The Pearl Music Project
By: Emily Nelsen
Song of the Family
"To Build a Home" By: The Cinematic Orchestra
"To Build a Home" Lyrics
Wooden floors, walls and window sills
Tables and chairs worn by all of the dust
This is a place where I don't feel alone
This is a place where I feel at home.
And I built a home
for you
for me
Until it disappeared
from me
from you
By the cracks of the skin I climbed to the top
I climbed the tree to see the world
When the gusts came around to blow me down
Held on as tightly as you held onto me
Held on as tightly as you held onto me......
"To Build a Home" By: The Cinematic Orchestra
Much like The Song of the Family in The Pearl, "To Build a Home" portrays a similar message of how important family is, and the sacrifices you may have to make to keep your family safe and content. When the Cinematic Orchestra sings the lyrics "This is a place where I don't feel alone. This is a place where I feel at home," this can represented in The Song of the Family. Kino is an observant person, and takes in the world around him. The world, along with his family causes him to feel at peace especially when at home. Kino also protects his family, which can be found in "To Build a Home" with the lyric, "Held on tightly as you held onto me." While Kino holds onto and keeps his family less prone to danger or tragedy, the rest of his family continually supports him everyday. Lastly, when the house seems to disappear, so does the Song of the Family at the end of the novella when it comes to Kino "as fierce as a cry" when Coyotito is shot and killed.
Song of the Book
"Waves" By: Mr.Probz
"Waves" By: Mr.Probz Lyrics
My feet can't touch the ground,
Touch the ground, and it feels like
I can see the sands on the horizon
Everytime you are not around
[Chorus:]
I'm slowly drifting away (drifting away)
Wave after wave, wave after wave
I'm slowly drifting (drifting away)
And it feels like I'm drowning
Pulling against the stream
Pulling against the stream
I wish I could make it easy
Easy to love me, love me
But still I reach
To find a way
I'm stuck here in between
I'm looking for the right words to say
"Waves" By: Mr.Probz
The Song of the Book and "Waves" are similar for they show that one simple "drift" can change fate forever. A wave could take out a surfer, just like Kino played a role in the death of his own son. Just like the waves drifting away from the shore, the stronger ones usually last, Kino begins to drift away from his old life and family. At first, Kino just wants to protect the pearl, but then he takes his protection too far by killing a man. He begins to drown himself in violence, and pulls against the stream, or ignores the pleas and requests from his very own family. Finally, after Kino has suffered through this dramatic change, I would assume it would be hard for Juana to love him, as she easily did just a few days before. Now, Kino must live with his decisions, and will most likely have to explain his story for decades. All the while, he will be looking for the right words to say.
Song of the Pearl (Beginning of the book)
"Happy" By: Pharrell Williams
"Happy" By: Pharrell Williams Lyrics
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do
Here come bad news talking this and that, yeah,
Well, give me all you got, and don't hold it back, yeah,
Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just fine, yeah,
No offense to you, don't waste your time
Here's why
"Happy" By: Pharrell Williams
Just like Kino and his family, I would be REALLY happy if I found the Pearl of the World. Pharrell Williams sings of feeling like a room without a roof because someone is so happy. Kino was overjoyed, especially when he starting imagining everything he could now do for himself and his family with it's wealth. Although Kino is not aware of the bad news right away, the news has spread that he has found the great pearl. Members of the town begin to picture exactly what they would do with the pearl, and some begin to formulate plans to steal it. Besides these threats, Kino still believes that he should be offered all of what people have for his pearl. He will soon find out that owning a such a great object may be a waste of time, and he may not be just fine.
Song of the Enemy
"Animals" By: Maroon 5
"Animals" By: Maroon 5 Lyrics
Hunt you down eat you alive
Just like animals, animals, like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals, animals, like animals-mals
Baby, I'm
So what you trying to do to me
It's like we can't stop we're enemies
But we get along when I'm inside you
You're like a drug that's killing me
I cut you out entirely
But I get so high when I'm inside you
"Animals" By: Maroon 5
The Song of the Enemy and "Animals" are have many of the same characteristics, that help us understand more of a deeper message and connection between the two. The scorpion didn't necessarily hunt down Coyotito in particular, but it did hurt him just an animal may do. Also, when the scorpion's poison was inside of Coyotito, it didn't get along with him for he developed swelling, and became very sick. The poison and Coyotito were indeed enemies for Coyotito didn't appreciate the poison in his little body, but the poison probably enjoyed harming its victim. It was injected into him like a drug, that was was meant to kill him. The scorpion maybe could not smell Coyotito's scent for miles, but it could definitely create a life-threatening situation that could be the end to any more new miles or adventures for young Coyotito.
Song of the Pearl (end of the book)
"Apologize" By: One Republic
"Apologize" By: One Republic Lyrics
But I just can't make a sound.
You tell me that you need me,
Then you go and cut me down...
But wait...
You tell me that you're sorry,
Didn't think I'd turn around
And say...
[Chorus]
That it's too late to apologize.
It's too late...
I said it's too late to apologize.
It's too late, too late, oh, oh.
I'd take another chance,
Take a fall, take a shot for you, oh, oh.
I need you like a heart needs a beat,
But it's nothin' new, yeah!
"Apologize" By: One Republic
The Song of the Pearl at the end of the book and "Apologize" both symbolize how Kino must've felt after his son got murdered while they were in hiding from the trackers. The lyrics "And I'm hearin what you say, but I just can't make a sound," are similar to the situation Kino had to face when the trackers were hunting down his family. Coyotito was crying, and the trackers thought it was a coyote so they went to look for it. Kino could hear Coyotito, but had to stay quiet, otherwise he would reveal himself and would be killed. Finally, it was too late, and it was too late to apologize to the innocent child when he was killed. Kino if offered another chance, would probably grasp a hold of it right away, and take another shot for his beloved son.
Song of the Evil
"Torn to Pieces" By: Pop Evil
"Torn to Pieces" By: Pop Evil Lyrics
On the edge of a sky full of solid gray
Staring at the ceiling, tell me that I’m dreaming
Oh, I wish you were here today
All these days that I know I’ll never get back
All the words that I always wish you would’ve said
All these dreams that we had now fade to black
Try to wash it away
I’m torn to pieces, I’m broken down
I still see your face when you’re not around
I sit here in misery wondering if I’ll ever be
Half the man you wanted me to be
It’s tearing me to pieces
Tearing me to pieces
It’s tearing me to pieces
Tearing me to pieces
"Torn to Pieces" By: Pop Evil
Much like the Song of Evil, "Torn to Pieces" elaborates on the idea of evil things that happen everyday throughout the world. Just as the song says, the Song of the Evil is tearing Kino and his family to pieces. Although he is not physically alone for his family and friends always support him, he is mentally challenged, and "sits alone like an airplane on the edge of a sky full of solid gray." After lots of tragedy has struck the family, Kino realizes all the words and days he will never get back, especially with his own son. Kino now must face the truth and live in misery, trying to wash away all of the evil that a simple pearl brought upon him.