Song Recommendations Needed For A Book: Themes (1 Viewer)

[Dome Vongvises]

I've been working on a novel for the past three years, and like any other nerd I thought it'd be a good idea to put a soundtrack to it. I like what I've put together, but I would like some more "obscure" stuff to accompany some of the themes in my book. And I say "obscure" because quite frankly the vast majority of my listening experience is based on new and old popular stuff. Otherwise, I'm thankful threads like this exist to expand some of my listening catalogue. In other words, I just need song recommendations so I can find some inspiration.

Themes:

Losing A Sense of Home
As the years progressed in my college career, the home where I grew up all my life was becoming less like... well, home. It's been seven years since I've left, and I can no longer identify with it. In other words, I feel like a drifter now.

Friends Who Come and Go
Ever since I left high school, it seems like I get to know a lot of people. I make friends. But every nine months to a year they just disappear. It seems like I only made passing acquaintances. I tried to accept it as inevitable and tried to reverse it in one situation (with very, very disasterous results). But the thing I'm trying to get at is the idea that it seems like I'm unable to form lasting bonds. Who knows, maybe I have the fear of loss? Haven't found a song that encapsulates that..... or I haven't been looking hard enough.

Coming of Age
Pretty much what it says. The song that I think of a lot when it comes to this theme is "Ooh La La" by Faces.

 

[AnthonyC]

It's not obscure, but "In My Life" by the Beatles fits the second one. As for the first, there's a nice Queen song called "Leaving Home Ain't Easy," although that may be taking your description a little too literally.

Good luck with this.

 

[MatS]

though not obscure I think all 3 of these themes can by found in 3 pretty strong songs on 1 album
R.E.M.'s "Automatic For The People"


Nightswimming

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
The photograph on the dashboard, taken years ago,
turned around backwards so the windshield shows.
Every streetlight reveals the picture in reverse.
Still, it's so much clearer.
I forgot my shirt at the water's edge.
The moon is low tonight.

Nightswimming deserves a quiet night.
I'm not sure all these people understand.
It's not like years ago,
The fear of getting caught,
of recklessness and water.
They cannot see me naked.
These things, they go away,
replaced by everyday.

Nightswimming, remembering that night.
September's coming soon.
I'm pining for the moon.
And what if there were two
Side by side in orbit
Around the fairest sun?
That bright, tight forever drum
could not describe nightswimming.

You, I thought I knew you.
You I cannot judge.
You, I thought you knew me,
this one laughing quietly underneath my breath.
Nightswimming.

The photograph reflects,
every streetlight a reminder.
Nightswimming deserves a quiet night, deserves a quiet night.

 

[Dome Vongvises]

Thanks. Anybody else have suggestions?

 

[Rachael B]

Blind Faith's Can't Find My Home for category 1. Also, Drifing Way Of Life by Jerry Jeff Walker or Lost In Austin by Marc Benno...

FRIENDS WHO COME AND GO...hmnnn, The Zombies' She's Not There, Todd Rundgren's Wailing Wall, Lose Again by Linda Ronstadt, Bubbles In My Beer by Willie Nelson, This Masquerade by Leon Russell, Lost in Austin again by Marc Benno, Gone Dead Train by Crazy Horse, Lost At The Fair by Bonnie Raitt, Burned by Buffalo Springfield, Faithless Love by Linda Rostadt, Bad Company by Bad Company...

Coming Of Age...Itchycoo Park by Small Faces, My Little Red Book by Love, Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf, Baby Appeal by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, She's Leaving Home by the Beatles, White Bird by It's A Beautiful Day, Get Off My Cloud by the Stones, Time Of The Season by the Zombies, Born To Run by Sprinsteen, White Rabbit by Jefferson Flying Object, Frank Zappa's Dirty Love, I Feel Free by Cream....

 

[John Kilduff]

For the concept of "losing a sense of home", I'm thinking of Shona Laing's "Soviet Snow" for some reason.

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

I'd cut-and-paste the lyrics, but I have only a few minutes to go before I leave for work.

 

[Sue_New]

Themes:

Losing A Sense of Home
"My Hometown" - Bruce Springsteen
Now Main Street's white washed windows
and vacant stores
seems like there ain't nobody
wants to come down here no more
They're closing down the textile mill across the railroad tracks
Foreman says these jobs are going boys and they ain't coming back to your hometown
Your hometown
Your hometown
Your hometown
"Feels Like Fire" - Carlos Santana (Dido vocals)
But if you have
What it takes
To return to where
All the world
Knows your name
Then que sera
Let's go sailing on
There's a wise man
In every fool
"On My Way Home" - Enya
On my way home
I remember
Only good days.
On my way home
I remember all the best days.
I'm on my way home
I can remember
Every new day.
"Standing Still" - Jewel
Mother's on the stoop, boys in souped up coupes, on this hot summer night
Between fight and flight is the blind man's sight and a choice that's right
I roll the window down, feel like I'm, I'm gonna drown, in this strange town
Feel broken down, I feel broken down
"Interstate" - The Refreshments
"Days Are Numbers" - Alan Parsons Project
The traveller is always leaving home
The only kind of life he's ever known
When every moment seems to be
A race against the time
There's always one more mountain left to climb
"Graduation Day" - Chris Isaak
Driving slowly, watching the headlights in the rain.
Funny how things change.
Think of the good times wishing you were still with me.
The way it used to be, graduation day.
"Wanderin'" - Chris Isaak
Big clouds pick on the little ones.
Evenin shade drives out the sun.
Sorry for the stuff i've done.
To me you're still the only one.

I'm wanderin'.... lost and wanderin

Cold winds blow in from the edge of town.
Circus tents all got blown down.
All the freaks are runnin round.
And i lost every friend i've found.

I'm wanderin'.... out here wanderin

I have only one regret.
I hurt everyone i've met.
And as i drift from town to town.
There's nothing left to hold me down.
I'm wanderin'.. i am wanderin'

Show time's over in a crowd heads home.
Here i sit left on my own.
What have i done that's so wrong,
That i should always be alone.

I'm wanderin'.. out here wanderin'

If you give me another chance i still wouldn't make it.
If you told me what to say i still couldn't fake it.
If you said that you loved me it still wouldn't matter.
Baby, baby, baby, i'm out here wanderin'
Out here wanderin'.. lost and wanderin'
I am wanderin'
"Nothing's Changed" - Chris Isaak
Let's take a drive through the old town,
Back past the place where we meet.
Some things are hard to rememeber,
Some things you'll never forget.

Let's take a walk down your old street,
Who lives in you house today?
Let's see if we can remember,
All of the vows that we made.

Kisses you gave me, the vows you made me.
None of these things have changed.
Nothing's changed, nothing's changed.

( guitar solo )

Young lovers stand in the shadows,
New lovers taking our place.
And though your gone i rememeber,
And i can still see your face.
Kisses you gave me, the vows you made me.
None of these things have changed.
Nothing's changed, nothing's changed.
Ahhh....
"Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" - Wynonna
Old tin roof, leaves in the gutter
A hole in the screen door big as your fist, and flies on the butter
Mamaw baking sugar cookies, we were watching cartoons
Heard her holler from the kitchen which one of you youngin's wants to lick the spoon?
Yellow jackets on the watermelon, honeysuckle in the air
Daddy turning on the sprinkler, us kids running through it in our underwear
Old dog napping on the front porch, his ear just a-twitching
Fell asleep on Granddaddy's lap to the sound of his pocket watch a-ticking

[Chorus]
Oh, oh, oh - Oh, oh, oh
It doesn't seem like it was all that long ago
Oh, oh, oh - Oh, oh, oh
You can dream about it every now and then
But you can't go home again

Me and my best friend Jenny set up a back yard camp
Stole one of Mama's Mason jars, poked holes in the lid and made a fire fly lamp
Me and Billy Monroe sneaking down by the river
And I'm still haunted by the taste of a kiss I was too scared to give him

[Repeat Chorus]

There's a black-top road, a faded yellow centerline
It can take you back to the place, but it can't take you back in time

[Repeat Chorus]

Old tin roof, leaves in the gutter
A hole in the screen door big as your fist, and flies on the butter

"I Just Drove By" - Wynonna
I always go the other way
But my car drove me down today
To a little house on the older side of town
Back when things were never hard
I used to play there in that yard
And I just drove by to see if things had changed


Friends Who Come and Go
"Time" - Alan Parsons Project
Goodbye my friends, Maybe forever
Goodbye my friends, The stars wait for me
Who knows where we shall meet again
If ever
But time
Keeps flowing like a river (on and on)
To the sea, to the sea
"Old and Wise" - Alan Parsons Project
As far as my eyes can see
There are shadows approaching me
And to those I left behind
I wanted you to know
You've always shared my deepest thoughts
You follow where I go
"Old Friends" - Everything But the Girl
I was told love should hold old friends
I was told love should hold od friends
But when you leave you will close the door
behind you
Don't we always
And time won't make amends
to old friends


Coming of Age
"Night Moves" - Bob Seger
"Baseball Cap" - Faithless
Oh, smack, there goes my baseball cap I'm on the floor,
I think I took a burse to my jaw,
Jumped me from behind at least three, maybe four,
I never see my hat no more.
Oh, smash. There goes my baseball cap,
It's gone, gone, gone, gone,
I can't get it back.
Oh, smash, there goes my baseball cap,
It's gone, gone, gone, gone,
I can't get it back.
14 years old and hard to the core,
I'm walking home making plans for war,
My hands was cut, my uncle says 'what's up?'
Let me guess, your clothes are in a mess, you're in distress,
Sit down, take five and let me look at your knees,
Your still alive son, please take it easy
Sometimes you have to let the world know you're not bluffing,
But enough is enough, don't loose your life over nothing,
Scuffling in the street is no way to die,
And I don't want to have to meet your mama's eye,
So try and listen hard before you fall into the trap
Of making war over a baseball cap.
Oh, smash, there goes my baseball cap,
It's gone, gone, gone, gone,
I can't get it back.
Oh, smash, there goes my baseball cap,
It's gone, gone, gone, gone,
I can't get it back.

 

[Dome Vongvises]

I can't believe I forgot all about that one.