I don’t know about you but I always find it pleasing when
artists of different mediums inspire each other. What is extraordinary, though,
is when a song of a couple of minutes manages to capture all the drama, excitement
and emotion of a book that might take you a couple of weeks to read. Here I’ve gathered together a list of songs
inspired by all things literary. I hope they inspire you…
Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
A bit obvious I admit, but still. I find it incredible that
a 4.29 song can get to the core of the emotions of a full length classic like
Bronte’s. Told from Cathy’s point of view, this song’s dramatic, sexually
charged lyrics are made more theatrical by Bush’s electrifying and strange vocals.
What’s even more remarkable is that Bush hadn’t even read the book when she
wrote this. And she was only 18. And it only took a couple of hours. Don’t some
people’s genius make you feel sick?
Cemetery Gates – The Smiths
Morrissey isn’t afraid of letting everyone know how well
read he is and thank goodness for that. One of the reasons Morrissey’s writing
is so rich is that he takes his cue from images set up by other writers. For
instance, he’s often lifted lines from Shelagh Delaney’s A Taste Of Honey. In this song, he tackles the complexities of
plagiarism with tongue firmly in cheek. I think what I like best about this is
the image it sets up of two friends and outsiders walking through a graveyard
contemplating life, death and poetry. Instantly relatable for the bookish among
us.
What the Water Gave Me – Florence and the Machine
Dreamy, poetical and lulling. This song is in part inspired by the suicide
of Virginia Woolf particularly so with the line ‘Pockets full of stones’. There are echoes of
Ophelia here too.
Jamaica Inn – Tori Amos
Slight confession: I haven’t read Jamaica Inn. Which is ridiculous because I’m a big Du Maurier fan
and this song is a great advertisement for the setting of the book. In this
song, Amos delicately weaves the dramatic Cornish landscape with the romantic
turmoil felt by the song’s heroine mirroring Du Maurier’s technique in the
novel. The lyrics are earthy, feminine and show the power of delicate, gentle
writing.
Paperback Writer – The Beatles
A song that captures the frustrations of the unsolicited
submission. The lyrics take the form of a writer’s letter to a publisher with
the writer prepared to go to any means i.e. ‘make it longer’ or ‘change it
round’. I think this song marks a change in the writing style of
Lennon/McCartney- inspiration was coming from different directions. There should
be more songs about the publishing industry.
The Typewriter – Leroy Anderson
If you ever need cheering up on a slow writing/study/work
day pop this delight on. You’ll feel like you’re in Populaire.
What are your favourite songs inspired by great literature?
What novel, play or poem do you think would make a good song?
