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When Literature and Lyrics Meet, the Results Can Be Truly Amazing
Words and music…
Though I like classical and jazz music, I rarely listen to either because for me it’s not the same without words to go with the music. This was expressed perfectly in the 1983 film Eddie and the Cruisers when singer Eddie Wilson tells band manager Doc Robbins that new kid Frank Ridgeway has something they need. When Doc asks what that is, Eddie replies: “Words and music, Doc. Words and music.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that quote recently, and though I realize that in the context of the film Eddie was talking simply about lyrics to go with their music, the bag of hyperactive spider monkeys that is my brain went off on a complete tangent.
I thought to myself: words and music. How many times have musicians used books as the inspiration for their songs? Whether you know it or not, the answer is a lot. Here are just six times an artist combined music with books. Some you may already know about, and some may surprise you.
1. “Pet Sematary” — The Ramones (1989). Since we’re close to Halloween, this one is the perfect place to start. Stephen King himself asked the band to write a song for the 1989 film adaptation of his novel Pet Sematary. According to what may or may not be an accurate account (Uncle Stevie’s memory of the 80s is, by his own admission…
