Novel Soundtrack

1. Janie marries Logan.

In one of the early chapters of the novel, Janie is forced into a marriage with a man named Logan. Janie goes into the marriage against her will, not liking the type of man that she knows Logan is, but agrees to marry him to please her Nanny.

A song that would relate to this situation would be "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift. In this song, Taylor speaks about her relationship with someone and how she continued even though she felt that he was the wrong person for her. This can also be seen in Janie during this particular scene in the novel; Janie marries Logan, despite her knowledge of who he truly was and the kind of things he would do to her. 

A sample of the lyrics from this song:

Once upon time

A few mistakes ago


I was in your sights


You got me alone


You found me


You found me


You found me


I guess you didn't care


And I guess I liked that


And when I fell hard


You took a step back


Without me, without me, without me


And he's long gone


When he's next to me


And I realize the blame is on me


Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in


So shame on me now


Flew me to places I'd never been


Till you put me down oh


I knew you were trouble when you walked in


So shame on me now


Flew me to places I'd never been


Now I'm lying on the cold hard ground


Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble


Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

2. Janie meets Joe Starks.

During a complicated and unhappy marriage, Janie meets and falls in love with a man named Joe Starks. To Janie, he seems to understand and support all of the dreams she has, and encourages her to follow those dreams by sharing with her his own dreams. Janie continues to meet with Joe behind Logan's back, and even comes up with a nickname for him: Jody.

A song that comes to mind during this event is "Unchained Melody" originally by the Righteous Brothers (link to the Glee Cast Version). The song speaks about a love that has had to wait, but once is found, is very precious to both people involved. Janie has been through a terrible marriage with Logan, but feels that she has finally found her soulmate with Jody. 

A sample of the lyrics:


Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered for your touch
A long lonely time,
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much,
Are you still mine?
I need your love,
I need your love
God speed your love to me.
Lonely rivers flow to the sea, to the sea,
To the open arms of the sea, yeah!
Lonely rivers sigh "wait for me, wait for me"
I'll be coming home,
Wait for me.
Oh my love, my darling
I've hungered,
Hungered for your touch
A long lonely time,
And time goes by so slowly
And time can do so much,
Are you still mine?
I need your love, I...
I need your love
God speed your love to me 

4. Janie leaves Logan to marry Jody.

After an intense argument with Logan, Janie final admits her displeasure and decides to end her marriage with Logan. She also lets Logan know that she's leaving town with Jody. They exchange vows soon after leaving town together. 

During this time in Janie's life, she kept a lot of opinions to herself. A song that one can use to relate to Janie at this point is "Suffer in Silence" by Susan Ashton. The song speaks about someone who used to stay quiet and not share their pain with anyone, but finally meets someone who encourages them not to suffer in silence. Janie probably felt a great sense of relief when she finally married Jody; that he would listen to her. 

The lyrics:

Heart in a bottle, high on a shelf, fragile but just out of reach 

'Cause you build a fortress with the distance you keep 

But when your heart aches, doesn't it cut deep? 

Well, you don't have to suffer, suffer in silence 

You don't have to suffer, suffer in silence 

Don't you know that your heart can feel like an anchor 

When you keep it all inside 

No don't, don't suffer in silence. 

Withered with sadness, hurting inside 

But feeling afraid to impose 

So you're an island, but you don't have to be 

'Cause if you're inclined you can talk to me. 

But, you don't have to suffer, suffer in silence 

You don't have to suffer, suffer in silence 

Oh, I know that the pain can seem like an ocean but I'm just a word away 

No don't, don't suffer in silence. 

I'll be your shelter, I'll be your retreat 

I'll be your shield against the wind 

So, if you need a shoulder for the tears that you keep 

Let it come down, let it rain on me. 

'Cause, you don't have to suffer, suffer in silence 

You should never have to suffer, suffer in silence 

Oh, I will hear when you're calling like a voice above the storm 

No don't, don't suffer in silence. 

Well, you don't have to suffer, suffer in silence 

You don't have to suffer, suffer in silence 

Don't you know that your heart can feel like an anchor 

When you keep it all inside 

No don't, don't suffer in silence…

4. Jody and Janie begin arguing with each other.

After several years of marriage, Janie realizes that Jody has become much like her first husband, Logan. He constantly comes up with ways to prove to others that he has power over her, and has become repressive towards Janie. This causes many arguments between Janie and Jody.

A song that really relates to this situation is the ever-famous "Lost That Loving Feeling" by Righteous Brothers. The song speaks about a love that has died; the lover has stopped doing the things that the other person originally fell in love with the lover for. In Janie's case, Jody has stopped listening to her and giving her the courage to follow her dreams; he instead has become less loving and more powerful over her. 

The lyrics:

You never close your eyes any more 

When I kiss your lips 

And there's no tenderness like before 

In your fingertips 

You're trying hard not to show it baby 

But baby, baby I know it 

You've lost that loving feeling 

Oh, that loving feeling 

You've lost that loving feeling 

Now it's gone, gone, gone 

Whoa-oh 

Now there's no welcome look 

In your eyes when I reach for you 

And girl you're starting to criticize 

little things I do 

It makes me just feel like crying baby 

'Cause baby, something beautiful's dying 

You've lost that loving feeling 

Oh that loving feeling 

You've lost that loving feeling 

Now it's gone gone gone 

Whoa-oh 

Baby baby I get down on my knees for you 

If you would only love me like you used to do, yeah 

We had a love 

A love a love you don't find every day 

So don't, don't, don't, don't let it slip away 

Baby baby I beg you please, please 

I need your love, I need your love 

So bring all back, bring all back 

Bring back that loving feeling 

Oh, that loving feeling 

Bring back that loving feeling 

Cause it's gone...gone...gone... 

And I can't go on... 

Whoa-oh

5. Jody criticizes Janie's looks in their old age.

Throughout the entire book, Janie's physical beauty has been made extremely clear, even once she is in her old age. Jody, however, has not aged so gracefully and has saggy, sunken skin and major health problems. As yet another way to show Janie that he has power of her, Jody forces Janie to cover her hair and attempts to make her feel ashamed of her physical appearance.

A song that expresses Janie's probably thoughts during this time of her life is "Unpretty" by TLC. The song talks about someone (presumably a girl) who felt and was told she was very beautiful, but after meeting someone in particular, starts to feel insecure about herself. Throughout the entire book, we are told that people think Janie is very pretty; however, Jody attempts to make Janie feel insecure about her own appearance after his own starts to whither. 

A sample of the lyrics:

I wish I could tie you up in my shoes

Make you feel unpretty too 

I was told I was beautiful

But what does that mean to you

Look into the mirror who's inside there

The one with the long hair 

Same old me again today (yeah)

My outsides are cool

My insides are blue

Every time I think i'm through

It's because of you

I've tried different ways 

But its all the same

At the end of the day 

I have my self to blame

I'm just trippin

You can buy your hair if it won't grow

You can fix your nose if he says so

You can buy all the make-up 

that M.AC. can make 

But if you can't look inside you

Find out who am I too

Be in a position to make me feel 

So unpretty

6. After health complications, Jody passes away. 

After years of unhappiness, Janie goes in to talk to Jody one last time. Shortly thereafter, Jody passes away from various health complications. Janie, who is relieved that she is finally freed from her terrible marriage, is forced to pretend to grieve for the loss of her husband.

Whilst Jody is dying, he realizes a lot of things he did wrong. A song that could relate to his thoughts right before his death is a song called "Untitled" by Simple Plan. The song is sung by someone who is questioning the decisions they've made, and admitting the mistakes that they've made. They sing about sick of life, wondering what they could have done that would allowed this to have happened to them. During his last hours on earth, Jody regrets a lot of mistakes that he made towards Janie. 

A sample of the lyrics:

I open my eyes

I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light

I can't remember how

I can't remember why

I'm lyin' here tonight

And I can't stand the pain 

And I can't make it go away

No I can't stand the pain

How could this happen to me?

I've made my mistakes 

got nowhere to run

the night goes on

as I'm fadin' away

I'm sick of this life

I just wanna scream

How could this happen to me?

7. Janie meets and eventually marries Tea Cake.

After what we can presume to be months of pretend mourning, Janie meets and eventually marries a man named Tea Cake. Tea Cake is considerably younger than Janie, but the age difference seems to bother neither of them. Tea Cake accepts Janie for who she is and loves her for it.

After having two miserable marriages, Janie seems to have finally found the perfect guy for her. A song that can relate to this event is "Bless The Broken Road" by Rascal Flatts. The song speaks about a lot of trials that someone goes through, only to have those trials lead to the greatest thing in their life --their soulmate. Janie has had many trials in her life, but these trials are what eventually led her to find Tea Cake. 

A sample of the lyrics:

 I set out on a narrow way many years ago

Hoping I would find true love along the broken road

But I got lost a time or two

Wiped my brow and kept pushing through

I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

I think about the years I spent just passing through

I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you

But you just smile and take my hand

You've been there you understand

It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true

Every long lost dream led me to where you are

Others who broke my heart they were like Northern stars

Pointing me on my way into your loving arms

This much I know is true

That God blessed the broken road

That led me straight to you

8. Hurricane.

Years later, Tea Cake and Janie have moved to an area regularly afflicted by hurricanes. One hurricane in particular becomes extremely strong, and batters their little town, causing many people to evacuate.

A song that one can use to relate to this event in the character's lives is "Hello, Hurricane" by Switchfoot. The song speaks of an approaching storm, and how it can't break the love of two particular people. Janie and Tea Cake's love is strong, and they are not going to let a hurricane -either spiritual or physical- tear their love apart.

A sample of the lyrics:

I've been watching the skies

They've been turning blood red

Not a doubt in my mind anymore

There's a storm up ahead

Hello hurricane

You're not enough

Hello hurricane

You can't silence my love

I've got doors and windows boarded up

All your dead-end fury is not enough

You can't silence my love

Oh (my love), oh

Everything I have I count as loss

Everything I have is stripped away

Before I started building

I counted up these costs

There's nothing left for you to take away

Hello hurricane

You're not enough

Hello hurricane

You can't silence my love

I've got doors and windows boarded up

All your dead-end fury is not enough

You can't silence my love

Yeah, my love

9. Tea Cake and Janie leave Motor Boat after evacuating. 

Janie, Tea Cake, and their friend Motor Boat decide to evacuate their homes and find shelter. They stop at one house and spend some time their, but it becomes quickly apparent that they need to keep moving. Motor Boat doesn't want to keep going, so Janie and Tea Cake leave him alone in the house to brave the hurricane alone.

While he is by himself, Motor Boat is bound to reflect on his life. A song that would accurately relay his feelings during this event would be "All By Myself" by Celine Dion. During this song, someone is reflecting their life, and realizing that they do not want to be alone. Motor Boat, who is left alone in the wake of a hurricane, was bound to reflect on things in his life. 

A sample of the lyrics:

Livin' alone 

I think of all the friends I've known 

But when I dial the telephone 

Nobody's home 

All by myself 

Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore 

All by myself 

Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore 

Hard to be sure 

Sometimes I feel so insecure 

And love so distant and obscure 

Remains the cure 

All by myself 

Don't wanna be, all by myself anymore 

All by myself 

Don't wanna live, all by myself anymore 

10. Janie has to shoot Tea Cake. 

While rescuing Janie from a dog during the hurricane, Tea Cake becomes rabid. He slowly loses his mind, and at one point, attempts to harm Janie. Janie is left with no other choice but to shoot (and kill) her beloved Tea Cake in order to protect herself.

A song that comes to mind when reading about such a dilemma is "When You Love Someone" by Bryan Adams. The song speaks about the things that you do when you truly love someone, even if those things are crazy and hard to understand. Janie had to end Tea Cake's life because she loved him enough to not let him suffer anymore.

The lyrics:

When you love someone 

You'll do anything 

You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain 

You'll shoot the moon 

Put out the sun 

When you love someone 

You'll deny the truth 

Believe a lie 

There'll be times that you'll believe you can really fly 

But your lonely nights have just begun 

When you love someone 

When you love someone 

You feel it deep inside 

And nothin' else could ever change your mind 

When you want someone 

When you need someone 

When you love someone 

When you love someone 

You'll sacrifice 

You'd give it everything you got 

And you won't think twice 

You'd risk it all 

No matter what may come 

When you love someone 

You'll shoot the moon 

Put out the sun 

When you love someone

11. Janie returns to Eatonville alone.

After having a funeral for Tea Cake, Janie realizes that the Everglades mean nothing to her anymore, and returns to Eatonville with nothing but a packet of seeds. The townsfolk, upon seeing Janie return alone, mock Janie and ask her about the demise of her and Tea Cake's relationship. Janie seeks out her old friend, Phoebe, and begins to tell her story. 

A song that relates to this event would definitely be "Home" by Daughtry. The song speaks about someone returning to a place where love started, and not regretting the decisions they made in life; even if those decisions put them in a bad place from time to time. Janie is returning to Eatonville without Tea Cake; a place where she is bound to have many memories of her relationship with him. She is now alone, but feels as though she's lived her life and does not regret the decisions she has made. 

A sample of the lyrics:

I'm staring out into the night, trying to hide the pain

I'm going to the place where love

And feeling good don't ever cost a thing

And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain

Well, I'm going home, back to the place where I belong

And where your love has always been enough for me

I'm not running from, no, I think you got me all wrong

I don't regret this life I chose for me

But these places and these faces are getting old

So I'm going home, well I'm going home