Soundtrack

Novels do not come with sound, so we've compiled a soundtrack for Hurston's. This is what a modern soundtrack, mixed especially for Their Eyes, might sound like. Each song's significance is explained in depth, and complete lyrics are provided below, as well as links to the original works. Listen to the entire soundtrack here.

1. Janie’s worldview in the beginning of her story of her life is simply the view that she needs a man to love her and she can love back. She doesn’t agree with her grandmother’s philosophy of marrying for protection or marrying for land or wealth. That is why I chose the song C’mon C’mon by Switchfoot for this worldview. The song correlates with how she wanted something different than what her grandmother wanted for her. The lyrics have a portion that talks about living a sequel which is what Janie was doing in some ways to her grandmother. Then it goes on to say lets not be our parents. I correlate that with the time that she abandoned what her grandmother wanted for her own passions.

You've been living life like it's a sequel
and your already bored with the plot
as if the cast and the score
are more money than before
But the script and the backdrop are stock

We've got the rest of our lives to regret
All the words that were said here tonight
but i bet that the morning, in the morning
You'll find us in bloom

So C'mon C'mon C'mon
Let's not be our parents
Oh C'mon C'mon C'mon
Let's follow this trough
Oh C'mon C'mon C'mon
Everything's waiting

We will rise with the wings of the dawn
When everythings new [2x]

Ever size up with summer sun?
Let these songs awaken the dawn
Let us breathe every breath
like a breath to be kept
Let us breathe it all in till it's gone

We've got the rest of our lives to live out
All these dreams we stay up tonight talking about
In the morning, start hoping, to not be too soon

So C'mon C'mon C'mon
Let's abandon this darkness
Oh C'mon C'mon C'mon
Let's follow this through
Yeah so C'mon C'mon C'mon
Everything's waiting
We will live like fire and gold when everything's new [8x]


I am also going to use the song Broken From The Start by Jon Foreman to describe Janie’s young worldview, because in this song Jon talks about how he was broken from the start and we see in her first relationship she quickly figures out how broken her life is. http://www.myspace.com/jonforeman

Life is a gift like fresh cut roses
Cut from the branch and brought inside
It’s a slow contradiction that’s beauty in a vase
When the cords are cut that’s when we start to die

Lately death and life get so confusing
I can’t tell the difference here tonight
Lately every breath feels like I’m kissing death
And when time is dead I cease to be alive

If you hide yourself deep inside, deep inside
In time you’ve got nothing left to hide
There’s nothing left inside
Tonight, honey I am gonna break your heart
Mine was broken from the start, broken from the start

Choice is the only thing we’re given
For one will live, another dies
One road says hello the other says goodbye
And the roads that you don’t choose begin to die

They won’t pay a cent to hear you laughing
They might pay a little to hear you cry
If you do it long enough they might even pay attention
But they still won’t pay respect until you die


I would also like to include the song Give Up? By Hot Hot Heat, because in this song Steve (the lead singer) speaks of how he is frustrated and wants to give up. He was warned but didn’t listen just like Janie did with her second husband. http://www.myspace.com/hothotheat

They all warned me to stay out
Stolen, stupid, scarred, and proud
Don't try to warn me, dont try to warn me, dont try to warn me
I said, I make my own mistakes, dont care how long it takes
i make my own mistakes, again

but all i know is all ive got is

Frustration, Frustration
I hate this vacation
So give up (give up)
Give up (give up)
I've got to get away from here
Its killing me just thinking 'bout
Frustration, Frustration
I hate this vacation
So give up (give up)
Give up (give up)
I've got to get away from here
Its killing me just thinking 'bout it

They all warned me of heart cramp
cut your losses, with this thorn
dont try to warn me, dont try to warn me, dont try to warn me
i said, i make my own mistakes, you dont know what shes like, i make my own mistakes, again
but all i know is all ive got is
Frustration, Frustration
I hate this vacation
So give up (give up)
Give up (give up)
I've got to get away from here
Its killing me just thinking 'bout
Frustration, Frustration
I hate this vacation
So give up (give up)
Give up (give up)
I've got to get away from here
Its killing me just thinking 'bout it
They all warned me, to stay out
Stolen, stupid, scarred, and proud
dont try to warn me, dont try to warn me, dont try to warn me, dont try to warn me, dont try to warn, me

I've got

Frustration, Frustration
I hate this vacation
So give up (give up)
Give up (give up)
I've got to get away from here
Its killing me just thinking 'bout
Frustration, Frustration
I hate this vacation
So give up (give up)
Give up (give up)
I've got to get away from here
I've got to get away from here
Its killing me just thinking about this


2. The next character I would like to analyze is Janie’s second husband, Joe. He had a very agnostic point of view. He loves Janie at first but becomes so jealous of her that he denies her any affection towards him and vice versa. For this I chose the song Tranquilize by The Killers. http://www.myspace.com/thekillers. This song goes on about how he questions love and just goes very well with the first half of their lives together. The connection breaks when Joe’s worldview is shattered when Janie speaks out against him in the store.

Time it tells living in my home town,
Wedding bells they begin easy
Live it down, baby don't talk that much,
Baby knows, but baby don't tease me.
In the park we could go walking,
Drown in the dark or we could go sailing
On the sea

Always here, always on time
Close call, was it love or was it just easy
Money talks when people need shoes and socks,
Steady boys, I'm thinking she needs me

I was just sipping on something sweet
I don't need political process

I got this feeling that they're gonna break down the door
I got this feeling they they're gonna come back for more
See I was thinking that I lost my mind
But it's been getting to me all this time
And it don't stop dragging me down

Silently reflection turns my world to stone
Patiently correction leaves us all alone
And sometimes I'm a travel man
But tonight this engine's failing

I still hear the children playing

Kick the can, kick the can, skip and blackjack
Steal a car and ring a round-rosey,
Rock and roll, candyland, boogeyman,
Run away and give me your sneakers

Acid rain, when Abel looked up at Cain
We began the weeping and wailing
A hurried high from pestilence, pills and pride,
It's a shame, we could have gone sailing
But heaven knows,
Heaven knows everything
Tranquilize

I got this feeling that they're gonna break down the door
I got this feeling they they're gonna come back for more
See I was thinking that I lost my mind
But it's been getting to me all this timeAnd it don't stop dragging me down
Silently reflection turns my world to stone
Patiently correction leaves us all alone

And sometimes I'm a travel man
But tonight this engine's failing
I still hear the children playing
Dead beat dancers come to us and stay

Cause i don't care where you've been
And I don't care what you've seen

We're the ones who still believe
And we're looking for a page
In that lifeless book of hope
Where a dream might help you cope
With the Bushes and the bombs A-re,

Tranquilized


3. Next we shall take a look at Pheoby. Pheoby was a true, honest, good person. She trusted Janie and didn’t jump to conclusions or spread rumors and always stood up for Janie. I chose the song Instead of a Show by Jon Foreman, because this speaks of how so many people are hypocrites. Although it is speaking of Christians, I believe it is fine to compare it to Pheoby and the town’s people. http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=3141520&albumid=9644921

I hate all your show and pretense
The hypocrisy of your praise
The hypocrisy of your festivals
I hate all your show
Away with your noisy worship
Away with your noisy hymns
I stomp on my ears when you're singing 'em
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show

Your eyes are closed when you're praying
You sing right along with the band
You shine up your shoes for services
There's blood on your hands
You turned your back on the homeless
And the ones that don't fit in your plan
Quit playing religion games
There's blood on your hands

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show

Let's argue this out
If your sins are blood red
Let's argue this out
You'll be one of the clouds
Let's argue this out
Quit fooling around
Give love to the ones who can't love at all
Give hope to the ones who got no hope at all
Stand up for the ones who can't stand at all, all
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show
I hate all your show

Instead let there be a flood of justice
An endless procession of righteous living, living
Instead let there be a flood of justice
Instead of a show
I hate all your show


4. I chose Bandages by Hot Hot Heat to describe the middle stage of her life because it talks about how bandages cover regrets and mistakes. The stage where she married Joe she looked back on as a mistake. It was regret. I think this is in some ways how she felt. In other words this would be her worldview.

Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Up and down on my legs my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages

These bandages cover more than scrapes, cuts and bruises from regrets and mistakes
I've been hoping your moping around the street again
I've been tripping from sipping the dripping dirty water tap
I've been poking a voodoo doll that you do not know I made
These bandages are anonymity
I've been shaking from making an awful decision'
I've been running and running
feels like my head is spinning round and round, around, around, around, around, around

Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Up and down on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages

I've been hoping your moping around the street again
I've been tripping from sipping the dripping dirty water tap
I've been poking a voodoo doll that you do not know I made
For you, of you, let's see what needles do
I've been shaking from making an awful decision
I've been thinking I'm drinking too many drinks all by myself
I've been running and running
Feels like my head is spinning round and round, around, around, around, around, around

Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Up and down on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages

Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Don't worry now, don't worry now, don’t worry cause it's all under control
Don't worry now, don't worry now, don’t worry cause it's all under control
Don't worry now, don't worry now, don’t worry cause it's all under control
Don't worry now, don't worry now, don’t worry cause it's all under control
Don't worry now, don't worry now, don’t worry cause it will all turn around,
around, around, around, around, around, around, around

Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Up and down on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Bandages on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Up and down on my legs and my arms from you
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Bandages, bandages, bandages
Bandages, bandages, bandages


Later in life we see Janie with Tea Cake now dead return home. She is sad, yet burden free. She realizes that now she can live in peace the rest of her days. I chose the song My Love Goes Free by Jon Foreman because this talks about releasing our love. She did that, yet still knew he was alive through her.

The Movement comes in slow
It's a tune we both should know
But the walls are thin
So we keep our voices low

You're a bird with a pretty mouth
You're a bird with songs to shout
And the same refrain continues
Singing out
If you love her let her go
She sings beautiful and slow
A tune that only caged birds know

So you're in nashville on the phone
And I'm back here at home
And the words are new
But I recognize the tone

If you love her let her go
She's beautifully composed
A tune that only caged birds know
My love goes free... My love goes free... My love goes free...


The final stage is when she speaks of God she seems to surrender her life to Him in the end. She realizes that he’s always there. So I chose Never Let Go by David Crowder*Band.

When clouds veil sun
And disaster comes
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
When waters rise
And hope takes flight
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Ever faithful
Ever true
You I know
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go
You never let go

When clouds brought rain
And disaster came
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
When waters rose
And hope had flown
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul
Oh, my soul

Oh, my soul
Overflows
Oh, what love, oh, what love
Oh, my soul
Fills hope
Perfect love that never lets go
Oh, what love, oh, what love
Oh, what love, oh, what love
In joy and pain In sun and rain
You?re the same
Oh, You never let go


5. Tea Cake is the next character whose worldview we will analyze. He is a very free spirited man who is madly in love with his wife, Janie. He always tries to make her happy, and does whatever he can to make her comfortable. He likes to gamble and take risks. I chose the song There Is A River, by Jon Foreman, because it goes along with how Tea Cake sees that Janie wants to be free so he takes her on a journey she’ll not forget. http://music.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=music.artistalbums&artistid=3141520&albumid=9644921

There’s a river underneath us
it’s been looking for you
there’s a river in our veins
it’s been looking for truth

there’s a river in our blood
from our fathers on through
I see you looking for the ocean, honey
There is a river in you

it’s deep in your eyes
there is a river
deep in your eyes
your river runs
deep in your eyes
there is a river in your eyes

I can see your eyes moving
looking down towards the shore
You’ve been searching for substance
You’ve been searching for more

I can see your eyes moving
They’ve been twisting around
You’ve been looking for something, honey
That you haven’t yet found

It’s deep in your eyes
there lies a river
Your river runs
deep in your eyes
I see a river
Are you ready to run?
There is a river in your eyes


6. I’m going to talk now about all the town women as one. They all acted much the same, gossiping and spreading rumors. I chose the song Dirty Mouth, by Hot Hot Heat. It talks about how people need not gossip and such. http://www.myspace.com/hothotheat

Wash your dirty mouth
Your dirty mouth
Watch your little mouth
Wash your dirty mouth
Your dirty mouth
Watch your little mouth

I don't wanna wait anymore

Wake up cinnamon
They can't get in and that's them at the door,
Cuz checkout time is noon and pretty soon it's a quarter to four

I don't wanna wait anymore

Wash your dirty mouth
Your dirty mouth
Watch your little mouth cuz you taste like you're already gone

Small town girls and boys make too much noise so I keep to myself
But acting tough is rough - enough is enough - I feel like hell
Tied up in London, you came undone with a two handed tug
With pieces of a phone, thrown at the door, spread out on the rug

I don't wanna wait anymore

Wash your dirty mouth
Your dirty mouth
Watch your little mouth cuz you taste like you're already gone
Wash your dirty mouth
Your dirty mouth
Watch your little mouth cuz you taste like you're already gone
I gotta say I cannot wait
Not even one more night or day
Why don't you fly and get away
And end this awful holiday
Come and play, come and stay, and end this awful holiday

I gotta say I cannot wait
Not even one more night or day
Why don't you fly and get away and end this awful holidayWash your dirty mouthYour dirty mouthWatch your little mouth cuz you taste like you're already goneWash your dirty mouthYour dirty mouthWatch your little mouth cuz you taste like you're already gone


7. I chose the song Many Funerals by Eisley to put with the men of the muck. It goes right along from speaking of trickery, such as gambling, to funerals and in the end goodbye. http://www.myspace.com/eisley

Bring along your tricks and trade
We will lie here
Here we lay
And though this ship is out to sea
I'm content to lie peacefully

Young and agile,
Seaside born
My parents death did I dear mourn
Now in this wicked world risk i
Bold endeavors by and by

Break break down
Break break down

And now they have no chances
fill the empty caskets and leave you with your tears
And now we take our chances
We all will take more chances
Before our lives end too

Break break down
Break break down

How could you have left us here?
You had friends, you had us, goodbye
goodbye, goodbye, goodbye, bye


8. I chose the song We Need Each Other by Sanctus Real to describe the Author’s worldview, because throughout the book she makes it clear that she finds friends and family a very important part of life. http://www.myspace.com/sanctusreal

I think I caught a glimpse of
Life without friends
Bitter, empty, hollow, dark and lonely
We never meant to hurt each other
So Can’t we trust again
And take it as a chance
To keep on growing

I don’t know why it doesn’t come easy
But I know that we could be happy
If we’d only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
‘Coz no one’s meant to live alone

Life revolves around the need
Of having someone
Causing every complicated feeling
Oh and I don’t want to loose you
And there is nothing wrong with
Telling me what you need
To keep our love strong

It’s just a part of being a family
Taking the good with the bad and the ugly
If we could only learn to love

Oh oh we need each other
So what’s the fighting for
Oh oh we need each other
Please don’t close the door
Oh oh we need each other
Through all the highs and lows
Oh oh we need each other
‘Coz I don’t want to be alone

Oh Oh we need each other
Fathers and Mothers
Oh oh we need each other
All your sisters and brothers
Oh oh we need each other
We need friends and lovers
Oh Oh we need each other

Well I need you
You need me
‘Coz that’s the way
It’s meant to be
I need you
We need each other
I don’t want to be alone

Well I need youYou need me
‘Coz that’s the way
It’s meant to be
I need you
We need each other
I don’t want to be alone

-Daniel Hanson