The themes of Hamlet are universal, and that’s why Shakespeare and his works have endured. As I was reading the final lines of Hamlet a couple weeks ago, I was reminded of a song from the musical Hamilton. As a testament to the enduring themes of Shakespeare’s works, I decided to compile some lyrics from songs that have the same themes expressed in Hamlet. (And I admit I looked up "songs with [X] theme" to find some of these.)
Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story by Lin Manuel Miranda
A song about legacy and how’s it’s viewed from the eyes of history, which I think relates to Hamlet’s begging Horatio to carry on and tell everyone what has happened
[BURR]
But when you’re gone, who remembers your name?
Who keeps your flame?
[BURR AND MEN]
Who tells your story?
Who Tells Your Story by The Roots
Same theme of legacy and perception, but I wanted to share these lyrics too:
Who lives
And who dies
Who holds on to all our lives
Time and time and time again
Will they tell your story in the end
(Who lives who dies who tells your story?)
Positively 4th Street by Bob Dylan
Betrayal, which relates to the relationship between Claudius and Hamlet Sr.
You've got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin’
False Pretense by The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Also a theme of betrayal. The last two lines remind me of how all the traps in Hamlet end up backfiring:
So play the game until you run out
And play the game into my hand
Smiling Faces Sometimes by The Undisputed Truth
Theme of betrayal and playacting, both of which surface many times in Hamlet. The “playacting” is putting on a smile, instead of the airs of grief as in Hamlet.
Smiling faces, smiling faces, sometimes
They don't tell the truth
I'm a-tellin' you beware of the pat on the back
It just might hold you back
Jealousy, (jealousy) misery (misery) envy (envy)
I tell you you can't see behind
Smiling faces, smiling faces, sometimes
Hey, they don't tell the truth
My Immortal by Evanescence
I think the overall message of pain would resonate with Hamlet; a couple lyrics that I thought relate to the play:
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
These wounds won't seem to heal, this pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase
Viva la Vida by Coldplay
This song expresses a turn of fortunes, which I thought related to the Hamlet speeches about death being the great equalizer and putting everyone on the same level.
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to own
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