The Hunger Games Soundtrack: Predictions

Welcome to the Soundtrack Arena, Hunger Games Fans!

You have, by now, listened to the Hunger Games soundtrack. Sadly only a few of these songs will likely be in the actual film, but if they survive the reaping, I can imagine when we’ll hear them.  

So picture this …

The ground rumbles beneath you as you are raised on your circular arena platform.

You are ready. You have heard the songs. So what’s your strategy? Where do the songs fit in the film?

Are you going to run with the Cornucopia of the thoughts below, or flee to the woods with your own rebellious opinions?

Here are my predictions and the IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) about where these songs should appear in the movie, with some lyrics.

“Abraham’s Daughter” by Arcade Fire

IMHO: Train ride and entrance to the Capitol

“And when he saw her raised for the slaughter

Abraham’s daughter raised her bow

How darest you, child, defy your father

You better let young Isaac go.”

“Tomorrow Will Be Kinder” by The Secret Sisters

IMHO: After Rue dies, in the trees when Katniss reminds herself why she’s in the game and gets some news that changes things

“Today I’ve cried a many tear, and pain is in my heart,

Around me lies a somber scene, I don’t know where to start,

But I feel warmth on my skin, the stars have all aligned

The wind has blown, but now I know, that tomorrow will be kinder.”

“Nothing to Remember” by Neko Case, a poignantly beautiful song about Katniss and her relationship with Gale, and herself

IMHO: Katniss and Gale hunting

“I don’t recall, fight or flight setting in …”

“There is nothing to remember.”

“I owe you nothing, that’s all I’ve got for you.

You borrow nothing, that’s what you expect of me… ”

“All I own, all I own, the strides I spend to the finish line …

I’ll give you those.”

“I’m ashamed that I’m barely human,

And I’m ashamed I don’t have a heart you can break,

I’m just action,

And other times reaction.

All I own, All I own, and the strides I spend to the finish line

All I own, All I own, and the strides I spend to the finish line

I’ll give you those,

Just don’t make me go home

Give me something to remember … “

“Safe & Sound” by Taylor Swift (feat. The Civil Wars)

IMHO: Rue’s death, but I hope Katniss actually sings a song to Rue. I’m crying already!

“Just close your eyes,

The sun is going down

You’ll be all right

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I’ll be safe and sound.”

“The Ruler and the Killer” by Kid Cudi

IMHO: During the training sessions, but it could be when the Careers (Cato) are hunting in the arena

“When I talk you should listen,

You talk you say nothing okay,

You the ruler and killer baby.”

“Dark Days” by the Punch Brothers

IMHO: The goodbye scene with Katniss’s mom and Prim. It might be the train ride from District 12, but it’s perfect for that awful (and wonderful) scene when Katniss says goodbye

“We don’t have to reap the fear they sow…”

“Our love will see us through these

Dark dark days, sister,

Till it lights the way back home

Sister hide our love away.

Mother listen to my heart.

Just as one beat ends another starts,

You can hear no matter where you are.”

“One Engine” The Decemberists

IMHO: No clue, maybe getting on the train in District 12?

“Hold on, they’re breaking they’re bonds.”

“Bear down, they’ll run you aground

We all must suffer awhile in a way.”

(I think the melody works more than the lyrics here.)

“Daughter’s Lament” by The Carolina Chocolate Drops

IMHO: A nightmare scene when she’s thinking about finding out about her dad dying in the mines

“Up spoke up spoke up mockingjay up from a willow tree saying you had a father in the mines whose gone this day from thee.

Whose gone this day from thee.”

“Kingdom Come” by The Civil Wars

IMHO: Katniss at the beginning of the games running from the Cornucopia, or Katniss leaving the Peeta cave

“Run, run, run away.”

“Don’t you fret my dear,

It will all be over soon,

I’ll be waiting here, for you.”

“Take the Heartland” by Glen Handsard

IMHO: The Cornucopia when Katniss needs Peeta’s medicine or (Yes Please!) when Katniss blows up the Career’s supplies

“Should I kill you with my sword, yeah?

Or should I kill you with this word?”

“Come away to the Water” by Maroon 5 (feat. Rozzi Crane)

IMHO: Katniss and Peeta in the cave, or Katniss looking for Peeta. The lamb and slaughter lyric is so poignant.  She makes herself so weak by aligning with him, but the Gamemakers made it so. This song shows how manipulative that was.

“Come away little lost come away to the water

to the ones that are only waiting for you

Come away little lost come away to the water

Away from the life that you always knew

We are calling to you

Come away little light come away through the darkness

In the shade of the night we’ll come looking for you

Come away little light, come away to the darkness

To the ones appointed to see it through

“We are calling for you …”

“We are calling for you …”

“Come away little light come away to the darkness, in the shade of the night We’ll be looking for you …

We are coming for you

Come away little lamb come away to the water

Give yourself so we might live anew

Come away little lamb come away to the slaughter

To the ones appointed to see this through

We are coming for you

We are coming for you

(intl)

Come away little lamb come away to the water

To the arms that are waiting only for you

Come away little lamb come away to the slaughter

To the ones appointed to see this through

We are coming for you

We are coming for you

“Run Daddy Run” Miranda Lambert (feat. The Pistol Annies)

IMHO: Another dark day for Katniss. She’s probably thinking about her dad dying, which could coincide with her remembering that Peeta saved her with the bread. I’m also thinking this could be Katniss and Peeta waiting for Cato to come for them at the end of the games.

“Daddy can you hear

The devil drawing near

Like a bullet from a gun

Run daddy run

Mamma’s been crying in the kitchen

Sister’s been afraid of the dark

I’ve been gathering the pieces

Of all these shattered hearts.”

“Rules” by Jame Dee

IMHO: The train ride after

“You say you know love, but you are just reflecting words you hear,

No iron in your veins could give you any sense of pain or fear

It’s just another lie, it’s just another calculation

And when the power’s out, we’re just another old sensation

“This boy keeps me alive, but what is it that runs through you?

Electricity and wires dictating everything we do

You tell me that you hear me

And all your memories are real

But now do I know you, don’t just feel what you’ve been told to feel

We run around the rules …

“Eyes Open” by Taylor Swift

IMHO: Prep teams and the preparation for the parade, or this would be good for end credits as a foreshadowing for the next movie

“Everybody’s waiting

For you to break down

Everybody’s waiting

To see the fallout

Even when you’re sleeping,

Keep you’re eyes, open.

“Lover is Childlike” by The Low Anthem

IMHO: The cave with Katniss and Peeta

“While the band plays the Anthem, she defers that God hates flags.”  

“Just a Game” by Birdy. Okay, first, you need to hear the song from Donny Darko (originally sung by Tears for Fears) because it’s definitely inspired by that song. Also, this song got me. It’s so Katniss-Peeta. Brilliant. As far as when in the movie this happens?

IMHO: I think this is from Peeta’s AND Katniss’s perspective. So, this might be after the interviews on the rooftop, and it could be the cave, but my gut tells me it’s on the train or at the very end after the interviews.

“We’re all just pieces, in their games.”

My brief thoughts overall: I was pleasantly surprised by how District 12 / North Carolina / Katnissy the soundtrack felt, though I was disappointed we didn’t get a track that was the actual score of the movie.

So what do you think about if and when you think these songs will be used in the film?