Music has always excelled at storytelling, drawing inspiration from folk, blues, and literature. From epic adventures to haunting war stories, the genre explores a wide range of themes. Some bands, like Iron Maiden and Blind Guardian, pay homage to literature in their songs, while others select specific works to interpret musically. In this list, we have compiled 8 of our favorite compositions inspired by books, going beyond the expected to include unexpected influences.
#1 Metallica – One
Dalton Trumbo penned a famous anti-war novel in 1939. The narrative revolves around a young soldier in the First World War who suffers severe injuries – losing his arms, legs, eyes, tongue, and face. Remarkably, his mind remains lucid, leaving him confined to a useless body, contemplating his destiny.
In 1971, a gripping film adaptation of Trumbo’s haunting book materialized. Its relevance soared as it coincided with the Vietnam War. Metallica found inspiration in the novel, crafting their 1988 track “One.” The song’s music video incorporated scenes from the movie. Furthermore, Trumbo’s eventful life became the subject of a biopic, released in 2015, featuring Breaking Bad’s Bryan Cranston.
#2 Off to the Races – Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey has long expressed her love for the 1955 Vladimir Nabokov novel, Lolita. Not only does she have a song named after the controversial work in her discography, but it’s her 2012 track “Off to the Races” that we will be exploring today.
In the chorus of the song, Del Rey cleverly incorporates a famous line from the novel: “Light of my life / Fire of my loins.” The main theme of the track revolves around forbidden – or potentially toxic – relationships. Hence, the reference to “Lolita” serves as a perfect addition to further emphasize this underlying concept.
#3 Welcome to 1984 – Anti-Flag
I’m definitely confused! It feels like the New Millennium is actually 1984, with Mr. Orwell speaking to us from beyond the grave, injecting new ideas into the world. And to top it off, the president is declaring war without end. Welcome to 1984!
The phenomenon of book songs is clearly not new, it even gives songs depth. If you want to dispel or strengthen illusions in songs, then you need a story reading app. In a good novel app, you can find the book from which the author drew inspiration and get more into the spirit of the song. FictionMe has everything to make your audio journey come to life.
#4 To Take the Black by The Sword
After the HBO adaptation’s tremendous success, it’s almost certain that rock bands will draw inspiration from George R.R. Martin’s epic Song Of Ice And Fire saga. But we must give extra credit to Austin metallers The Sword, who were quick to create a collection of powerful tracks based on the books. It’s worth noting that frontman J.D. Cronise is an avid superfan. While the groovy heaviness of the music in their Gods Of The Earth LP may not fully capture the desolation of life at The Wall, their unwavering dedication to the source material deserves full recognition – blood, mud, and all.
#5 Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
Kate Bush’s homage to Emily Brontë’s literary masterpiece, Wuthering Heights, is one of her most iconic tracks. In her 1978 song, she eloquently conveys the story, embodying Brontë’s protagonist, Catherine Earnshaw. With heartfelt lyrics like “Heathcliff, it’s me, I’m Cathy / I’ve come home, I’m so cold / Let me in your window,” Bush captures the essence of the character’s struggles and longing. Nowadays, even some artists are using novel AI story to embellish their songs and also bring the book to life. Perhaps this approach will bring unexpectedly great results.
#6 King Kunta – Kendrick Lamar
In the novel, the Umuofia community relies heavily on yams as their primary crop. The harvest of yams signifies masculinity and power, serving as a prominent symbol throughout the story. Kendrick, in his rap, directly alludes to Things Fall Apart, cleverly stating, “The power that is, the yam ─ its aroma wafting through the streets as I stroll along.”
#7 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights
In 1978, a young Kate achieved the UK Number One spot with her adaptation of Emily Bronte’s dark romance from 1847. This song, which became one of the most famous literary-influenced pop songs, held a special meaning for Kate because she discovered that she shared a birthday with the writer: 30 July.
#8 Led Zeppelin – Ramble On
This killer track from Led Zep II (1969) alludes to J.R.R. Tolkien’s timeless masterpiece, The Lord Of The Rings. It goes like this: “In the deepest depths of Mordor, I stumbled upon a captivating lady. However, Gollum, alongside the wicked being, sneaked in and snatched her right away.”
Conclusion
Musicians draw inspiration from a wide range of sources. Some of them have found songwriting inspiration in famous works of literature. In fact, these musicians have cleverly incorporated allusions to classic novels into their songs.
