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Writer's pictureJ. Glenn Bauer

Ten great songs inspired by books

Originally written 20, March 2016


I was surprised at how many songs partially inspired by books. Here are ten that cover diverse music genres.


One

Just a Modern Rock Song by Belle & Sebastian ‘Just A Modern Rock Song’ name drops some literary big-hitters: “I'm not as sad as Dostoevsky, I'm not as clever as Mark Twain, I only buy a book for the way that it looks/when I put it on the shelf again."


Two

Ramble On by Led Zepplin references that masterpiece by Tolkien; ‘Lord Of The Rings’.


Three

Off To The Races by Lana del Rey references Vladimir Nabokov’s character,Humbert Humbert from the his book Lolita “light of my life, fire of my loins, be a good baby do what I want."


Four

Wuthering Heights by Kate Bush is based on Emily Bronte’s novel.


Five

The Ghost of Tom Joad by Bruce Springstein references John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath character.


Six

Jocasta by Noah and The Whale references Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex.


Seven

The Wild Boys by Duran Duran references William Burroughs book of the same title.


Eight

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Metallica references Ernst Hemmingway’s classic of same title.


Nine

Pet Semetary by The Ramones references the Stephen King’s horror of same title


Ten

Who Wrote Holden Caulfield by Green Day references a character in JD Salinger’s ‘Catcher in the Rye’.


Enjoy the playlist on Spotify

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Author J. Glenn Bauer

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