music and books

I was a college radio deejay many moons ago and have always loved all kinds of music. When I namecheck a song in a book, there’s usually more than one reason for it. Here are the reasons for the three songs in Boy on a Train.

Audrey and Tate have a playlist that’s the exact length of their commute to school—four and a half minutes. Why that amount? I dunno. Kind of estimating what the commute was for my friend who lives in Napa that the story is loosely based on. At any rate, I googled 4:30 songs and OF COURSE the internet gave me a list of songs that are all 4:20. Of course. So, at any rate, I picked one—Lady Gaga “Born this Way”—which is why that song is in there. I figured Tate and Audrey would listen to anything if it was the correct length.

When Audrey and Tate finally have sex, they listen to two songs. When I first wrote it, I just put in “music,” but wasn’t specific. A beta reader asked me which song, so I had to go back and think about it. I decided that because Audrey is a Peaky Blinder’s fan, they’d be listening to the soundtrack to that. Two songs stuck out at me. One is David Bowie’s “Lazarus,” which is one of the last songs he recorded before his death (and apparently he was a fan of the show) and the other is “Heart of a Dog” by The Kills.

David Bowie: https://youtu.be/1oad-EQyp6M  (the official music video is a little weird for me with the bandages on his eyes, so here’s the lyric.)

The Kills: https://youtu.be/urPxe4jxdt8 (I note my car model—black Challenger—is in this)

When you read those scenes, listen to the songs. Part of the reason why they are in there is just the way they sound. But it’s also for the lines.

The David Bowie one is slow and moody, but there are lines in it that are SO appropriate. Like:

Look up here, I’m in heaven.

…

I was looking for your ass. (LOL)

In The Kills:

I need you

Don’t ask me why it is

I want strings attached

…

I’m loyal

What songs do you think of when people are getting it on in books? I’d love to know.

And don’t forget to preorder Boy on a Train for 99 cents. Also, the paperback is LIVE.