In the last post, I examined how music can influence the creativity of writers. Songs can help writers focus and enable them to visualize a scene before putting pen to paper, or fingers to keys. As much as music does help with the creative process, though, we cannot deny that books have influenced music. Many songwriters and bands have drawn inspiration from literary works.
The reason for this is probably a mixture of admiration
for the work and author, but also because great works of literature tell exceptional
stories. Since stories have always been an integral part of music, it should
not surprise us to find songs based on well-known books. Music can spark
imagination that leads to further creativity, as does great literature.
In the list below, you will find a list of literature-inspired songs. If you are someone who wants to guess which book influenced the musician, then listen to the playlist first before reading the next part of the post. However, if you want to understand the literary connection before listening, then keep reading. Either way, I am sure you will appreciate the book-inspired music.
“In Like a Lion (Always Winter)” by Relient K
What could be more
depressing than being stuck in an endless winter without any hope of Christmas?
C. S. Lewis captures this feeling well in The Lion, the
Witch and the Wardrobe. Jadis, the evil White Witch, cursed
Narnia so that it was “always winter, but never Christmas.” Only when Aslan
begins to move and sends Father Christmas to Narnia does the holiday reappear,
and with it, the hope of spring.
Although Relient K is well-known
for their witty and, at times, humorous music, their Narnia-inspired song is
expertly written and performed, blending both sorrow and joy.
“Dear Wormwood” by The Oh Hellos
The title is a clear hint
to its connection to literature. Drawing from C. S. Lewis's The Screwtape
Letters, this song mirrors the title of the
album, addressed to the demon Wormwood. The narrator of the song has
experienced abuse from someone who resembles Wormwood, who constantly tries to
tell him who he is and what he can do. No longer under his abuser’s control,
the narrator breaks free, declaring the truth about his identity and that of
his abuser.
“Weight of Living, Pt. 1” by Bastille
Although the phrase
“albatross around your neck” has become a way to refer to problems in life, the
albatross symbol has strong literary roots. Samuel Taylor Coleridge poetically
conveys the story of a man who shot an albatross in The Rime of the
Ancient Mariner. As punishment, the mariner is forced to
wear the albatross around his neck. The bird serves as a constant reminder of
his guilt.
Bastille’s song captures
the weight that many of us have felt. We all have regrets and things we wish we
could forget. There are times when we do need to let go of these burdens, as
the song says, but other times our “albatross” might be a burden that we
deserve. Many scholars believe Coleridge’s classic poem has religious symbolism.
If that is correct, then we can see the heavy weight of guilt and sin in the
symbolism of an albatross hanging around someone’s neck.
That burden is not easily
lifted, at least not in our strength. Thankfully, Jesus has invited us to turn
to Him and He will give us rest (see Matthew 11:28-30).
“Sigh No More” by Mumford & Sons
When I first heard this
song, I was impressed by the instrumentals and lyrical connection to faith. However,
I did not originally understand the literary reference. Upon closer study of
the lyrics, I discovered that the song draws inspiration from Shakespeare’s Much
Ado About Nothing. The title comes directly from a song in the play about
man’s infidelity called “Sigh
no more, ladies, sigh no more.”
Since Mumford & Sons’
song emphasizes the desire to see love as it was meant to be, listeners could
interpret the lyrics in contrast to the song in Shakespeare’s play. Yes, many
men are unfaithful and cheat on their wives, but there is also love that is faithful
and beautiful. True love will not betray or hurt, as Mumford & Sons reminds
us.
I believe that this love
is found in Christ. Only by knowing Him can we understand love as it was meant
to be and express that love to others. As 1 John 3:16 says, “This is how we
know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay
down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (NIV).
“Lothlorien” by Enya
Enya is well-known for
her song featured in The Fellowship of the Ring film called “May It Be.”
However, long before she recorded music for the movie, she was already a fan of
Tolkien’s work. The instrumental song “Lothlorien,” is inspired by the Elven realm
ruled by Galadriel and Celeborn.
“My Love Has Gone Across the Sea” by Andrew Peterson and “Yurgen’s Tune” by Isaac Horn, Lincoln Mick, and Sarah Wood
Many authors long to add
songs into their story world, but do not have experience with songwriting.
Thankfully for Andrew Peterson, he has skill in both crafting stories and
writing songs. He used his musical ability while crafting The Wingfeather
Saga.
These two songs are not
only beautiful pieces of music, but they add to the overall story. Esben, the
father to the Wingfeather children, spoke a few of the lyrics from “My Love Has
Gone Across the Sea” before he died. The words he speaks foreshadow the
ultimate act of love that Janner does for his brother, Kalmar.
Sacrificing one’s life
for another is presented as an example of love because “Greater love has no one
than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13, NIV). The
greatest act of love in all history was done when Jesus died on the cross for
the sins of the world. We can only show such love to others because of what the
Lord did (1 John 4:19).
“The Lobster Quadrille” by Franz Ferdinand
Although this song was
created for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland (2010), it directly follows
the lyrics of the song in the story by Lewis
Carroll. Franz Ferdinand adds a darker tone to the whimsical
song but remains true to the original rhyme.
In the story, Alice
encounters the Mock Turtle during her adventures in Wonderland, and he performs
“The Lobster Quadrille.”
“Where the Shadows Lie” by Bear McCreary and Fiona Apple
McCreary’s “Where the Shadows Lie” was created for the show The
Rings of Power based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord
of the Rings. Fiona Apple, a singer and songwriter
known for her unique vocals and songwriting ability, recorded the song for the
final episode of season one. The lyrics come directly from the opening poem of The
Lord of the Rings.
Regardless of individual
opinions about the show, “Where the Shadows Lie” is a powerful song that
captures the spirit of Tolkien’s fantasy epic.
“Digory’s Regret” by Sarah Sparks
We end where we started:
A song based on a book by C. S. Lewis. “Digory’s Regret” is a haunting song
that captures the perspective of Digory in The Magician’s
Nephew. Sarah Sparks expertly conveys the thoughts and
emotions expressed in the book, especially when mentioning Digory’s ill mother.
This song is part of
Sarah Sparks’ Narnia-inspired album Into the Lantern Waste. Like
“Digory’s Regret,” the songs are told from the perspective of individual characters
in The Chronicles of Narnia. The album includes other characters from
the beloved series such as Lucy, Eustace, Puddlegum, and others. My favorite is
“Shasta’s
Complaint,” which is excellently written.
Therefore, many songs,
and even entire albums, have been influenced by literature. The cycle is
circular though, as written works influence musicians and songs inspire authors.
