feels guilty for leaving Kairi, but he feels it’s his duty to save his friends.
Sora has always been selfless and makes decisions based on how his actions will benefit his friends. However, it is only in the Ending Scene of KH3, after losing Kairi, that Sora understood the hypocrisy of his actions. In KH1, Sora began his journey across worlds to find her, but was preoccupied by a calling to defeat the darkness. Even so, when he thinks of Kairi’s actions in the Light in the Darkness scene, he sees how Kairi keeps her word to protect him every time he’s in danger. So the lyrics above show Sora’s introspection on how he was unable to keep the promise he made with Kairi to protect her when they shared the paopu fruit. He believes he is guilty of making weak promises because he only gave the girl he loves half of his heart.
Because Sora feels a sense of guilt for not keeping his promise by the Ending Scene, Sora is devastated that Kairi is gone. The lyrics from the second half of the second verse:
I'm only crying 'cause I never dreamed
It'd take this long, It'd take this long
are able to capture how Sora feels when he loses Kairi. It describe the regret, frustration, and sadness Sora feels for waiting too long to share a paopu fruit with Kairi. Furthermore, it poignantly paints the pain Sora feels after Xehanort kills her because he only just realized how much she loved him during the Light in the Darkness scene. And most importantly, the lyrics strongly enhance Sora’s urgency to be with Kairi. He cannot make the same mistakes again.
Since the lyrics in the second verse are written to describe Sora’s melancholy, the meaning of the chorus explains why he comes to his decision in the Ending Scene to save Kairi. This time, the chorus:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
narrates his rationale for saving Kairi. Even after he saves everyone and the World, his heroism cost him the most important person in his life. While Sora got himself caught up in prioritizing the fate of the World, he forgot that all he wanted was to just go home with Kairi and stay in Destiny Islands.
Kairi clung on to Sora’s life when he died, and now Sora wants to reciprocate her actions by doing the same. Specifically the lyrics:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
is a call back to the promise Sora and Kairi made in the Paopu Fruit scene. Sora knows that he’s guilty of breaking his promise to Kairi, so he figures that saving her immediately is the only way he can fulfill his promise to protect her.
Amongst his friends, Sora is the only one who believes everything will work out in the end. Mickey warns Sora what the risks of searching for Kairi with the “power of waking” will be, but Sora is convinced that going after her now is the only option. These lyrics from the bridge show the kind of mindset Sora has when he makes his decision:
If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible
All you gotta do is say the word, the walls will crumble
If you want to make it happen, nothing's impossible
From past experience, Sora and Kairi have performed leaps of faith and miracles to reunite with each other despite the obstacles that continually tear them apart. Sora has always tried to save Kairi in the past, but the intention is different this time. His understanding of the risks shows his maturity and growth since he is not trying to prove his valor or strength. He experienced how Kairi used the strength of her heart to protect him, and now he’s going after her because he cares deeply for her well-being, regardless of how his actions will affect his own. Just as it’s reflected in Don’t Think Twice, Sora learns to not hesitate on his own desires and feelings.
In the Ending Scene, Sora is weak from overusing his “power of waking”, but he desperately wants to save Kairi. He understands the consequences of saving Kairi, but he rationalizes that this is something he must do. He’s already determined in his mind that he will risk his life for her and that he will not second guess anymore. Sora makes this decision not just for Kairi’s sake but mostly for his own sake. He finally found his “something to fight for with all [his] heart.”
I’ll Come Back to You, I Promise
We’ve been looking at how the chorus’ meaning changes throughout the song as it connects to Sora’s growing determination, and as a matter of fact, the chorus shows up for a third time after the bridge. Again, the chorus:
I want you for a lifetime
So if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
continues to call back to the initial promise Sora made to Kairi while sharing the paopu fruit. It’s fitting that their final scene happens exactly as the chorus plays and is the exact spot they shared the paopu fruit, making a direct callback to the scene.
The first run through of the chorus is an indication of Sora’s initial promise to protect and stay with Kairi. Additionally, the second run through of the chorus is Sora repeating his vow to be with Kairi when he declares his decision to save her. The third run through, however, still calls back to the promise. This time, Sora is unsure of whether he will be able to stay with her. These lyrics:
Everything is just right
But if you're gonna think twice, baby
I don't wanna know, baby, I don't wanna know
describe Sora in his last moments with Kairi. He is content with his decision, living up to his desire to be with her. He doesn’t want her to hesitate or try to change the past because he believes what he did was the right choice. These lyrics describe the moment Sora holds Kairi’s hand before he drifts away from her, which is reminiscent of the final scene of KH1 when he promises to come back to her.
This time no words are exchanged as Sora squeezes Kairi’s hand, a tender and comforting gesture to let her know that he’s still there with her. Even as Kairi turns to him teary-eyed and with a pained smile, Sora grips her hand and shifts his body towards her. He continues to look deep into her eyes with a content smile before disappearing.
Throughout the song, the meaning of the chorus progressively changes from Sora becoming more mature and determined to be with Kairi to now begging Kairi to not think twice about his decision. In the final chorus, Sora’s determination is still there, but he doesn’t want there to be any doubt in his mind or Kairi’s. He’s actively expressing his devotion to her and asking her to accept how he decided to give his life for her. Despite the consequences, Sora knows what has been done was always meant to happen. In the end, Sora was able to fight “with all his heart.” Just as the song goes, Sora’s determination to be with Kairi is what fueled him to make the sacrifices he needed in order to make sure Kairi was safe again. He promised to protect her, and he succeeded in the end.
Conclusion
References
[1] Phoenix Downer's translation of the Papou Fruit scene. Check it out!
Sora and Kairi for life!
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