I recently shared my personal writing playlist for the Exile novels, something I listen to everyday and have been curating for over a year now. So, dear Patrons, I wanted to give you a more in-depth breakdown of the playlist, because I really do put an insane amount of time and effort into this stuff. So if anyone ever asks themselves, am I reading too much into this? Surely the symbolism can’t be this deep… Yes it is that deep and I encourage you to pick it all apart. For example, if you read the book, just take note how many times I reference missing/broken eyes… I do love a bit of foreshadowing.
Please listen to the playlist on shuffle for the best experience. As for why each song is on there, some are lyrical, some are just vibes and some are a mix of the two.
General Scenery/Misc.
81 Tonnes - Dead Poet Society. It might seem like a random pull, but this is one of the most important songs on the playlist as to how Exile exists as a novel. Part 2 of the book is titled 581 Tonnes and is a direct nod to this song energy wise. 581 Tonnes also references how much the ship weighs. This part of the novel is the middle, the central pivot and the ship is the central pivot of the story as a whole.
I need peace now slow my body down
Can you pull me out?
Too afraid of fission and faith to save me from myself, oh
Do not look back when you jump, just stare
Down at your feet with your hands in the air
Breathe in again
The weight of the world comes down
Oh, I never thought I could forget how to feel good again
All fight scenes are set to Shipping Up To Boston by The Dropkick Murphy’s. Because what other song are you going to set a pirate fight scene to?
The Last Shanty - Derina Harvey Band. This, friends, is what The Rocking Horse Inn sounds like. Just add in smashing glass and lots of obnoxious shouting.
Cass and Clara Vibes
Songs that reflect them together, parts of their relationship or their relationship as a whole:
Sailor Song - Gigi Perez. I mean… this one’s kind of obvious, but entirely necessary.
Lifted - Birdy
Woman - Mumford and Sons
Believe - Mumford and Sons
Fantastic - King Princess (particularly the demo version). Another obvious but necessary addition.
Anthems For a Seventeen Year Old Girl - Yeule. A rare addition that has nothing to do with lyrics and is entirely about vibes. A semi joyous but explosive release of energy.
Magpie - Khushi
The Fire - Vincent Lima
Clara Songs
Songs that relate solely to Clara tend to be the more folk/sea-shanty songs, weirdly enough. They have a very specific energy that fits only her and tend to be the happier songs on the playlist.
Ivy - Taylor Swift. This is Clara’s song, through and through. From energy to lyrics, this is her thesis statement.
Oh Goddamn,
My pain fits in the palm of your freezing hand
Taking mine, but it’s been promised to another
Stop you putting roots in my dreamland
My house of stone, your ivy grows
It's a goddamn blaze in the dark
It's the goddamn fight of my life
Come Away - Rose Betts
Irish Eyes - Rose Betts. Not so much a lyrical match but energy wise is very Clara.
Hazel Eyes - Sabrina Jordan
Sleeping Giants - The Crane Wives. This is Clara specifically when she’s fully integrated herself into the pirate life and has a bit more grit about her.
Cass Songs
Ah Cass, our ever complicated captain. Appropriately, she has a wide variety of songs on this playlist.
Silver Spoon - Erin LeCount. Cass doesn’t have a ‘thesis statement’ song in the same way that Clara does, but this is veeeeerry close.
I bet you grew up eating at the table
Fed love from silver spoons, reasons to be grateful
You ask about kids, I don't know if I'm able
I bet you grew up being asked how your day was
I bet you grew up grazing your knees
But the fall wasn't fatal like it was for me
We're the product of love that we do not receive
I'll corrupt every branch of this family tree
In another life, maybe I was you
And I grew up into something good
Somebody who could swallow love
Silver spoons and butter knives
Living hand to mouth, I'm getting by
Just feed me love and give it time
Take This Body Home - Rose Betts. This is Cass, sitting on the bowsprit with the wind in her hair. It’s also, arguably, the Ocean talking directly to Cass.
May the dark and bittеr feelings
Take the path to quiet rеlease
May all your wounds find their healing
In the last and enduring sleep
Take this body home
Take this body home
Call the wind, and let her know
Take this life outgrown
Take this broken soul
Call the stars, call them all
And take it high, take it far, take it home
Let Down - Mack Loren
Feel Anything - Nxdia. If a song references drinking, drugs, sex or getting generally blasted, there’s a good chance it’s about Cass. Her songs swing from the downright depressing to talking about having a raging god complex.
Ask me how I'm feeling, it's like I'm tongue-tied
Wish that I could let it out, but you know me (Uh-huh), I'll keep it inside
I'm not living for the moment, I'm just living for the minute
Today's a good day as any to try and push past my limits, uh
I'm not cooked, babe, I'm fried
Tonight is eenie meenie mine
[Chorus]
Do-do-do-don't stop, get a drink
Throw up in the kitchen sink
I don't wanna feel
I don't wanna feel anything
D-don't stop, get a drink
Throw up in the kitchen sink
I don't wanna feel
I don't wanna feel anything
Pray To Me - Death by Romy (speaking of Cass having a god complex)
Tsunami 11:11 - Bambie Thug (more god complex shenanigans…)
Whore Of Babylon - Zheani. Just a lil reminder that while we love Cass dearly, she’s not nice.
I'd rather be hated and debated than hold the truth back
You're jaded, invoking Satan won't help you to get your groove back
The brighter flame has you faded
Taste it cunt, that's the flavour
In My Room - Julia Wolf. There’s also a theme of referencing teenage years in Cass’ songs. It was the most formative time of her life.
I’m walking these woods
Am I thirty or thirteen?
Seventeen Going Under - Sam Fender. Another reference to teenage years.
I was far too scared to hit him
But I would hit him in a heartbeat now
That’s the thing with anger
It tends to stick around
White Blank Page - Mumford and Sons. This is very specifically about her relationship with Blackbeard. I need to be SO CLEAR that there never was or will be any romantic attachment between them. It was a father/daughter dynamic that went terribly wrong.
A white blank page and a swelling rage, rage
You did not think when you sent me to the brink, to the brink
But denied my affections, my affections
So tell me now, where was my fault
In loving you with my whole heart?
Oh, tell me now, where was my fault
In loving you with my whole heart?
Phew. So that’s just some of the playlist discussed. I hope you enjoyed a little more of a deep dive and if there are any songs I didn’t touch on but you want to know more about, feel free to leave any questions down below. Also tell me your thoughts! I’d love to hear them!! x