Lyrics Inspired By Movies

Emin3m · 10-25-2005, 06:01 PM

In the span of 3 days I saw/read two things that I immediately realized are song lyrics.

I finished reading 1984 (greatest read ever...) and in the middle of it you see "... controls the past now controls the future" ..."who controls the present controls the past," which is used in Rage's Testify.

Then in the White Stripes "The Union Forever," the entire monologuesque piece is Citizen Kane references.

Any other cases?

CantBuyAThrill · 10-25-2005, 07:11 PM

Both Pink Floyd's album "Animals" and The Beatles' (George's) "Piggies" were loosely based on Orwell's "Animal Farm". I really like Orwell.

Cream's "Tales of Brave Ulysess" (sp) is based on Homer's "The Odessey," I think.

Also, alot of stuff on Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd) was taken from books, like most of the lyrics to "Chapter 24," and the name of the album was a chapter in "The Wind in the Willows".

The Doors' "The End" where Morrison is telling the story about the killer is taken from Oedipus (sp) the King. Or Antigone. Pretty sure it was Oedipus.

I can't think of others off the top of my head.

Emin3m · 10-25-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CantBuyAThrill

Both Pink Floyd's album "Animals" and The Beatles' (George's) "Piggies" were loosely based on Orwell's "Animal Farm". I really like Orwell.

Cream's "Tales of Brave Ulysess" (sp) is based on Homer's "The Odessey," I think.

Also, alot of stuff on Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd) was taken from books, like most of the lyrics to "Chapter 24," and the name of the album was a chapter in "The Wind in the Willows".

The Doors' "The End" where Morrison is telling the story about the killer is taken from Oedipus (sp) the King. Or Antigone. Pretty sure it was Oedipus.

I can't think of others off the top of my head.

Awesome. Orwell is my favorite author.

And I figured ToBU was based on the Odyssey...

Thanks, good stuff.

Tomahawk · 10-25-2005, 11:08 PM

I think Radiohead have made a few references to 1984 (the song "2+2=5" comes to mind). And their song Paranoid Android is full of references to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.

Wait, those are literary references, not movie references. But I guess there's movies of both books, so it sort of counts.

CantBuyAThrill · 10-26-2005, 12:14 AM

http://nancykeane.com/rl/986.htm

There's a link you might be interested in. I'm assuming 2112 is based loosely on 1984 or is there another similar book more like 2112? I can't believe I forgot "White Rabbit" and Zeppelin songs that were related to "Lord of the Rings". I also think that "Desolation Row" is only on there because of how many allusions there are in that song. I'm familiar with alot of those songs, but most I've never even heard. Yep.

Little Man being Erased · 10-26-2005, 12:27 AM

Is there a movie based on 1984?

CantBuyAThrill · 10-26-2005, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Is there a movie based on 1984?

Yeah. The book was better.

I totally forgot that the title was "movies." 1984 just made me think it was supposed to be books.

Iai · 10-26-2005, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emin3m

I finished reading 1984 (greatest read ever...) and in the middle of it you see "... controls the past now controls the future" ..."who controls the present controls the past," which is used in Rage's Testify.

And also Memory War by Asian Dub Foundation.

Robert Crumb · 10-26-2005, 04:39 AM

I can't think of any off the top of my head but Yo La Tengo's "Tom Courtenay" is named after the actor of the same name. And it mentions Julie Christie. Who is an actress.

I've got nothing.

Edit: Oh and the two starred in Billy Liar, which is, coincidentally, a Decemberists song.

*Dave de Sylvia* · 10-26-2005, 04:50 AM

Neil Young - After The Goldrush

Fatback · 10-26-2005, 07:54 AM

Ray Steven's hauntingly beautiful "Guitarzan" is based on the filmed versions of Edgar Rice Borroughs work, I suppose:

Oh, Guitarzan...and his jungle band
He's all you can stand
Give him a hand
Guitarzan.

(the part about the boogie-woogie singing monkeys is just poetry)

Emin3m · 10-26-2005, 01:50 PM

It can be literature too folks... thanks.

biografiend · 10-26-2005, 11:20 PM

This Charming Man by the Smiths always reminds me of The Great Gatsby. Whether the song was written about Nick and Gatsby, I have no idea.

Iai · 10-27-2005, 05:27 AM

The lyric 'A jumped-up pantry boy who never knew his place' is a direct quote from a film/book too, but god knows which one.

The_Passenger · 10-27-2005, 05:38 AM

Even though they suck, Pennywise are named after the clown from It. I also think that they wrote a song about Pennywise the clown on their first album.

mr_jackalope · 10-27-2005, 09:31 AM

The Cure song "Killing an Arab" is entirely based off of a scene in Camus' The Stranger, which is my favorite book.

The band Okkervil River is named after a short story written by Tolstoy's niece (at least I think; I know it was a Russian author, but it could be him or Dostoievski).

~~Baliente~~ · 10-29-2005, 03:19 PM

We just started reading Animal Farm. When the teacher told us what it was about, I couldn't help but be reminded of the Pink Floyd album Animals.

At another site, everyone said the three pigs were more recent people. But I was just thinking about how on Animal Farm, there's three pigs that are based on Trotsky, Stalin, and someone else that I can't remember.

robot · 10-29-2005, 10:27 PM

Theres a Kelly Osborne music video thats based off of the movie Alphaville.

LifeIsDandy · 10-29-2005, 10:33 PM

Adventure Today by The Aquabats was inspired by the childhood classic, The Goonies.

Tomahawk · 10-29-2005, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baliente

At another site, everyone said the three pigs were more recent people. But I was just thinking about how on Animal Farm, there's three pigs that are based on Trotsky, Stalin, and someone else that I can't remember.

In the book, theres pigs based on Stalin, Trotsky, Molotov, Lenin/Marx, and maybe some more that I can't remember.

In the song, the 3 pigs are Thatcher (2nd verse), Mary Whitehouse (3rd verse), and I'm not sure who the 1st verse is about. I don't know if it's about anybody in particular.

10-25-2005, 06:01 PM	#1
Emin3m Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 72	Lyrics Inspired By Movies & Literature In the span of 3 days I saw/read two things that I immediately realized are song lyrics. I finished reading 1984 (greatest read ever...) and in the middle of it you see "... controls the past now controls the future" ..."who controls the present controls the past," which is used in Rage's Testify. Then in the White Stripes "The Union Forever," the entire monologuesque piece is Citizen Kane references. Any other cases? Last edited by Emin3m; 10-26-2005 at 01:50 PM.

10-26-2005, 04:50 AM	#10
Dave de Sylvia morrissey improved Sputnik ModAdmin Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 33,045	Neil Young - After The Goldrush __________________ DIVA spelled backwards is AVID "Hey, if you put one guitarist’s head on one side of a coin and the other guitarist’s head on the other side of the coin, you would have a double-sided coin!"
	Digging: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine

10-27-2005, 05:27 AM	#14
Iai Chairman Meow Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Northampton, UK Posts: 16,125	The lyric 'A jumped-up pantry boy who never knew his place' is a direct quote from a film/book too, but god knows which one.
	Digging: Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland

10-29-2005, 03:19 PM	#17
~~Baliente~~ Banned Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,521	We just started reading Animal Farm. When the teacher told us what it was about, I couldn't help but be reminded of the Pink Floyd album Animals. At another site, everyone said the three pigs were more recent people. But I was just thinking about how on Animal Farm, there's three pigs that are based on Trotsky, Stalin, and someone else that I can't remember. Last edited by Baliente; 10-29-2005 at 03:45 PM.

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10-25-2005, 07:11 PM	#2
CantBuyAThrill Peel Slowly and See Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: I ride on a mailtrain, baby... Posts: 1,210	Both Pink Floyd's album "Animals" and The Beatles' (George's) "Piggies" were loosely based on Orwell's "Animal Farm". I really like Orwell. Cream's "Tales of Brave Ulysess" (sp) is based on Homer's "The Odessey," I think. Also, alot of stuff on Piper at the Gates of Dawn (Pink Floyd) was taken from books, like most of the lyrics to "Chapter 24," and the name of the album was a chapter in "The Wind in the Willows". The Doors' "The End" where Morrison is telling the story about the killer is taken from Oedipus (sp) the King. Or Antigone. Pretty sure it was Oedipus. I can't think of others off the top of my head.

10-25-2005, 11:08 PM	#4
Tomahawk making plans for nigel Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: land of confusion Posts: 3,279	I think Radiohead have made a few references to 1984 (the song "2+2=5" comes to mind). And their song Paranoid Android is full of references to Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy. Wait, those are literary references, not movie references. But I guess there's movies of both books, so it sort of counts.

10-26-2005, 12:14 AM	#5
CantBuyAThrill Peel Slowly and See Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: I ride on a mailtrain, baby... Posts: 1,210	http://nancykeane.com/rl/986.htm There's a link you might be interested in. I'm assuming 2112 is based loosely on 1984 or is there another similar book more like 2112? I can't believe I forgot "White Rabbit" and Zeppelin songs that were related to "Lord of the Rings". I also think that "Desolation Row" is only on there because of how many allusions there are in that song. I'm familiar with alot of those songs, but most I've never even heard. Yep.

10-26-2005, 12:27 AM	#6
Little Man being Erased Lemonheads posse! Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 5,783	Is there a movie based on 1984?

10-26-2005, 04:39 AM	#9
Robert Crumb yeah baby shine that lamp Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: shine that lamp on this sad, sad man Posts: 4,429	I can't think of any off the top of my head but Yo La Tengo's "Tom Courtenay" is named after the actor of the same name. And it mentions Julie Christie. Who is an actress. I've got nothing. Edit: Oh and the two starred in Billy Liar, which is, coincidentally, a Decemberists song.

10-26-2005, 07:54 AM	#11
Fatback old funk meister Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: is everything in real estate Posts: 115	Ray Steven's hauntingly beautiful "Guitarzan" is based on the filmed versions of Edgar Rice Borroughs work, I suppose: Oh, Guitarzan...and his jungle band He's all you can stand Give him a hand Guitarzan. (the part about the boogie-woogie singing monkeys is just poetry)

10-26-2005, 01:50 PM	#12
Emin3m Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 72	It can be literature too folks... thanks.

10-26-2005, 11:20 PM	#13
biografiend waif Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 3,468	This Charming Man by the Smiths always reminds me of The Great Gatsby. Whether the song was written about Nick and Gatsby, I have no idea.

10-27-2005, 05:38 AM	#15
The_Passenger Hey Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Exeter, UK Posts: 1,872	Even though they suck, Pennywise are named after the clown from It. I also think that they wrote a song about Pennywise the clown on their first album.

10-27-2005, 09:31 AM	#16
mr_jackalope May It Always Be Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Colgate University Posts: 1,552	The Cure song "Killing an Arab" is entirely based off of a scene in Camus' The Stranger, which is my favorite book. The band Okkervil River is named after a short story written by Tolstoy's niece (at least I think; I know it was a Russian author, but it could be him or Dostoievski).

10-29-2005, 10:27 PM	#18
robot Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 272	Theres a Kelly Osborne music video thats based off of the movie Alphaville.

10-29-2005, 10:33 PM	#19
LifeIsDandy Everything Is Swell Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 307	Adventure Today by The Aquabats was inspired by the childhood classic, The Goonies.