sod Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 I've just seen this and wondered if there were any others songs that are based on books? http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/gallery/2011/sep/25/ten-best-book-based-songs#/?picture=379430255&index=9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Ooo, curious list. I know Led Zeppelin were very much into Tolkein, and made reference/wrote songs about various parts of both Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit; 'Battle Of Evermore', 'No Quarter' and 'Ramble On'. Annie Lennox's 'Into The West' is also Tolkein influenced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 How about The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden, based on the poem by Coleridge? Does that count? Also Odyssey by Symphony X - a 24-minute long musical interpretation of Homer's epic. Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 (edited) Great topic! Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike and the Mechanics) brought out an amazing album called Smallcreep's Day, based on a book of the same name by Peter Currell Brown (which I must get round to reading!). Sixpence None the Richer get their band name from Mere Christianity by C S Lewis. (I can't get the link to load, so apologies if these are listed). I often read things in books and think "oh, so that's where their name came from!". I recently read something in Lolita and thought it had inspired a band name, but it turned out to be just coincidence. ETA: The Boo Radleys (and Wake Up Boo) from To Kill a Mockingbird! ETA Again: Talking of Lolita how could I forget Don't Stand So Close To Me - that's the whole reason I (eventually) read that book!! Edited September 27, 2011 by Janet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chaliepud Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 I cheated!! Only because I couldn't think of any other than Genesis. On googling I also found there is a band called Veruca Salt, how cool! http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/listoftheday/141472/twenty-five-band-names-taken-from-book-titles/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Iron Maiden is a good source for book based songs. As well as Rime of the acient Mariner that Kell mentioned, there was also "Murder in the rue morgue", "Where Eagles dare", "The assassin" (based on a shaun Hutson book, I believe, but I stand to be corrected), and To tame a land - which is based on Dune. Good topic! Ian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Not to mention When Two Worlds Collide (book by Philip Gordon Wylie) and Brave New World (Huxley). They must be well read! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busy91 Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica is based on the Hemmingway book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleW Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 The album Moonfleet and other stories from Chris de Burgh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Kate Bush is famous for 'Wuthering Heights' and that makes the list but her song 'The Sensual World' was also inspired by a book .. James Joyce's 'Ulysses' Also The Noisettes have a song called 'Atticus' which is inspired by 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sod Posted September 28, 2011 Author Share Posted September 28, 2011 I've just remembered this lot as well!! Casino Royale - Chris Cornell Live and Let Die - Paul McCartney & Wings Moonraker - Shirley Bassey Diamonds Are Forever - Shirley Bassey From Russia, with Love - Matt Monro Goldfinger - Shirley Bassey For Your Eyes Only - Sheena Easton Thunderball - Tom Jones The Spy Who Loved Me - Carly Simon On Her Majesty's Secret Service - Louis Armstrong You Only Live Twice - Nancy Sinatra The Man with the Golden Gun - Lulu Octopussy - Rita Coolidge The Living Daylights - a-ha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janet Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Very good! There must be hundreds of others in a similar vein...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyzenthlay Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons is written about the Lion in the Wizard of Oz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kylie Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I was just listening to Kate Bush's gorgeous Wuthering Heights song and I thought it might be fun to make a list of other songs that are about books or that reference books in the lyrics. You don't have to post complete lyrics, or any lyrics at all, but it helps. Wuthering Heights Out on the wiley, windy moors We'd roll and fall in green You had a temper, like my jealousy Too hot, too greedy How could you leave me? When I needed to possess you? I hated you, I loved you too Bad dreams in the night They told me I was going to lose the fight Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering Wuthering Heights (Chorus) Heathcliff, its me, Cathy come home I'm so cold, let me in-a-your window Oh it gets dark, it gets lonely On the other side from you I pine a lot, I find the lot Falls through without you I'm coming back love, cruel Heathcliff My one dream, my only master Too long I roam in the night I'm coming back to his side to put it right I'm coming home to wuthering, wuthering, Wuthering Heights (Chorus) Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away You know it's me, Cathy (Chorus) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppyshake Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I've been listening to that too recently .. it's one of my favourite songs ever and I bought it long before I knew anything about the book Kate did another song .. 'The Sensual World' which was inspired by James Joyce's Ulysses .. here's what Wiki says about it .. The song is inspired by Molly Bloom stepping out of the black and white, two-dimensional pages of James Joyce's Ulysses into the real world, and is immediately struck by the sensuality of it all. It was originally supposed to be Molly Bloom's speech (from the end of Ulysses) set to music, but Bush could not secure the rights from the Joyce estate, so she altered it. In 2011, the Joyce estate granted license to the material, and Bush re-recorded the song as Flower of the Mountain released on 2011's Directors Cut. I love the original song but haven't heard the one of Director's Cut .. I didn't like what I did hear of the album and so didn't buy it. Actually the words are a little bit saucy ... Mmh, yes, Then I'd taken the kiss of seedcake back from his mouth Going deep South, go down, mmh, yes, Took six big wheels and rolled our bodies Off of Howth Head and into the flesh, mmh, yes, He said I was a flower of the mountain, yes, But now I've powers o'er a woman's body, yes. Stepping out of the page into the sensual world. Stepping out... To where the water and the earth caress And the down of a peach says mmh, yes, Do I look for those millionaires Like a Machiavellian girl would When I could wear a sunset? mmh, yes, And how we'd wished to live in the sensual world You don't need words--just one kiss, then another. Stepping out of the page into the sensual world Stepping out, off the page, into the sensual world. And then our arrows of desire rewrite the speech, mmh, yes, And then he whispered would I, mmh, yes, Be safe, mmh, yes, from mountain flowers? And at first with the charm around him, mmh, yes, He loosened it so if it slipped between my breasts He'd rescue it, mmh, yes, And his spark took life in my hand and, mmh, yes, I said, mmh, yes, But not yet, mmh, yes, Mmh, yes. The Police reference Lolita in 'Don't Stand so Close to Me' ... Loose talk in the classroom To hurt they try and try Strong words in the staffroom The accusations fly It's no use, he sees her He starts to shake and cough Just like the old man in That book by Nabakov Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I was just listening to The Odyssey by Symphony X as I got to the office To the one that I love, my journey has begun When our eyes meet once more there will be peace The taste of your lips the warmth of your touch again, forever, two souls as one Seasons of sorrow have stolen all my years I miss the rolling hills of Ithaca I've been through battles and cried a sea of tears but the tide is changing, and with it all my fears Seems like forever that my eyes have been denied Home - I dream of home I've been twenty years away from all I ever knew To return would make my dream come true Led Zep loved their Tolkein, like in Ramble On: T'was in the darkest depths of Mordor I met a girl so fair, But Gollum, the evil one Crept up and slipped away with her A couple of dreadful Iron Maiden songs also spring to mind: Where Eagles Dare (Alistair MacLean) and To Tame A Land (Dune - but Frank Herbert quite rightly wouldn't let them use the name!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Easy Reader Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I can only think of Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straights and Breakfast at Tiffany's - Deep Blue Something but I think the latter is about the film rather than the book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruth Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 David Bowie wrote a song called 1984, about George Orwell's book (actually I think he wrote a number of songs about the book, but that was the only one with the same title). Radiohead had a song called 2+2=5, which was also about Orwell's 1984. Woody Guthrie had a song called Tom Joad, which retells The Grapes of Wrath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peahen Posted February 20, 2013 Share Posted February 20, 2013 Those I know of apart from Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush are: Return to Oz by The Scissor Sisters - it is a song that contrasts dramatically to their other songs and has some excellent lyrics Bright Eyes by Garfunkel - based on Watership Down Lord of the Flies by Iron Maiden Phantom of the Opera by Iron Maiden William, It was really nothing by The Smiths based on Billy Liar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ian Posted February 21, 2013 Share Posted February 21, 2013 Just remembered that the band Anthrax, who were big Stephen King fans, had a song called "Among The Living" which is based on The Stand. On the same album there's also a song called "I am the law" which is based on the Judge Dredd comics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted February 22, 2013 Share Posted February 22, 2013 (Sex Crime) 1984 by The Eurythmics - based on the book of the same name by George Orwell and (I think) the closing credits music for the film starring John Hurt... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Korenith Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Blind Guardian base pretty much all their music on some work of literature or other: Lord of the Rings, Peter Pan, Wheel of Time just to name a few. And as a few have mentioned Symphony X also like their epics. They did an album retelling Paradise Lost which is one of my favourite albums ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karsa Orlong Posted February 27, 2013 Share Posted February 27, 2013 They did an album retelling Paradise Lost which is one of my favourite albums ever. Yeah, that's a fantastic album Rush's 2112 is based loosely on Ayn Rand's Anthem (and got them labeled as fascists by some areas of the music press at the time ). And their Rivendell is, of course, something to do with a bunch of pointy-eared elves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragonmyst Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 So what songs do you guys know of that are about things in books? I have one band in particular, an Irish folk metal band called cruachan that has some songs that are related to tolkien's works Shelob Ungoliant Beren and Luthien The Fall of Gondolin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onion Budgie Posted March 10, 2017 Share Posted March 10, 2017 Led Zeppelin referenced Tolkien in a few of their songs, Ramble On most particularly, which mentions Mordor and Gollum, and a long journey: And then there's Kate Bush with her Wuthering Heights. Everyone knows that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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