Creative and Critical thinking assignment:
1. Based on your assigned chapter, select a song in which the theme and lyrics connect to Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye.
2. You will be expected to provide the song lyrics, and explain this connection in a minimum of 200 words. You should also be prepared to share this song the day it is due.
The song I picked for this assignment was “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan. The song is about being kicked out on the street which reminds me of what happened to Holden at Pency. Holden was kicked out of Pency because he was failing every class except for English. The lines of the song “How does it feel to be on your own, like a rolling stone” remind me of how Holden feels throughout the novel. He feels alone and depressed to the point where he is willing to befriend random people. He asks 4 people if they want to go out for a drink with him. He realizes he is “on his own” with no friends whatsoever. He is the typical alienated kid and the person Bob Dylan is talking about can probably relate deeply to Holden. In the case of the song, it is about being poor and having nowhere to go. Still, I feel that Holden has nowhere to go and is poor and suffering in his own way. Overall, I feel that this song “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan can relate very well to Holden, The Catcher in The Rye and all he has experienced.
ReplyDeleteHere are the lyrics :p
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
You threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn't you ?
People'd call, say, "Beware doll, you're bound to fall"
You thought they were all kiddin' you
You used to laugh about
Everybody that was hangin' out
Now you don't talk so loud
Now you don't seem so proud
About having to be scrounging for your next meal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be without a home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
You've gone to the finest school all right, Miss Lonely
But you know you only used to get juiced in it
And nobody has ever taught you how to live on the street
And now you find out you're gonna have to get used to it
You said you'd never compromise
With the mystery tramp, but know you realize
He's not selling any alibis
As you stare into the vacuum of his eyes
And say do you want to make a deal?
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
You never turned around to see the frowns on the jugglers and the clowns
When they all come down and did tricks for you
You never understood that it ain't no good
You shouldn't let other people get your kicks for you
You used to ride on the chrome horse with your diplomat
Who carried on his shoulder a Siamese cat
Ain't it hard when you discover that
He really wasn't where it's at
After he took from you everything he could steal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?
Princess on the steeple and all the pretty people
They're drinkin', thinkin' that they got it made
Exchanging all precious gifts
But you'd better take your diamond ring, you'd better pawn it babe
You used to be so amused
At Napoleon in rags and the language that he used
Go to him now, he calls you, you can't refuse
When you got nothing, you got nothing to lose
You're invisible now, you got no secrets to conceal.
How does it feel
How does it feel
To be on your own
With no direction home
Like a complete unknown
Like a rolling stone ?