Their Eyes Were Watching God: Novel Soundtrack

Novel Soundtrack:

1 – Teenage Dream by Boyce Avenue (cover)

This fits the beginning of the story, when Janie sees Johnny Taylor. She is growing into her teenage years and, inspired by her new sexual drive, she kisses him. The song depicts this as the teenage dream. She got caught in the moment and suddenly had feelings for Johnny.

I think you're pretty

Without any makeup on

I think you're funny

When you tell the punchline wrong

I knew you got me

So you let your walls come down, down

Before you met me

I was alright, but things

Were kinda heavy

You brought me to life

Now every February

You'll be my Valentine, Valentine

Let's just talk all through the night

There's no need to rush

We can dance, until we die

You and I, will be young forever

[Chorus]

You make me feel

Like I'm livin' a

Teenage dream

The way you turn me on

I can't sleep

Let's run away and

Don't ever look back,

Don't ever look back

My heart stops

When you look at me

Just one touch

Now baby I believe

This is real

So take a chance and

Don't ever look back,

Don't ever look back

When you're around me,

Life's like a movie scene

I wasn't happy,

Until you became my queen

I finally found you,

My missing puzzle piece

I'm complete

Let's just talk all through the night

There's no need to rush

We can dance, until we die

You and I, will be young forever

[Chorus]

You make me feel

Like I'm livin' a

Teenage dream

The way you turn me on

I can't sleep

Let's run away and

Don't ever look back,

Don't ever look back

My heart stops

When you look at me

Just one touch

Now baby I believe

This is real

So take a chance and

Don't ever look back,

Don't ever look back

I'mma get your heart racing

If that's what you need,

In this teenage dream tonight

Let you rest your head on me,

If that's what you need,

In this teenage dream tonight, tonight, tonight

Tonight

[Chorus]

Yoooouuu

You make me feel

Like I'm livin' a

Teenage dream

The way you turn me on

I can't sleep

Let's run away and

Don't ever look back,

Don't ever look back

And my heart stops

When you look at me

Just one touch

Now baby I believe

This is real

So take a chance and

Don't ever look back,

Don't ever look back

I'mma get your heart racing

If that's what you need,

In this teenage dream tonight

Let you rest your head on me,

If that's what you need,

In this teenage dream tonight, tonight, tonight

2 – Under Pressure by Queen

As a result of her spontaneous kiss, Nanny decided that it would be good for Janie to get married. Janie was not ready for the commitment. She did not love the man that Nanny wanted for her, but nonetheless, Nanny pressured Janie into marrying Logan Killicks. This song simply describes the pressure that Janie had to go through and eventually give in to.

Mm ba ba de

Um bum ba de

Um bu bu bum da de

Pressure pushing down on me

Pressing down on you no man ask for

Under pressure - that burns a building down

Splits a family in two

Puts people on streets

Um ba ba be

De day da

Ee day da - that's o.k.

It's the terror of knowing

What this world is about

Watching some good friends

Screaming 'Let me out'

Pray tomorrow - gets me higher

Pressure on people - people on streets

Day day de mm hm

Da da da ba ba

O.k.

Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor

These are the days it never rains but it pours

Ee do ba be

Ee da ba ba ba

Um bo bo

Be lap

People on streets - ee da de da de

People on streets - ee da de da de da de da

It's the terror of knowing

What this world is about

Watching some good friends

Screaming 'Let me out'

Pray tomorrow - gets me higher high high

Pressure on people - people on streets

Turned away from it all like a blind man

Sat on a fence but it don't work

Keep coming up with love

but it's so slashed and torn

Why - why - why ?

Love love love love love

Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking

Can't we give ourselves one more chance

Why can't we give love that one more chance

Why can't we give love give love give love give love

give love give love give love give love give love

'Cause love's such an old fashioned word

And love dares you to care for

The people on the edge of the night

And love dares you to change our way of

Caring about ourselves

This is our last dance

This is ourselves

Under pressure

Pressure

3 – We Could Run by Needtobreathe

As Janie’s marriage with Logan began to tense from nothing to strife, Janie began to like the idea of leaving the man she never loved. One day she met Joe Starks, an ambitious, flirty man, who promised the opportunity for excitement. When he invited her to run away and marry him, she jumped at the opportunity. This song depicts the impulsive decision Janie made to run away. She ran away from a boring life in search of excitement, like in the song.

Everything stops as we look towards the clock

It feels like we’re moving backwards

It’s easy to find potential in before

But we look the same in the afters

Could we wait long enough to bide my time

Could we stay and say enough to change my mind

We could run away

Maybe we could change

Get back on our feet and then

Maybe make it home again

We could run away

Be on our own again

Maybe in the twilight

We can break out

Buy ourselves a Cadillac

Never turn around

We could run away

Be on our own again

We could stay here where things became unclear

Fighting what’s left of the right way

But everyone hates the chances that we waste

Under the light of the new day

Could we wait long enough to bide my time

Could we stay and say enough to change my mind

We could run away

Maybe we could change

Get back on our feet and then

Maybe make it home again

We could run away

Be on our own again

Maybe in the twilight

We can break out

Buy ourselves a Cadillac

Never turn around

We could run away

Be on our own again

4 – I believe I can fly by R Kelly

This song represents Joe’s almost unrealistic goals for himself. His aspirations we’re unbelievably high, even for a strong willed man. But he believed in himself and was able to make it happen. Joe was able to reach his goals, but possibly at the cost of his wife’s love.

I used to think that I could not go on

And life was nothing but an awful song

But now I know the meaning of true love

I'm leaning on the everlasting arms

If I can see it, then I can do it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus:]

I believe I can fly

I believe I can touch the sky

I think about it every night and day

Spread my wings and fly away

I believe I can soar

I see me running through that open door

I believe I can fly

See I was on the verge of breaking down

Sometimes silence can seem so loud

There are miracles in life I must achieve

But first I know it starts inside of me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus]

Hey, cause I believe in me, oh

If I can see it, then I can be it

If I just believe it, there's nothing to it

[Chorus]

Hey, if I just spread my wings

I can fly

I can fly, hey

If I just spread my wings

I can fly

Fly-eye-eye

5 – Love Don’t Live Here Anymore by Rose Royce

Janie was constantly forced to be nothing but a figurehead. Joe didn’t allow her to do anything, except work in the shop. Slowly but surely, Janie lost her love for Joe. She did what she could to keep the relationship alive, but it was impossible for one person to do all the work. Although she didn’t want it to, the love left. This song describes how love no longer lived in the relationship. It had become a political act for Joe, as mayor.

Chorus:

You've abandoned me- your

Love don't live here anymore

Just a vacancy

Love don't live here anymore

When you lived inside of me

There was nothing that I could see

That you wouldn't do for me

Trouble seemed so far away

You changed that right away, baby

(chorus)

Love don't live here anymore

Just emptiness and memories

Of what we had before

Why'd you have to go away, don't you see

I miss you so- I need your love

(chorus)

Through the windows of my eyes

Everyone can see the loneliness inside me

Why'd ya have to go away

Don't you know I miss you so, I need your love

(chorus)

6 – If I Die Young by The Band Perry

Joe had an untimely death due to kidney failure. Joe had an extravagant funeral that Janie paid for. This song is a good representation for this event because Joe died early. He also had a big funeral like in the song where they “bury [her] in satin and lay [her] down on a bed of roses”

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a, bed of roses

Sink me in the river, at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh, uh oh

Lord make me a rainbow, I'll shine down on my mother

She'll know I'm safe with you when she stands under my colors, oh and

Life ain't always what you think it ought to be, no

Ain't even grey, but she buries her baby

The sharp knife of a short life, well

I've had, just enough time

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a, bed of roses

Sink me in the river, at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

The sharp knife of a short life, well

I've had, just enough time

And I'll be wearing white, when I come into your kingdom

I'm as green as the ring on my little, cold finger, I've

Never known the lovin' of a man

But it sure felt nice when he was holding my hand, there's a

Boy here in town who says he'll love me forever,

Who would have thought forever could be severed by

The sharp knife of a short life, well,

I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls

What I never did is done

A penny for my thoughts, oh no, I'll sell them for a dollar

They're worth so much more after I'm a goner

And maybe then you'll hear the words I been singin'

Funny when you're dead how people start listenin'

If I die young, bury me in satin

Lay me down on a, bed of roses

Sink me in the river, at dawn

Send me away with the words of a love song

Uh oh (uh, oh)

The ballad of a dove (uh, oh)

Go with peace and love

Gather up your tears, keep 'em in your pocket

Save them for a time when you're really gonna need them, oh

The sharp knife of a short life, well

I've had, just enough time

So put on your best boys and I'll wear my pearls

7 – Too Old to Fall in Love by R Steevie Moore

After Janie’s second husband, Joe Starks, dies, she feels like the chance of ever having true love died with him. She once remarks that she is “too old” for love. This song perfectly explains how she was feeling in its mood and in its lyrics.

If love is just a part of living

then love is clearly just a situation

I'm too old to fall in love

with you

I'm getting too old to live

with me

do it

(doors open and close)

Is love amongst your friends a roast beef sandwich?

See my pistol it is crystal clear

In the hallways love is always clear

Do you listen to my distant prayer?

I'm too old to fall in love again

aaaaaaaaaah

8 – Pistol by Dustin Kensrue

After Janie meets Teacake, she notices that he likes her. Teacake progressively flirts with her and eventually woos her. Teacake eventually gets very bold and suggests marriage. This song does exactly as Teacake did. It progressively gets bolder and eventually hints at marriage with the line “darling please wear this ring”.

I love how you curse when I wake you up

And sweetly demand that I fill your cup.

I follow your cool gun powder glare

Honey, you lay me bare.

You're the girl of my dreams

And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true

Time to lay down my bets,

Oh, I put all my money on you.

When I'm in the dark, girl, you bring me to light.

It seems like you're almost always right.

So keep boxing my ears when I sew them shut.

Baby, you sure are tough.

You're the girl of my dreams

And a pistol it seems, but you shoot me straight and true

Time to lay down my fears,

Honey, I feel so safe around you.

If the tiller man taught me anything,

It's that a hard-headed woman is what I need

To help me to always do my best.

Baby, my life is blessed.

You're the girl of my dreams

Darling, please wear this ring

You're an angel through and through.

Time to lay down my life,

Honey, I'd do it gladly for you.

Time to lay down my life,

Honey, I'd do it gladly for you

9 – Makin’ Me Fall in Love Again by Kellie Pickler

Janie falls for Teacake’s sweet words and slowly falls in love with him. They start more as friends, always with each other, doing goofy things. Eventually it gets more and more romantic to the point where everyone in the town notices that Janie has fallen in love again. This song captures Janie’s feelings with almost a reluctant feel towards falling in love again.

People will tell you that this kinda love willl fade

that being in love like this is just a phase

but baby after all this time ain't nothing changed

all you gotta do is look at me that way

and there you go makin' me fall in love again

there you go makin' me fall in love again

baby i gotta tell ya

there's nothing better

than you and me together

workin' on forever

everyday with you

is always something new

you've only gotta be yourself

and there you go makin' me fall in love again

baby sometimes you can say the craziest things

i love how you don't care what nobody thinks

you're highly original totally untypical

never change

all i gotta do is look at your smilin' face

and there you go makin' me fall in love again

there you go makin' me fall in love again

baby i gotta tell ya

there's nothing better

than you and me together

workin' on forever

everyday with you

is always something new

you've only gotta be yourself

and there you go makin' me fall in love again

you're my sunshine, your'e my rain

sure feels good to know you feel same

i gotta tell ya

there's nothing better

than you and me together

workin' on forever

everyday with you

is always something new

you've only gotta be yourself

and there you go makin' me fall in love again

there you go makin' me fall in love again

10 – Marry You by Bruno Mars

Janie decides to marry Teacake. It wasn’t a big planned wedding, but more a simple wedding based on a sudden love. They had only known each other a relatively short time, but what they felt was love. This song shows the cute sudden idea to get married. It also references Bruno Mars doing goofy things with his lover just like in the book.

It's a beautiful night,

We're looking for something dumb to do.

Hey baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,

Or is it this dancing juice?

Who cares baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

Well I know this little chapel on the boulevard we can go,

No one will know,

Come on girl.

Who cares if we're trashed got a pocket full of cash we can blow,

Shots of patron,

And it's on girl.

Don't say no, no, no, no-no;

Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;

And we'll go, go, go, go-go.

If you're ready, like I'm ready.

Cause it's a beautiful night,

We're looking for something dumb to do.

Hey baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,

Or is it this dancing juice?

Who cares baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

I'll go get a ring let the choir bells sing like oooh,

So whatcha wanna do?

Let's just run girl.

If we wake up and you wanna break up that's cool.

No, I won't blame you;

It was fun girl.

Don't say no, no, no, no-no;

Just say yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah;

And we'll go, go, go, go-go.

If you're ready, like I'm ready.

Cause it's a beautiful night,

We're looking for something dumb to do.

Hey baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,

Or is it this dancing juice?

Who cares baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

Just say I do,

Tell me right now baby,

Tell me right now baby. [x2]

Cause it's a beautiful night,

We're looking for something dumb to do.

Hey baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

Is it the look in your eyes,

Or is it this dancing juice?

Who cares baby,

I think I wanna marry you.

11 – Crazy Love by Michael Bublé

In the time following their marriage, Janie and Teacake truly fall in love. Janie mentions once that she falls more and more in love with Teacake each and everyday. The town certainly notices and everybody knows of Teacake and Janie’s crazy love. This song tries to explain how the couple felt for each other. They truly were perfectly in love and seemingly infatuated with each other.

I can hear her heart beat for a thousand miles

And the heavens open every time she smiles

And when I come to her, that's where I belong

I'm running to her like a river's song

She gives me love, love, love, love, crazy love

She's got a fine sense of humor when I'm feeling low down

And when I come to her when the sun goes down

Takes away my trouble, takes away my grief

Takes away my heartache in the night like a thief

Give me love, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme crazy love

Give me love, love, love, yes sir, crazy love

Yes, I need her in the daytime

Yes, I need her in the night

But I want to throw my arms around her

Kiss her an' hug her, kiss her an' hug her tight

Kiss her an' hug her tight, through the night

And when I'm returning from so far away

She gives me some sweet lovin' brighten up my day

It'll make me feel righteous, make me feel whole

Make me feel mellow down into my soul

Give me love, gimme love, yes sir, crazy love

Give me love, gimme, gimme, gimme, crazy love

I said she gives me love, love, love, aww, crazy love

She gives me, yeah, crazy love

I said give me love, love, love, love, crazy love

She gives me love, love, yes sir, a crazy love, one more time

She gives me love, love, love, love, she gives me crazy love

She gives me love, love, love, yes sir crazy love

12 – Running From the Storm by Gary Moore

A while after Janie and Teacake moved to the Everglades, people began to talk about a hurricane coming their way. Everyone was leaving to find a safer place. Teacake and many others decided to stay and test their luck. The storm eventually hit and hit hard. They literally had to run for their lives to avoid the flooding water. This song draws a good picture. The song perfectly depicts the storm as a terrifying flood. It also mentions not surviving the night , which was definitely a possibility for Janie.

The wind is up,

and the sky is falling.

The thunder cracks,

and the sea is rolling.

Wonder if we'll ever see tomorrow.

Ride with our backs to the wind,

don't know if I'll make home again.

Running from the storm.

The sky is black,

and the wind is howling.

The lightning strikes,

and the sea is raging.

Wonder if we'll ever see tomorrow.

Turning our ships to the sun,

this time there is no place to run.

Running from the storm.

13 – Sleeping Sickness by City and Colour (Bonus Track)

Eventually, Teacake falls very ill and bed sick. Janie tries to comfort him, but he was bit by an infected dog and his chance of survival was very slim. All Janie could do was sit and hope he would be okay. His sickness eventually poisoned his mind and he convinced himself that Janie had betrayed him. He tries to kill her and in self-defense, Janie shoots and kills Teacake. In this song death is inevitable and talks about not being able to sleep because of what haunts him, just like what happens to Teacake.

I awoke, only to find my lungs empty

Through the night, so it seems I'm not breathing

And now my dreams are nothing like they were meant to be

And I'm Breaking Down

I think I'm breaking down

And I'm afraid to sleep because of what haunts me

Such as living with the uncertainties

That I'll never find the words to say

Which would completely explain

Just how I'm breaking down

Someone come, Someone come and save my life

Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead

But now its like the night is taking up sides

With all the worries that occupy the back of my mind

Could it be? This misery will suffice

(Gordon Downey Singing This Verse)

I've become, the simple souvenir of someone's KILL

Like the sea, I'm constantly changing from calm to ill

Madness fills my heart and soul

As if the great divide could swallow me whole

Oh, how I'm breaking down

Someone come, Someone come and save my life

Maybe I'll sleep when I am dead

But now its like the night is taking up sides

With all the worries that occupy the back of my mind

Could it be? This misery will suffice

Someone come, Someone come and save my life

Could it be? This misery will suffice

This project was created by: Grant Woetzel