Songs inspired by or containing references to The Dark Tower!

[Tvmorbid]

I've got both of Demons & Wizards albums, I think there are a few DT references in the first self-titles album but cant quote them at the moment. I think 'Fiddler on the Green' might be about Susan and her death.

They're an awesome band, shame they dont tour Also a shame they hav'nt done another album yet!

[Jimmy]

Led Zep wrote a lot of Lord of the Rings, not Dark Tower. Sorry. Though I'm pretty sure Immigrant Song is about vikings, anyway.

[Hallvard]

While it may not originally be about The Dark Tower, it still sort of matches. "our only goal will be the western shore" is a great example.

[Randall Flagg]

Since this is about music, I am going to move it to The Forge, with a brief re-direct.
Thanks.

[Randall Flagg]

Since this thread is about music, I'm going to move it to The Forge and merge it with another thread discussing the Dark Tower soundtrack.
I'll leave a 2 day re-direct.
Thanks.

[MonteGss]

[goncho]

Rockin in the Free World is on book VII??? man I got to start reading faster!! my band covers that song and I love it!

[Sylar]

As i mentioned in my interductory first message, i play guitar and write songs in a band and we are obssesed with Stephen King. We only have one song though which is specifically aimed at The Dark Tower books. The song is called Ruby and it is a tribute to Roland and Susan's relationship in The Wizard and Glass. I wont write out the lyrics here, but it is basically about two lovers taking a chance when the stakes are high and potenially dangerous. Knowing that even a short time together is better than never experiencing it all. Anyways i would be stoked if you guys could check out the song for yourselves and let me know what you think of it.

The song is called Ruby and you can find it here www.myspace.com/thegaslamp

[valtr0n]

I think my favorite in the entire series was Hurt- both NIN and Cash versions.
It was the one song going through my head when all of the events took place, especially when the fight with Morded was over.

And I thought the title was Man of Constant Sorrow, like in O Brother, Where Art Thou? and just changed a few words for Susannah.

The original version of the folk song was Maid of Constant Sorrow. It was changed later to Man.

[Greasemark]

Came across this guy while doing a bit of random searching - check him out

http://www.mp3.com/albums/20148066/summary.html

Incidentally, I dont see a Dark Tower Music section, or have I missed it.

ergo:

http://www.twilight-land.com/tower01.html
http://www.dataflowsystemsinc.com/De...wning/News.htm
http://www.acidplanet.com/search/default.asp?T=2387

[Greasemark]

erm, now Im confused the original text dissapeared? Have I breached a rule somewheres? If I hover over the thread in the forum it shows the text.

[Jean]

wait, it will be sorted out!

[Greasemark]

Fingers T

JR Flyn

Dennis Downing

E.F.N

[theyspunaweb]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4EtvqJ65zM"]YouTube - Coldplay - Viva La Vida - Official Music Video[/ame]

just watch. Coldplay however did make an alternate version. Thought it was interesting, because I just watched this a couple of minutes ago. I tried to search, I hope this wasn't posted anywhere and I didn't know where to post this thread!


lots of things are interesting about this video, like:
the rose

and the lyrics themselves:

the old king is dead, long live the king
one minute I held the key, next the walls were closed on me...

talking about the ringing of bells and ruling the world... and castles

anyways. haha this probably really lame! I also haven't finished the series, I'm in the middle of Susannah's Song.

[D-Bo]

Impressive...most impressive.

My favorite has gotta be Hurt. But I do prefer the(Man in Black) Johnny Cash version over NIN for anything DT related. It's not actually in the series, but I always imagine Cash' rendition of "God's gonna cut you down" as a DT song as well

Couldn't have said it better myself. Perhaps to say I imagine the substitution of ka for god...

[Jackie]

Here it is:



I've been working for years to pull together a list of all the songs in The Dark Tower Cycle, and here it is!

Criteria for the list:

1. I have to have verified it as a real song. If I can't find it anywhere, I'm assuming it's a product of King's imagination. If anyone knows about a real song that isn't here, let me know.

2. Some of the songs are traditional, or have been covered by many artists. I didn't put any artist for the traditional ones, and put what seemed to be the most popular artist, (the one identified with the song) for the ones with multiple cover versions, or the writer if I couldn't determine the artist.

3. For songs with multiple mentions, the 1st mention ONLY is listed. Each song is listed once.

The list is by no means complete, if you remember a song that's not listed, just let me know.

Here's the list!!!

SONGS IN STEPHEN KING'S "THE DARK TOWER" CYCLE


The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger

1. Hey Jude- The Beatles
2. Onward Christian Soldiers
3. Shall We Gather at the River
4. Careless Love- (various artists have done this with various lyrics, I prefer the one by Dinah Washington, as being closest with the series)
5. Ease on Down the Road- Michael Jackson and Diana Ross

The Dark Tower II: The Drawing of the Three

1. Just A Gigolo- David Lee Roth
2. Title Unknown (“Doctor tole me daughter you gotta quit it fast”)- Billie Holiday
3. A Boy named Sue- Johnny Cash
4. Folsom Prison Blues- Johnny Cash
5. People- Barbara Striesand
6. We Shall Not Be Moved
7. John Henry
8. Barbry Allen
9. Twilight Time- The Platters

The Dark Tower III: The Wastelands

1. Paint it Black- Rolling Stones
2. Love to Love You Baby- Donna Summer
3. Calling Dr. Love- Kiss
4. Double Shot of My Baby’s Love- Swinging Medallions
5. Hippy Hippy Shake- The Fabulous Thunderbirds
6. Buffalo Gals- Malcolm McClaren
7. Darlin’ Katy
8. Sharp Dressed Man- Z.Z. Top
9. Velcro Fly- Z.Z. Top
10. Knock Three Times- Tony Orlando and Dawn
11. My Girl’s a Corker
12. Stardust- Hoagy Carmichael
13. Tube Snake Boogie- Z.Z. Top

The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass

1. As Time Goes By- Frank Sinatra
2. We’re Off to See the Wizard- Wizard of Oz Cast
3. Somewhere Over the Rainbow- Judy Garland
4. The Green Door
5. Big Iron- Marty Robbins

The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla

1. With a Little Help From My Friends- The Beatles
2. Legs- Z.Z. Top
3. 19th Nervous Breakdown- The Rolling Stones
4. Maid of Constant Sorrow- Joan Baez
5. Walk on the wild Side- Lou Reed
6. Someone Saved My Life Tonight- Elton John
7. Mother (A Word That Means the World to Me)- Howard Johnson/Theodore Morse
8. A Hard Rain’s A Gonna Fall- Bob Dylan
9. I Can’t Go For That- Hall & Oates
10. Holding Out For a Hero- Bonnie Tyler
11. Summer in the City- Lovin' Spoonful
12. In the Summertime- Mungo Jerry
13. Follow the Pied Piper- Crispian St. Peters
14. Barber of Seville


The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah

1. Night and Day- Frank Sinatra
2. Stuck Inside of Mobile With the Memphis Blues Again- Bob Dylan
3. Visions of Johanna- Bob Dylan
4. Pinhead- The Ramones
5. The Wreck of Old Nintey Nine
6. The Wreck of the Hesperus- George Harrison
7. 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall
8. Hang on Sloopy- The McCoys
9. This Time- Troy Shondell
10. Pop Goes the Weasel
11. Man of Constant Sorrow
12. Blowin in the Wind- Bob Dylan
13. Hesitation Blues- Reverend Gary Davis
14. I Ain’t Marchin’ Anymore
15. We Shall Overcome
16. Alfie – Burt Bacharach


The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower

1. Hurt- Nine Inch Nails (also covered by Johnny Cash)
2. Moonlight Becomes You- Frank Sinatra
3. I left My Heart in San Francisco- Tony Bennett
4. Good Golly Miss Molly- Little Richard
5. Harrigan- George M. Cohan
6. The Lion Sleeps Tonight- The Tokens
7. Roll Tide- University of Alabama Fight Song
8. Nowhere to Run- Martha and the Vandellas
9. Drive My Car- The Beatles
10. That’s Amore- Dean Martin
11. Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen
12. I’m Late- Bill Thompson (From “Alice in Wonderland”)
13. Hey Nineteen- Steely Dan
14. Crazy Train- Ozzy Osbourne
15. Amazing Grace
16. Rockin’ in the Free World- Neil Young
17. What Child Is This?
18. California Sun- The Riverias
19. Sugar Shack- Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
20. Heat Wave- Martha and the Vandellas
21. She Loves You- The Beatles
22. Silent Night
23. Come Go With Me- The Del-Vikings

Wow , nice thought Thakya, I'll definitly have to make a
cd/playlist for each book.

[gsvec]

Uriah Heep was a great band back in the early 70s. I've often thought that their album Demons & Wizards (and some tracks on Look At Yourself) were absolutely perfect tie-ins to TDT. If you're too young to remember them, you should check them out. I've always wondered if SK was a fan.


1. The Wizard
2. Traveller In Time
3. Easy Livin'
4. Poet's Justice
5. Circle Of Hands
6. Rainbow Demon
7. All My Life
8. Paradise/The Spell


1. Look At Yourself
2. I Wanna Be Free
3. July Morning
4. Tears In My Eyes
5. Shadows Of Grief
6. What Should Be Done
7. Love Machine

There's also the band King Crimson and their album The Court of the Crimson King

1. 21st Century Schizoid Man / Mirrors
2. I Talk to the Wind - (live)
3. Epitaph / March For No Reason / Tomorrow And Tomorrow
4. Moonchild / The Dream / The Illusion
5. In The Court of the Crimson King / The Return Of The Fire Witch / The Dance Of The Puppets

[flaggwalkstheline]

I'm a huge bob dylan fan and a tower junkie so when i heard this song I flipped, it totally sounds like Dylans' song Aint talkin, off of modern times from 06 is based on The Dark Tower
Tell me what u think here r the lyrics

Bob Dylan: Aint Talkin

As I walked out tonight in the mystic garden
The wounded flowers were dangling from the vine
I was passing by yon cool crystal fountain
Someone hit me from behind

Ain't talking, just walking
Through this weary world of woe
Heart burning, still yearning
No one on earth would ever know

They say prayer has the power to heal
So pray for me, mother
In the human heart an evil spirit can dwell
I am trying to love my neighbor and do good unto others
But oh, mother, things ain't going well

Ain't talking, just walking
I'll burn that bridge before you can cross
Heart burning, still yearning
There'll be no mercy for you once you've lost

Now I'm all worn down by weeping
My eyes are filled with tears, my lips are dry
If I catch my opponents ever sleeping
I'll just slaughter them where they lie

Ain't talking, just walking
Through the world mysterious and vague
Heart burning, still yearning
Walking through the cities of the plague.

Well, the whole world is filled with speculation
The whole wide world which people say is round
They will tear your mind away from contemplation
They will jump on your misfortune when you're down

Ain't talking, just walking
Eating hog eyed grease in a hog eyed town.
Heart burning, still yearning
Some day you'll be glad to have me around.

They will crush you with wealth and power
Every waking moment you could crack
I'll make the most of one last extra hour
I'll revenge my father's death then I'll step back

Ain't talking, just walking
Hand me down my walking cane.
Heart burning, still yearning
Got to get you out of my miserable brain.

All my loyal and my much-loved companions
They approve of me and share my code
I practice a faith that's been long abandoned
Ain't no altars on this long and lonesome road

Ain't talking, just walking
My mule is sick, my horse is blind.
Heart burning, still yearning
Thinking about that girl I left behind.

Well, it's bright in the heavens and the wheels are flying
Fame and honor never seem to fade
The fire gone out but the light is never dying
Who says I can't get heavenly aid?

Ain't talking, just walking
Carrying a dead man's shield
Heart burning, still yearning
Walking with an ache in my heel

The suffering is unending
Every nook and cranny has its tears
I'm not playing, I'm not pretending
I'm not nursing any superfluous fears

Ain't talking, just walking
Walking ever since the other night.
Heart burning, still yearning
Walking until I'm clean out of sight.

As I walked out in the mystic garden
On a hot summer day, a hot summer lawn
Excuse me, ma'am, I beg your pardon
There's no one here, the gardener is gone

Ain't talking, just walking
Up the road, around the bend.
Heart burning, still yearning
In the last outback at the world's end.

[IWasSentWest]

some of those lines, i would swear he was talking about roland. and to put them all in one song, that's impossible to be just a coincidence

[flaggwalkstheline]

some of those lines, i would swear he was talking about roland. and to put them all in one song, that's impossible to be just a coincidence

what clinched it for me is the referencing of wheels
btw
what song is that that u have there in ur sig? im not familiar w/ it sounds like something from time out of mind though...

[Jon]

I would imagine Dylan wrote the song long before DT was witten.

<---- smartass

[flaggwalkstheline]

im not sure, but the album is from 2006 and the songs are all fairly new songs or at least thats what my dylan-encyclopedia says (and yes there is a dylan encyclopedia and my having it may indicate that i have a problem lol)

[Jon]

LOL...perhaps he did then.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step.

[IWasSentWest]

its "every grain of sand" ...not to big on the way he sings the song but i've read the lyrics and have loved them dearly ever since

[razz]

LOL...perhaps he did then.

Admitting you have a problem is the first step.

coming from the guy who lets his sheep play in the hot tub