Falling Slowly

Track 5: Falling Slowly by Glen Hansard

This song reminds me of 1984 Winston’s way of spreading the word and what happens when people disobey Big Brother.

Winston thinks that the rest of the people need to hear what is happening to actually see what is going on in their society. Winston thought that if they spoke out against Big Brother people would see what was happening and follow in their footsteps; the way of Big Brother is not the only way that you have to live.

“Take this sinking boat and point it home

We’ve still got time

Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice”

Then you get to the part of the song

“Falling slowly, eyes that know me

And I can’t go back

The moods that take me and erase me

And I’m painted black”

This is at the point that they have broken the rules and have been caught. Winston and Julia can’t change what they have done and they are taken by Big Brother to be erased from society. The lyric “And I’m painted black” holds 2 meaning to me when related to this book. It could mean when they were being tortured or you could look at it as when they were erased.

Dare You To Move

Track 4: Dare You To Move by Switchfoot

This song makes me think about 1984 and how Big Brother watches everyone constantly.

“I dare you to lift yourself up off the floor

I dare you to move”

When the something like Big Brother is keeping that close of an eye on you it is in a way daring someone to step out of line just to see if they can slip through. The resistance is going to try and move without getting caught so even if it is a small one a slight difference is being started.

“Welcome to the fallout

Welcome to the resistance

The tension is here”

The people who are resisting are more likely to test Big Brother. They are the people thinking for themselves and seeing the flaws from what is going on. They are creating the tension that makes people become erased from society.

“Where you gonna go?

Salvation is here”

When the people test Big Brother they are captured and tortured Big Brother wants to break them before erasing them.  Big Brother wants the resistance to go back to being brainwashed and see society as okay. When that happens it proves that Big Brother has won.  

Uprising

Track 3: Uprising by Muse

This song reminded me both of Animal Farm and 1984.

The chores reminds me most of Animal Farm. The animals are wanting freedom and they want it now.

“They will not force us,

They will stop degrading us,

They will not control us,

We will be victorious.”

This is how the animals in Animal Farm felt towards the humans before and after the revolution. The animals were tired of the control the humans had over them. When they finally over threw the human that was in charge of them they were victorious. They were in control of themselves and the farm.

“And all the green belts wrapped around our minds,

And endless red tape to keep the truth confined”

The people in 1984 are restricted and have to follow all of the rules that are set on them or they are erased. They are not allowed to think freely which is confining everything even more for Big Brother and helps the “red tape” become stronger around the truth. The truth is being hidden by Big Brother and the people just go along with it because they have all of the restrictions. 

Banana Boat Song

Track 2: Banana Boat Song by Harry Belafonte

This song reminds me of Animal Farm because Boxer was always very hard working and towards the end he just wanted to retire. It also can show the inequality between the animals by the end.

 This song the workers just want to go home from a long days work and relax.

“Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana

Daylight come and me wan’ go home”

The “tally man” would be Napoleon because he is in charge and decides when the other animals are done. Napoleon has risen to the top to be able to decide what happens with all of the animals on the farm. Boxer had always done his share of the work plus more. Once he started getting older though he dreamed of being able to retire and just relax. Though he had been such a loyal animal and had always done what was asked he was tossed away for profit of Napoleon and the other pigs. 

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

Track 1: Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

This made me think of when Snowball was banished from Animal Farm.

"I walk this empty street

 On the Boulevard of Broken Dreams"

Snowball had worked hard to create paradise for all of the animals and him at the farm. Snowball had always tried to come up with ideas that would better the farm. He worked hard to create new ideas and in the end they were stolen by Napoleon. Snowball had all of his hard work and dreams broken when he was banished. 

 When Napoleon banished Snowball everyone just went along with it because they didn’t know any better. All of the animals let Snowball go off on alone without really knowing why he was being banished.

"My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

 My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating"

Everything that Snowball had helped to create and his whole life was left behind. Everything that he had ever known and loved was no longer apart of his life; he was by himself in the vast world.