Tag Archives: literary songs

Literary Songs A-Z | C is for… ‘Catcher in the Rye’ by J.D. Salinger

01 Thursday Mar 2012

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The classic American ‘coming-of-age‘ novel ‘Catcher in the Rye‘ by J.D. Salinger is one of those books that leave me frustrated and slightly on edge. Holden Caulfield, the 16-year-old protagonist is an icon of teenage rebellion and angst. Now I’m well and truly past my teenage years I’m a little scared to relate with this strange boy who is caught in that in between stage of life.

So in honour of the novel here is Guns’n’Roses with their tribute ‘Catcher in the Rye’. Enjoy! Lyrics are below.

When all is said and done
We’re not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That’s what the old folks say
But every time I see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I’d have more fun (Guess I’d have more fun)

Oooh, the Catcher In The Rye
Again Won’t let ya get away from him (Tomorrow never comes) It’s just another day… Like today
You decide
Cause I don’t have to
And then they’ll find
And I won’t ask you
At anytime
Or long hereafter
If the cold outside’s
As I’m imagining
It to be Oh, no

Lana nana na na na
Lana nana na nana
Ooh, the Catcher In The Rye Again
Won’t let ya get away from him (Tomorrow never comes)
It’s just another day… Like today
When all is said and done
We’re not the only ones
Who look at life this way
That’s what the young folks say
And if they’d ever change
As that reminds to say
But every time I see them
Makes me wish I had a gun
If I thought that I was crazy
Well I guess I’d have more fun
Cause what used to be’s
Not there for me
And ought to for someone That belongs… Insane… Like I do
Oh, no Not at all

On an ordinary day
Not in an ordinary way
All at once the song I heard
No longer would it play
For anybody
Or anyone
That needed comfort from somebody
Needed comfort from someone
Who cared To be Not like you
And unlike me

And then the voices went away from me Somehow you set the wheels in motion
That haunt our memories
You were the instrument
You were the one
How a body
Took the body
You gave that boy a gun

You took our innocence
Beyond our stares
Sometimes the only thing
We counted on
When no one else was there

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Literary Songs A-Z | B is for… ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’

28 Tuesday Feb 2012

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One of my favourite Capote novels ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ clocks in under the letter ‘B’. This is one of those books where the film version precedes the book in terms of popularity – and quite right too! The queen of style Audrey Hepburn’s iconic rendition of the independent single girl in the city type was an instant success. Fast forward to the 90’s and the band Deep Blue Something’s hit single ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ took the world by storm and has stayed a classic ever since.

You say that we’ve got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we’re falling apart
You’ll say the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don’tcare

And I said what about “Breakfast at Tiffany’s? She said, “I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it.” And I said, “Well, that’s the one thing we’ve got.”

I see you – the only one who knew me
And now your eyes see through me
I guess I was wrong
So what now?
It’s plain to see we’re over,
And I hate when things are over – When so much is left undone

And I saidwhat about “Breakfast at Tiffany’s? She said, “I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, I think, we both kinda liked it.” And I said,”Well, that’s the one thing we’ve got.”

You say that we’ve got nothing in common
No common ground to start from
And we’re falling apart
You’llsay the world has come between us
Our lives have come between us
But I know you just don’t care

And I said what about “Breakfast atTiffany’s?
She said, “I think I remember the film,
And as I recall, Ithink, we both kinda liked it.” And I said, “Well, that’s the one thing we’ve got.”

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Literary Songs A-Z | A is for… ‘Alice in Wonderland’

26 Sunday Feb 2012

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It’s a magical moment when a song captures the soul of a well-loved book. Over the years I’ve enjoyed discovering both songs that were inspired by books and those that could very well have been. So I’ve decided to take a look and compile a little A-Z of famous (and maybe not so well-known) songs that have found life through books.

Since this is going to be in alphabetical order, our first entry must begin with:

Lewis Carroll’s delightful tale of surreal escapism has always been a firm favourite of mine. And I am so glad that the next song so perfectly sums up the wonder and fear of a world where not everything is as it seems. Here is Jefferson Airplane‘s ‘White Rabbit‘ followed by the a cover by Collide that is far darker, more techno version that far from detracting from the original, adds a certain edge and brings the song bang up to date.

And the cover: ‘White Rabbit’ by Collide…

So, which one is your favourite. I can’t decide, but with lyrics like that you can’t really go wrong no matter what you do to the song!

 One pill makes you larger
And one pill makes you small,
And the ones that mother gives you
Don’t do anything at all.

Go ask Alice
When she’s ten feet tall.
And if you go chasing rabbits
And you know you’re going to fall,
Tell ’em a hookah smoking caterpillar
Has given you the call.

Call Alice When she was just small.
When the men on the chessboard
Get up and tell you where to go
And you’ve just had some kind of mushroom
And your mind is moving low.

Go ask Alice I think she’ll know.
When logic and proportion
Have fallen sloppy dead,
And the White Knight is talking backwards
And the Red Queen‘s “off with her head!”

Remember what the dormouse said:
“Feed your head. Feed your head. Feed your head”

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