An Idea:

[32-20-Blues]

Okay, here's a plan I came up with the other day, and I think it might be worthwhile.

I want to record a collection of songs that have been referenced in various pieces of 'classic' literature - novels, plays, whatever. Generally, these are folksongs/ballads, and I feel the project could be interesting.

So far, I have:

"King Stephen was a Worthy Peer" from Othello (Shakespeare).
"Henry Joy" from Ulysses (James Joyce).
"I am A Poor Orphan Child" from Pride & Prejudice (Charlotte Bronte).

Any further suggestions or (does my idea just suck!).

[Freddy]

Cole Porter:

Brush up your Shakespeare,
Start quoting him now.
Brush up your Shakespeare,
And the women you will wow.
Just declaim a few lines from Othella
And they'll think you're a hell of a fella,
If your blonde won't respond when you flatter 'er,
Tell her what Tony told Cleopatterer...



BUT .. say "no!" to Kate Bush! :P

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Cole Porter:

Brush up your Shakespeare,
Start quoting him now.
Brush up your Shakespeare,
And the women you will wow.
Just declaim a few lines from Othella
And they'll think you're a hell of a fella,
If your blonde won't respond when you flatter 'er,
Tell her what Tony told Cleopatterer...



BUT .. say "no!" to Kate Bush! :P

Hell of a Cole Porter quote! I'm on my way to download it. Is poetry the new rock-n-roll when it comes to getting girls?


Probably not.

[Freddy]

Ok, no more suggestions so far so I will chip in..

Would it be stretching things too far to take "Romeo is bleeding" (Tom Waits)?

Or how about "Legend of Xanadu" (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich) after the Coleridge poem (In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree.. etc).

There are quite a few literary references in Van Morrison (google van morrison and yeats for example).

Sting did "Nothing like the sun" (Shakespeare sonnet)

Jefferson Airplan - White Rabbit (Alice...)

There must be plenty...

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Ok, no more suggestions so far so I will chip in..

Would it be stretching things too far to take "Romeo is bleeding" (Tom Waits)?

Or how about "Legend of Xanadu" (Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich) after the Coleridge poem (In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree.. etc).

There are quite a few literary references in Van Morrison (google van morrison and yeats for example).

Sting did "Nothing like the sun" (Shakespeare sonnet)

Jefferson Airplan - White Rabbit (Alice...)

There must be plenty...

Cool suggestions, but I'm working the other way 'round: I want to record songs that have been mentioned in books over the years.

(However, all your songs are excellent. Romeo is Bleeding is great - as are, while we're on the topic of Romeo, Romeo Had Juliet by Lou Reed, and Romeo and Juilet by Dire Straits.)

[Freddy]

Doh! Totally misunderstood!

OK, thinking cap on... I may be some time

[VomitHatSteve]

Are we looking for real songs that have been referenced in literature or songs that have been referenced but never actually written?

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by VomitHatSteve

Are we looking for real songs that have been referenced in literature or songs that have been referenced but never actually written?

Real songs / old folksongs - anything that includes a couple of verses of lyrics that I can put a melody to (if one doesn't already exist).

[Freddy]

Ariel sings a song in The Tempest - "Full Fathom Five". I think Pete Seeger even put it to music.

There is always "Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest" from Treasure Island.

There is a song "Bold Turpin" in The Pickwick Papers that may suit you.

Or how about Rob Roy (Sir Walter Scott)? You could either use one of the poems from "Rob Roy and Selected Poems" or use the song "Ailein duinn" which was used in the movie (maybe that's cheating?).

[32-20-Blues]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Ariel sings a song in The Tempest - "Full Fathom Five". I think Pete Seeger even put it to music.

There is always "Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest" from Treasure Island.

There is a song "Bold Turpin" in The Pickwick Papers that may suit you.

Or how about Rob Roy (Sir Walter Scott)? You could either use one of the poems from "Rob Roy and Selected Poems" or use the song "Ailein duinn" which was used in the movie (maybe that's cheating?).

Yes, that's what I'm talking 'bout! Nice one, I had totally forgotten "15 men..." from Treasure Island.

And Bold Turpin too - I think I have a version of a song very similar to that on a CD somewhere.

Thanks a million for the help - great suggestions.