Connecting Music to the Handmaids Tale

1) Blood Sweat Tears Revenge- Kodak Black

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z89gOZ0oOEY

“I done lost a lot of friends, shed plenty tears Could’ve hung me by my throat and cut my fucking ears Stay solid, had to do my bid, now I’m here”

Both the title and lyrics within this song connect to The Handmaid’s Tale in various ways. To begin, the line about losing friends and shedding tears mimics Offred’s time in Gilead, where nearly everything was taken away from her, whether it be friends, family, or possessions. This line shows Offred’s profound sense of loss and isolation within the state of Gilead.

The second line illustrates the physical and mental torment that the handmaidens have to endure. The line about hanging by the throat echoes themes from The Handmaid’s Tale, where many handmaids chose to take their own lives to escape Gilead. Additionally, this whole line sums up the violence inflicted on the handmaids, whether it be torture for misconduct or violence in ritual.

The last line about staying solid directly relates to the endurance of the handmaids and their ability to persevere in this harsh environment. Offred is the embodiment of resilience within Gilead as she navigates the oppression without giving in.

2) No surprises-Radiohead

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5CVsCnxyXg

“A job that slowly kills you Bruises that won’t heal You look so tired, unhappy Bring down the government They don’t, they don’t speak for us.”

These specific lyrics connect to the many themes in The Handmaid’s Tale. The first section of the song connects to the demeaning job of the handmaiden, as their role in Gilead is to bear children. This job represents the handmaids’ physical and emotional degradation because of their unjust role in society.

The next lines, “Bruises that won’t heal” and “You look so tired, unhappy,” illustrate the physical and emotional toll that their lives take on them. These lyrics also describe their feelings of general unhappiness, as Gilead’s laws make their lives rather unbearable.

The last 2 lyrics were my personal favorite from this song, as these lines symbolize both rebellion and individuality. These lyrics represent the overall disdain for the state of Gilead. I also like how these lyrics can mirror individual characters from the book. As an example, the character Moira symbolizes rebellion and hope for the handmaidens, just as the lyrics do.

3) Stop trying to be god-Travis Scott

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqvCptqhHfs

“Stop tryna be God Almighty (Hm) Fuck the money, never leave your people behind, yeah It’s never love, no matter what you try Still can see it comin’ down your eyes Cause they did not create commandments.”

This is another song where both the lyrical content and title mimic themes from the Handmaid’s Tale book. The title and first line of the song are “Stop trying to be god”. These four simple words represent the handmaid’s disdain for Gilead and those in power as they bestow an almost god-like complex in their way of controlling others. Those in power control over everyone in Gilead with almost god-like power. However, this lyric directly represents the Handmaid’s wish for Gilead to “Stop trying to be god.”

The second line shows how Gilead betrayed the people within its society. The line about leaving your people behind you is exactly what Gilead did as they created an extremely unjust system that negatively affected the women within it. While Gilead didn’t do this for money, as said in the lyric, it did this for power, which can be attributed to money.

The next line symbolizes the relationships and emotions of the people in Gilead. It has been made clear throughout the book that there is a clear lack of both love and emotion within the oppressive state of Gilead. This lyric shows how hard it is to find love within Gilead. We have seen direct examples of this from Offred as she and the other handmaidens are forbidden from having those kinds of emotions.

The last line about commandments is a testament to the unjust laws and morals of Gilead. While Gilead does have religious commandments, they are harmful and only benefit those in power.

4) Breath In The Air-Pink Floyd https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcz0YxYl6Ac

“Long you live and high you fly Smiles you’ll give and tears you’ll cry And all you touch and all you see Is all your life will ever be

Run, rabbit, run Dig that hole, forget the sun When, at last, the work is done Don’t sit down, it’s time to dig another one

Long you live and high you fly But only if you ride the tide”

These 3 verses were intentionally broken up as their lyrical content represents a different theme in The Handmaid’s Tale. The first verse symbolizes the bland reality in which the handmaids dwell. This lyric that says “all you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be” connects to the Handmaid’s life as a whole. The handmaids are subjected to a very oppressive society where they are constantly controlled. This line shows how the handmaids are permanently stuck in Gilead and that this was going to be their reality forever.

The next verse represents rebellion and the constant strain of life in Gilead. The lyric about a rabbit running and digging a hole connects to Moira’s attempt at escaping this regime. The following lyrics tell us not to sit down and to continue digging. This mirrors the constant labor that handmaids have to endure as they have to keep on digging to survive. The last verse of this song stuck out to me because of how blatantly they connect to the major themes in The Handmaid’s Tale. ¨Long you live and high you fly,” these lyrics preach long life and flying high, which is the life promised to the handmaids by Gilead. However, this promise will only come through if you “ride the tide, ” referring to the handmaids being controlled and forced to fit a certain standard.

5) Nutshell- Alice in Chains

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kq9MBnX00hs

“We chase misprinted lies We face the path of time And yet I fight, and yet I fight

This battle all alone No one to cry to No place to call home¨

This song is packed to the brim with lyrics that are intertwined with The Handmaid’s Tale. The first verse is about chasing lies, which is a theme that I have noticed throughout the book. We see that Gilead tends to misinform and lie to its subjects, constantly keeping them in the dark. The following line about the path of time refers to the handmaid’s limited time left in Gilead, as they could be deemed infertile and would be forced to go to the colonies. The last line in this verse represents the perseverance of the handmaids despite the restraints of this society.

The next verse represents the isolation experienced by the handmaidens. We have seen throughout the book that the handmaidens have almost no one to call a friend and have to deal with this reality on their own. Despite Offred making some friends, most of the battles she fights are fought alone without any help from others. The last line symbolizes Offred’s loss of self-identity as the place she had once called home was abruptly stripped away from her.