When You Reach the End Do It Over Again Velcro Fly Dark Tower

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five/4-5/10
Wolves Of The Calla:
Function Ii, 3.i-five.iii

*This post contains full series spoilers

It's no secret that Music is important to Stephen Male monarch. He uses vocal lyrics equally epigraphs in many of his novels, he'south constantly referencing bands and singers. One of the first things nosotros larn virtually Roland's world all the way dorsum in the beginning of The Gunslinger (a detail he deemed necessary to include in his "Argument" at the first of each book), is that "Hey Jude" is a popular melody. The Wastelands heavily features ZZ-Acme'south "Velcro Fly", Wolves of the Calla opens with a Rodney Crowell quote, and at present this calendar week we read about Pere Callahan'south preternatural human relationship with Elton John'southward "Someone Saved My Life Tonight."

So I idea this week would be as adept a week as any to mail something I've wanted to do since starting this project: compiling a full track list of every single song mentioned in the Dark Tower. Pretty cool, huh? Well it turns out someone already did it, and it's already been blogged nigh. This Gizmodo article highlights a commenter (PatrickScalisi) who shared their ultimate Dark Tower discography with the world. So instead of doing what's already been done, I've decided to highlight a few songs that aren't officially Dark Tower-related, just which take undeniable (if just incidental) Dark Tower vibes.

The Tower Of Song

Leonard Cohen

I was introduced to Leonard Cohen when I watched Pump Upward The Volume in loftier schoolhouse and first heard "Everybody Knows". At the time, that song tonally reminded me of The Gunslinger, but I soon learned he has another vocal that I more than strongly associate with the series, one with a far more obvious championship.

Well, my friends are gone and my hair is greyness
I ache in the places where I used to play
And I'chiliad crazy for beloved just I'grand non coming on
I'm just paying my rent every twenty-four hours in the Tower of Vocal

The lyrics don't directly relate, only I've always felt that the imagery Cohen uses in this song is extremely reminiscent of Roland and the Dark Tower. The kickoff line—"My friends are gone and my pilus is grey"—is an obvious instance, simply there's more.

"I'm standing by the window where the light is strong/Ah, they don't let a woman kill you, not in the Tower of Song" e'er makes me think of Roland's matricide.

"And there'south a mighty judgment coming, just I may be wrong/You lot see, yous hear these funny voices in the Belfry of Song" reminds me of the voices 1 hears when they encounter the rose, and the final judgement that awaits Roland at the cease of the series.

Out Of The Frying Pan

Jim Steinman & Meat Loaf

You lot guys, I fucking dearest Meat Loaf and his longtime collaborator Jim Steinman (R.I.P. to a true fable). If I become drunk enough to sing karaoke, you better believe I'thousand going to be belting out some 11 minute-long Meat Loaf deep cuts. I'grand probably more than familiar with his discography than any other artist's, and when I finally paid attention to the lyrics of "Out Of The Frying Pan (And Into The Fire)" my first idea was that Jim Steinman had to exist a Abiding Reader. That might be truthful, but of course this song was written well before The Dark Tower and so any connection is completely accidental (or mayhap it'south ka).

So wander down the aboriginal hallway
Taking the stairs merely ane at a time
Follow the sound of my heartbeat at present
I'chiliad in the room at the top
You lot're at the end of the line
Open the door and lay down on the bed
The sunday is but a ball of desire
And I wanna take you out of the frying pan…
Out of the frying pan…
Out of the frying pan…
And into the fire!

Do I really need to spell out what these lyrics bring to mind for me? There might not exist a bed at the tiptop of the Dark Tower, only almost everything else Steinman and Loaf sing (each recorded their own version) in the chorus perfectly fits the finish of the serial. Perhaps it's notable that the song then repeats itself.

Daydreamin'

Lupe Fiasco

While the second verse of this song doesn't actually fit the Nighttime Tower aesthetic at all, the intro and the first poesy practise. For me, the intro calls up the image of Jake passing out beside the rose on that beautiful day in New York.

As I spy from behind my giant robot'southward eyes
I proceed 'em happy cause I might fall out if he cries
Scared of heights, so I might pass out if he flies
Proceed 'em on autopilot crusade I can't drive

Meanwhile, the commencement poetry (or at least the beginning one-half of the get-go verse) is oddly like to what Roland experiences, looking through Eddie'south eyes when he beginning goes through the door marked "The Prisoner" in The Drawing of the Three.

As I said, none of these songs are mentioned in the Night Belfry books, and past no means are any of them actually referencing the series. These are simply a few songs that never fail to make me think of King's magnum Opus. If at that place are songs that practise the same for you, I hope you'll share them.

If you lot've been post-obit the web log for a while you might recall this post is a cop-out, since I didn't really talk over the details of this calendar week'southward chapters as much as I normally would. Y'all might think this post is a petty lazy. If that's what you think, all I tin can tell you is that I kind of agree, but I threw my dorsum out this weekend and was barely able to put this together and then gimme a break!

Next Week's Reading
Wolves Of The Calla:
Part 2, 5.iv-8.v

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Source: https://churchofthecosmicturtle.com/2021/05/18/songs-of-the-dark-tower/

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