You know what they say—never judge a book by its cover. Unless, of course, that cover has a guitar solo, a killer chorus, and maybe a ghost or two. Books have long been best friends with music, whispering storylines and dramatic declarations into the ears of songwriters everywhere. From Brontë to Bradbury, these pages turned into playlists faster than you can say “Once upon a time…”
Here are 30 songs that owe their magic to the written word—alphabetized for your inner librarian’s delight.
“1984” by David Bowie
George Orwell’s dystopia meets Bowie’s disco-noir flair. Originally meant for a musical, this track transforms thoughtcrime into a groove you can dance to—under surveillance, of course.
“Annabel Lee” by Stevie Nicks
Edgar Allan Poe’s gothic poem about eternal love finds a soulmate in Stevie Nicks. Written when she was 17, released when she was 63—it’s haunting, heartfelt, and beautifully windswept.
“Are ‘Friends’ Electric?” by Gary Numan
Inspired by Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, this synth-powered anthem imagines a future where loneliness is mechanical. Deckard might not approve, but the robots sure will.
“Atticus” by The Noisettes
Inspired by the quiet strength of Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird, this track gives voice to courage with a soulful stomp. It’s justice, jazzed up with a little rock swagger.
“Brave New World” by Iron Maiden
Aldous Huxley’s dystopian classic becomes a metal-laced warning about trading freedom for comfort. The guitars scream what the citizens can’t.
“Cassandra” by ABBA
With echoes of The Iliad, ABBA channels the seer doomed never to be believed. It’s tragedy wrapped in pop perfection—like a disco ball in a thunderstorm.
“Chak De India” from Chak De! soundtrack
This motivational anthem channels The Golden Hat Trick by Balbir Singh, showing that literature and field hockey go together better than you’d think.
“Charlotte Sometimes” by The Cure
Inspired by Penelope Farmer’s time-traveling schoolgirl, Robert Smith weaves melancholy magic. This song is perfect for brooding under a tree with a paperback in hand.
“Colony” by Joy Division
Ian Curtis channeled Franz Kafka’s In the Penal Colony for this bleak and brilliant track. Bureaucracy, brutality, and existential dread never sounded so rhythmic.
“Disappear” by Motion City Soundtrack
Echoes of The Catcher in the Rye flicker through this emotionally charged track. It’s Holden Caulfield with a pop-punk heart and a caffeine habit.
“Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police
Sting was once a teacher—and he never forgot Lolita. This pop-police anthem drops Nabokov’s name while capturing the unease of a student-teacher crush set to a catchy chorus.
“Fitzpleasure” by alt-J
Based on Hubert Selby Jr.’s Last Exit to Brooklyn, this glitchy, intense song turns dark literature into avant-pop. The backing chant of “Tralala” chills more than it soothes.
“House at Pooh Corner” by Kenny Loggins
A.A. Milne’s beloved characters come to life in a gentle tune about growing up. Say goodbye to Hundred Acre Woods—but not to the memories.
“I Am the Walrus” by The Beatles
John Lennon reached into Through the Looking-Glass for this surrealist anthem. Carroll’s walrus meets LSD-fueled radio static—goo goo g’joob, indeed.
“Kabira” from Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani
Rooted in the spirit of Kabir’s poetry, as explored in The Kabir Project, this song weaves philosophy into melody. A spiritual hug in musical form.
“Lolita” by The Veronicas
Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel gets a bubblegum-pop transformation. It’s bold, brash, and catchy—with just a whisper of literary scandal.
“Love Story” by Taylor Swift
Taylor takes Shakespeare’s tragedy and turns it into a fairytale. Instead of poison, there’s a proposal. Juliet’s finally getting the ending she deserves.
“MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” by Lil Nas X
Inspired by André Aciman’s novel, this track is a celebration of queer desire and first love. Somewhere, Elio is dancing in short shorts and tears.
“Narcissist” by The Libertines
Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray would feel right at home in this punky tune about vanity and youth. The portrait may age, but the guitar riffs stay forever young.
“One” by Metallica
Rooted in Johnny Got His Gun and echoing themes of 1984, this track is a gut-punch about war and isolation. It doesn’t just play—it haunts.
“Paperback Writer” by The Beatles
McCartney’s plea to become a novelist—1000 words, very clean—is a cheeky nod to Edward Lear. It’s the only job application that hits #1 on the charts.
“Pet Sematary” by Ramones
Stephen King’s spooky story becomes a punky plea for peace in the afterlife. Who knew horror and headbanging made such good neighbors?
“Ramble On” by Led Zeppelin
J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings finds a home in this hard-rocking travelogue. Mordor’s mentioned, Gollum steals the girl, and the road goes ever on—with a killer riff.
“Rocket Man” by Elton John
Inspired by Ray Bradbury’s short story in The Illustrated Man, this space ballad is loneliness in orbit. Mars may be cold, but this song warms the soul.
“Romeo and Juliet” by Dire Straits
Mark Knopfler rewrites Shakespeare as a rock-and-roll heartbreak. There’s no poison here—just missed calls and long stares out the window.
“Samson” by Regina Spektor
This stripped-down ballad reimagines the biblical hero with tenderness and grace. Delilah’s betrayal becomes a soft ache rather than a sharp cut.
“Soma” by The Strokes
A nod to Huxley’s Brave New World, this indie classic makes emotional numbness sound surprisingly danceable. Big feelings in tight jeans.
“Song for Clay (Disappear Here)” by Bloc Party
Inspired by Bret Easton Ellis’s Less Than Zero, this is LA ennui set to a post-punk beat. The “Disappear Here” billboard never sounded so emotional.
“Sympathy for the Devil” by The Rolling Stones
Mick Jagger tips his hat to The Master and Margarita, giving the Devil a starring role in history’s messiest moments. Charmingly wicked—like any good novel.
“Tales of Brave Ulysses” by Cream
Homer’s hero gets a 1960s makeover in this swirling psychedelic trip. Ulysses meets wah-wah pedal, and it’s a mythological jam for the ages.
“The Call of Ktulu” by Metallica
Metallica dives into Lovecraft’s monstrous mind for this brooding instrumental. It’s doom in drop-D, with tentacles.
“The Ghost of Tom Joad” by Bruce Springsteen
John Steinbeck’s voice lives on in this haunting ode to social justice. Whether it’s the Dust Bowl or downtown L.A., Tom’s still walking the road.
“Thieves in the Night” by Black Star
Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye inspired this stunning reflection on internalized struggle and self-worth. Mos Def and Talib Kweli turn literature into lyrical lightning.
“Tom Sawyer” by Rush
Rush’s take on Twain’s trickster paints him as a modern-day rebel with a synthesizer. A river raft wouldn’t survive this solo.
“Venus in Furs” by The Velvet Underground
Lou Reed adapts Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s novel into a sensual swirl of velvet and chains. The birth of glam, bondage, and book club all in one.
“White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane
Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland gets psychedelic with this surreal anthem. “Feed your head,” Grace Slick commands—and who are we to argue?
“Willie Burke Sherwood” by Killer Mike
Referencing Lord of the Flies, Mike pays tribute to his grandfather and survival through smarts. It’s literature, legacy, and lyrical fire.
“Wuthering Heights” by Kate Bush
Emily Brontë’s ghost story dances through the moors with Kate’s iconic soprano. Cathy’s back—and she brought fog machines.
“Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Rey
Inspired by The Great Gatsby, Lana voices Daisy’s haunting question: “Will you still love me when I’m no longer young and beautiful?” Gatsby’s dream, reimagined in cinematic slow motion.