Curious about what song Ellie sings in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4? As Ellie and Dina explore a quiet moment in an abandoned music store, the episode delivers an emotional performance, a powerful callback to the original game, and a deeper look at Ellie’s connection to Joel.
Here’s a breakdown of the song Ellie performs and how it ties into her relationship with Joel.
What song does Ellie sing in The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 4?
In The Last of Us Season 2, Episode 4, Ellie sings an acoustic version of a-ha’s “Take on Me” for Dina while they wait in an abandoned music store. The scene recreates an optional moment from The Last of Us Part II video game, where players could find Ellie performing the same song in a similar setting.
The song previously appeared in The Last of Us Season 1 during the mall scene with Ellie and Riley, foreshadowing this moment. After Ellie finishes playing, she says the guitar lessons Joel gave her paid off. This confirms that Joel taught her to play, as hinted in the season premiere when he offered to restring her guitar.
How is the song Take On Me connected to Joel?
“Take on Me” connects to Ellie’s memories of Joel, who taught her how to play the guitar before he died. In the music store scene, she plays chords that Joel taught her, turning each performance into a reminder of their bond.
In the original game, Ellie starts playing Pearl Jam’s “Future Days” — the first song Joel played for her — but stops when Dina enters. The show omits this detail but retains the emotional connection by highlighting the “Take on Me” performance. This marks the first time Ellie is shown playing guitar in the series, confirming Joel’s influence. Dina’s emotional reaction reflects the significance of Joel’s presence through music.
The Last of Us airs Sundays on HBO and Max. Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, the show stars Bella Ramsey as Ellie and Pedro Pascal as Joel.
