The Novel Soundtrack

Here are some songs that Sarah put together. They all reflect the main themes of the novel, and are all quite interesting to listen to.

Enjoy!

Be sure to click on the highlighted links to listen to the music!

by Sarah Peabody

Independence – A major theme throughout the book is Janie’s struggle to find independence.  Janie does not like to be told what to do.  She wants to be in charge of her own life; thus, her relationship with Logan Killicks and Joe Starks suffers because they both want to control her.  Towards the end of her marriage with Joe, Janie starts to take control of her life by standing up to Joe’s attempts to keep her down.  After Joe dies, Janie feels independent for the first time in her life. 

“Miss Independent” by Kelly Clarkson –

Miss Independent
Miss Self-sufficient
Miss Keep-your-distance

Miss Unafraid
Miss Outta-my-way
Miss Don't-let-a-man-interfere, no

Miss On-her-own
Miss Almost-grown
Miss Never-let-a-man-help-her-off-her-throne

So, by keeping her heart protected
She’d never ever feel rejected
Little Miss Apprehensive
I said ooh, she fell in love

What is this feeling taking over?
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise! It’s time to feel what’s real

What happened to Miss Independent?
No longer need to be defensive
Goodbye, old you, when love is true

Miss Guarded-heart
Miss Play-it-smart
Miss If-you-wanna-use-that-line-you-better-not-start, no

But she miscalculated
She didn’t want to end up jaded
And this miss decided not to miss out on true love
So, by changing her misconceptions
She went in a new direction
And found inside she felt a connection
She fell in love

What is this feeling taking over?
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise! It’s time to feel what’s real

What happened to Miss Independent?
No longer need to be defensive
Goodbye, old you, when love is true

When Miss Independent walked away
No time for love that came her way
She looked in the mirror and thought today
What happened to Miss No-longer-afraid?

It took some time for her to see
How beautiful love could truly be
No more talk of, "Why can’t that be me?"
I’m so glad I finally see

What is this feeling taking over?
Thinking no one could open the door
Surprise! It’s time to feel what’s real

What happened to Miss Independent?
No longer need to be defensive
Goodbye, old you, when love is true

Miss Independent

            “Miss Independent” portrays Janie’s life before and after she meets Tea Cake.  Throughout the book, Janie wants to be independent; thus, she never truly opens up her heart to either Logan Killicks or Joe Starks.  When she meets Tea Cake, Janie, like Miss Independent in the song, decides to finally depend on someone.

Search for unconditional love – From the beginning of the book, Janie is on a quest to find true love.  She is looking for a fairytale story where love is magical and always perfect.  In Janie’s marriage to Logan Killick she finds love to be emotionless and dull.  She simply cannot love him.  When Janie marries Joe Starks, she, at first, believes that he is her true Prince Charming, but the love in their relationship dies.  After Joe dies, Janie meets Tea Cake.  Even though he is much younger than her, Janie knows this is true love because everything feels right.  This is the unconditional love she has been searching for since she was a child. 

“Holding Out For A Hero” by Ella Mae Bowen –

1 2 3
Where have all the good men gone
And where are the gods?
Where's the streetwise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?

Isn't there a white knight
Upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn
And dream of what I need

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, he's gotta be fast,
and he's got to be fresh from the fight,
I need a hero,
I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light,
hes got to be sure, and it gotta be soon, and he's to to be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasies
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There's someone reaching back for me

Racing on the thunder
And rising with the heat
Isn't there a Superman
To sweep me off my feet?

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, he's gotta be fast,
and he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
Im holding out for a hero til the morning light
hes gotta be sure, and its gotta be soon
and hes got to be larger than life

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear that there's someone somewhere
Watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the raging flood
Oh, his approach is like a fire in my blood

I'll meet a hero
And then we'll dance til the morning light
Dreaming, he will lead me
Held tight, tonight's the night

I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero til the end of the night
He's gotta be strong, he's gotta be fast
And he's gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I'm holding out for a hero til the morning light
He's gotta be sure, he's gotta be soon
And he's gotta be larger than life, larger than life

Oooooh
Larger than life
Larger than life
Oh maybe, maybe, maybe tonight
Oh

            “Holding out for a Hero” reveals the type of man that Janie is looking for.  She has an unrealistic idea of love and believes that her knight in shining armor will come and sweep her off her feet.  This song reveals how Janie believes true love should be.

Racism – Racism is prevalent at the time this book is written.  White men are perceived as far superior to black men; however, this book deals more with the racist notions amongst African Americans.  The novel brings out a darker side to the African American community in which it reveals jealousy, racism based on skin color, and a desire to tear down their more successful peers.  This is seen in the all black town of Eatonville where Joe treats other blacks just as a white man would treat the blacks.  Janie is subject to racism from whites as well as from blacks in the community in which she resides.  Janie uses her past and the racism she experiences throughout life to grow stronger. 

“Message from a Black Man” by The Temptations-

No matter how hard you try
You can't stop me now
No matter how hard you try
You can't stop me now
Yes, my skin is black
But that's no reason to hold me back
Oh think about it, think about it,
Think about it, think about it
Think about it, think about it, think about it.

I have wants and desires just like you
So move on aside cause i'm a-comin' through
Oh no matter how hard you try you can't
Stop me now
No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now.

Yes, your skin is white
Does that make you right
Walk on and think about it, think about it
Think about it, think about it
Think about it, think about it, think about it.

This is a message, a message to y'all
Together we stand divided we fall
Black is a color just like white
Tell me how can a color determine whether
You're wrong or right
We all have our faults yes we do
So look in your mirror (Look in the mirror)
What do you see? (What do you see?)
Two eyes, a nose and a mouth just like me.

Oh your eyes are open but you refuse to see
The laws of society were made for both
You and me
Because of my color I struggle to be free
Sticks and stones may break my bones
But in the end you're gonna see my friend

Say it … (No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now)
Say it … (No matter how hard you try you can't stop me now)a
Say it loud! I’m Black and I’m Proud!
(No matter how you can’t stop me now.)
Say it loud! I’m Black and I’m Proud!
(No matter how you can’t stop me now.)

            “Message from a Black Man” shows how nothing is easy for blacks, like Janie, at this time because they are looked down upon and discriminated against.  The end of the song reveals that blacks are proud of who they are and are not afraid to say it.  Just like the song says, Janie, being proud of her black heritage, is able to stand up to Mrs. Turner when she berates Tea Cake because he is black.

God and Spirituality – God and spirituality plays a big part in this novel.  Janie’s entire life journey is a spiritual one in which she seeks to find herself.  Janie does not adhere to the God of organized religion.  Instead, she focuses on the spirituality of God.  Janie sees the spirit of God through the Divine Forces of nature as well as all aspects of nature including the sun, the weather, the moon, and the sky.  Janie uses God’s Divine Forces, whether good or bad to help make sense of her life and lead her forward on her spiritual journey. 

 

“Awesome God” by Rich Mullins –

When He rolls up His sleeves
He ain't just putting on the ritz
(Our God is an awesome God)
There's thunder in His footsteps
And lightning in His fists
(Our God is an awesome God)
And the Lord wasn't joking when He kicked 'em out of Eden
It wasn't for no reason that He she'd His blood
His return is very close and so you better be believing that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
And when the sky was starless
In the void of the night
(Our God is an awesome God)
He spoke into the darkness
And created the light
(Our God is an awesome God)
Judgement and wrath He poured out on Sodom
Mercy and grace He gave us at the cross
I hope that we have not too quickly forgotten that
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
He reigns from heaven above
With wisdom, power, and love
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God (Our God is an awesome God)
He reigns from heaven above (He reigns from heaven above)
With wisdom, power, and love (With wisdom, power, and love)
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God
Our God is an awesome God

            “Awesome God” shows Janie’s spiritual journey throughout the novel.  Janie doesn’t necessary adhere to the God of an organized religion, but she is constantly seeing the spirit of God.  As this song says, he is an awesome God and that is shown through Janie’s journey to find herself.  God is always there watching over her.

Appearances – Appearances have a big affect on the characters in the novel.  Being attractive can be considered a curse or a blessing.  Janie is very attractive which isolates her from the community because her beauty makes women jealous and makes men want her.  However, Janie’s beauty also helps her gain respect and gives her social mobility.  The story reflects that the outward appearance of a character mirrors their inner character. 

“Reflection” by David Zippel –

Look at me
I will never pass for a perfect bride
Or a perfect daughter
Can it be
I'm not meant to play this part?
Now I see
That if I were truly to be myself
I would break my fam'ly's heart

Who is that girl I see
Staring straight
Back at me?
Why is my reflection someone
I don't know?
Somehow I cannot hide
Who I am
Though I've tried
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?
When will my reflection show
Who I am inside?

            “Reflection” portrays how Janie feels about herself when she looks in the mirror.  When Janie is with Joe, she does not know who she is and feels like she is living the life of a different person.  Once Joe dies, Janie looks in the mirror, and lets down her hair, something Joe would not let her do.  This is the beginning of Janie coming to terms with herself.

Hopes and dreams – Throughout the book, Janie is constantly trying to achieve her hopes and dreams.  Her dream is to find her one true love with the hope that love will be as beautiful as she has always imagined.  Janie stops at nothing to attain her dreams.  Her determination to achieve her hopes and dreams constantly drives her forward, in search of her goal. 

“You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Michael Ball from Carousel –

When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
There's a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of the lark

Walk on, through the wind
Walk on, through the rain
Though your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on, with hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone

            Just like the person in the song “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” Janie is also searching for her dream.  No matter what obstacles are put in her path, Janie walks onward because she is determined and will stop at nothing to obtain her goal.  The song shows that it isn’t always easy to follow your dreams and it definitely was not easy for Janie. 

Freedom and confinement – Although Janie is considered a free black woman, she is not always treated as one.  Janie did not have the freedom to choose her first husband which inadvertently causes her marriage to Logan Killicks to end.  Her next husband keeps her confined to their house and store.  Janie does not like feeling confined by anyone or anything.  She wants the freedom to make her own decisions and to do as she pleases.  She finally receives this freedom when she meets Tea Cake. 

“This Little Light of Mine” (spiritual) –

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Won't let Satan blow it out.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine til Jesus comes.
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine.
Hide it under a bushel - NO!
I'm gonna let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine.
Let it shine over the whole wide world,
I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

            The light in “This Little Light of Mine” represents Janie in the novel.  Janie deals with some bad relationships and is put into tough situations, but nobody can ever put her out.  She always manages to shine through.  The end of the song represents when Janie meets Tea Cake and he lets her shine all over the world.  He does not try to cover up or put out who Janie really is. 

Women’s rights – Women are not treated as equals at the time this story takes place.  They are looked upon as possessions rather than independent people.  The men think they are superior to the women and want the women to obey them.  Janie does not like to be looked down upon.  At first she listens to Joe and does what he says.  As time goes on, Janie concludes that just because she is a woman, she is not inferior to any man.  This conclusion allows Janie to talk back to Joe and tell him how she really feels.  She does not let him control her thoughts and actions anymore. 

“I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy –

I am woman, hear me roar
In numbers too big to ignore
And I know too much to go back an' pretend
'Cause I've heard it all before
And I've been down there on the floor
No one's ever gonna keep me down again

Oh yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can do anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

You can bend but never break me
'Cause it only serves to make me
More determined to achieve my final goal
And I come back even stronger
Not a novice any longer
'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

I am woman watch me grow
See me standing toe to toe
As I spread my lovin' arms across the land
But I'm still an embryo
With a long, long way to go
Until I make my brother understand

Oh, yes, I am wise
But it's wisdom born of pain
Yes, I've paid the price
But look how much I gained
If I have to
I can face anything
I am strong (strong)
I am invincible (invincible)
I am woman

Oh, I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong

I am woman
I am invincible
I am strong
I am woman

            “I Am Woman” shows the importance and pride of being a woman.  Janie never allows the fact that she is a woman get her down even though women are highly discriminated against at this time.  As said in the song, Janie stands tall and accepts that she is a woman.  She faces everything that is thrown at her in life and never gives up even when life gets tough.

Memories – Memories are a very vital part of this novel.  The entire book is Janie retelling her life story to her friend Pheobe.  To truly understand a person and what they have gone through, their memories of the past are crucial.  Memories are gathered and stored throughout life.  Looking back, memories can be used to help better understand one’s life.  Towards the end of the novel, Janie uses her memories to reconcile with Tea Cake’s death. 

“The Way We Were” by Alan and Marilyn Bergman –

Memories
Light the corners of my mind,
Misty watercolor memories,
Of the way we were.
Scattered pictures
Of the smiles we left behind,
Smiles we gave to one another
For the way we were.

Can it be
That it was all so simple then,
Or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance
To do it all again,
Tell me would we? Could we?



Memories
May be beautiful and yet
What’s too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget.
So it’s the laughter
We will remember,
Whenever we remember
The way we were.



Every day was like
A gift of flowers,
Ribbon-wrapped
And waiting to be seen.
Eagerly we opened all the hours
Then what happened happened.



Memories
May be beautiful and yet
What’s too painful to remember
We simply choose to forget.
So it’s the laughter
We will remember,
Whenever we remember
The way we were.
The way we were.

            The song “Memories” shows how Janie feels after Tea Cake’s death.  She uses her memories of Tea Cake, and how they used to be, to reconcile with Tea Cake’s death.  As in the song, Janie’s memories of Tea Cake are beautiful and even though remembering is painful, her memories will ensure that Janie never forget Tea Cake. 

Self-discovery – Throughout the book, Janie is trying to discover who she truly is.  She experiences many hardships and difficulties throughout her life, but comes out of them knowing more about herself and what she is really looking for.  Janie struggles with who she really is when she is married to Joe.  He makes her feel like an object and Janie starts to see herself as one of Joe’s possessions.  As Joe draws closer to death, Janie starts to realize who she is.  She decides she is not going to let Joe tell her how to live her life anymore.  Janie truly discovers who she is when she meets Tea Cake. 

“Boulevard of Broken Dreams” by Green Day –

I walk a lonely road
The only one that I have ever known
Don't know where it goes
But it's home to me and I walk alone

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
and I'm the only one and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah,
Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I'm walking down the line
That divides me somewhere in my mind
On the border line
Of the edge and where I walk alone

Read between the lines
What's f***ed up and everything's alright
Check my vital signs
To know I'm still alive and I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk alone

I walk alone
I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone

Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Ah-ah, Aaah-ah
Ah-ah, Ah-ah

I walk alone
I walk a...

I walk this empty street
On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams
Where the city sleeps
And I'm the only one and I walk a...

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me
My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating
Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me
'Til then I walk alone...

            “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” represents the journey of self-discovery that Janie is on.  She takes this journey alone because she is trying to find out who she really is.  Just like in the song, Janie walks alone hoping that “someone out there will find me.”  In life Janie eventually finds Tea Cake, eliminating her need to walk alone.

Mortality – Death is a common occurrence in the story and teaches Janie that, with death, comes a new beginning.  After every death in the novel, Janie is taught a lesson which helps her with the next chapter of her life.  After her Nanny’s death, she is finally able to leave Logan Killicks in search of true love.  After Joe Stark’s death, Janie realizes what she values in life and what she wants in a husband.  When Tea Cake dies, Janie realizes that life goes on and she must move forward.  This novel also shows that those who live a good and decent life do not fear death, but those who have unrepented sins try to fight death. 

“Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton –

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?

I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

Would you hold my hand
If I saw you in heaven?
Would you help me stand
If I saw you in heaven?

I'll find my way
Through night and day
'Cause I know I just can't stay
Here in heaven

Time can bring you down
Time can bend your knees
Time can break your heart
Have you begging please
Begging please

Beyond the door
There's peace, I'm sure
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven

Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?

I must be strong
And carry on
'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

'Cause I know I don't belong
Here in heaven

            “Tears in Heaven” mirrors how Janie feels after Tea Cake’s death.  Even though Janie experienced other deaths, when Tea Cake dies, Janie is devastated.  She loved him so much, but she knows that she has to be strong and move on with her life because that’s what Tea Cake would want her to do.  

Innocence – At a young age, Janie is robbed of her childhood and loses her sense of innocence.  The loss of innocence leads to the destruction of her dreams.  When Janie loses her innocence so early in the novel, her future dreams are shattered.  When Janie meets Tea Cake her innocence, in a matter of speaking, and childhood is brought back to her along with her dreams. 

“I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables –

I dreamed a dream in times gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving
Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used and wasted

There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted
But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
And they turn your dream to shame
He slept a summer by my side
He filled my days with endless wonder
He took my childhood in his stride
But he was gone when autumn came
And still I dream he'll come to me
That we'll live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms we cannot weather
I had a dream my life would be
So different from this hell I'm living
So different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

            “I Dreamed a Dream” talks about a person having dreams while young and having them taken away or wasted as time goes on.  This happens to Janie through the course of the novel.  She has many hopes and dreams as a child, but she loses her innocence at such a young age and, with her innocence, loses her hopes and dreams.