Classic rock and classic literature have two very different artistic reputations. One is loud, brash, and aggressive. The other is traditionally calmer, more stoic, and pensive. But every so often, these two artistic styles have come together to tremendous effect.
Take, for example, these four rock songs inspired by literature. The music makes the books more exciting. The books give the music greater depth. And for all of us listening and reading, these combinations make consuming both art forms that much more enjoyable.
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“For Whom The Bell Tolls” by Metallica
When one thinks of calm, quiet libraries full of dusty old books, the thrash riffs of Metallica’s 1984 song, “For Whom The Bell Tolls”, isn’t the first soundtrack that comes to mind. But this iconic heavy metal track took great inspiration—and indeed, even its title—from the 1940 Ernest Hemingway novel, For Whom The Bell Tolls.
While “Metallica” and “quiet library” don’t quite match, the band’s music does make an appropriate backdrop for the Hemingway novel about modern warfare. The book is violent, aggressive, and relentless, and in that sense, Metallica’s song is actually the perfect fit.
“White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
The psychedelia of Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel Alice In Wonderland was always there, hiding in plain sight. Grace Slick of Jefferson Airplane just put it to music in the psychedelic rock band’s 1967 hit single, “White Rabbit”. The song begins as a Spanish march: low, moody, a bit unsettling. Then, it climaxes into a colorful, chaotic whirlwind, much like the classic novel itself.
In a way, Slick was using Alice In Wonderland as a vehicle for her social commentary. This classic rock song tossed aside the “Prince Charming” trope of other popular literature and celebrated Alice, a girl following the beat of her own drum.
“Ramble On”
Led Zeppelin often incorporated classic literature into their rock repertoire, and “Ramble On” from Led Zeppelin II is no exception. The song references J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel, The Lord Of The Rings, several times, starting with the first line: “Leaves are falling all around, it’s time I was on my way.” Other notable mentions include Gollum and Mordor, a character and location in the series.
Though Led Zeppelin never played the song in its entirety with the original lineup, it remains a favorite among fans today. The band pulled from the same literary references for “Misty Mountain Hop” and “Battle Of Evermore”.
“Tom Sawyer”
Closing out this list of classic rock songs inspired by classic literature is a song that uses the idea of the main character for inspiration, as opposed to a specific storyline. Canadian prog-rockers Rush took the independence, wiliness, and resourcefulness of the protagonist in Mark Twain’s The Adventures Of Tom Sawyer to create the man the narrator sings about in this 1981 hit.
The song remained, at its essence, a Rush song through and through. In fact, the cultural weight of either piece of work has shifted in the years since its release. Nowadays, you’re more likely to come across someone who has heard Rush’s “Tom Sawyer” all the way through than someone who has read Tom Sawyer front to back.
Photo by Pete Cronin/Redferns