literary inspiration

[realsavagelike]

Hi all,
Wide Sargasso Sea and Annabel Lee and have gotten me thinking about other Stevie songs that have been inspired by literary sources - like Running Through the Garden, of course Rhiannon, you could say Alice and Juliet, and so on.

Specifically I've been thinking about Have No Heart. That song has always seemed like it's narrating a story, but I have no idea what. Does anybody know?

Also, can anybody think of any more literary allusions? I had another one in mind a minute ago but now I can't remember it!

[WildHearted]

Hi all,
Wide Sargasso Sea and Annabel Lee and have gotten me thinking about other Stevie songs that have been inspired by literary sources - like Running Through the Garden, of course Rhiannon, you could say Alice and Juliet, and so on.

Specifically I've been thinking about Have No Heart. That song has always seemed like it's narrating a story, but I have no idea what. Does anybody know?

Also, can anybody think of any more literary allusions? I had another one in mind a minute ago but now I can't remember it!

There's Gone With The Wind references in WTTRS.

[realsavagelike]

Ok I thought of a few more. Beauty and the Beast, of course. And the new song that's a Twilight reference.

Also I've always wondered about the connection between Julia and the Dire Straits song Romeo & Juliet.

In Romeo & Juliet they say, "Julie I'd do the stars with you anytime."
And Stevie says, "So Julie just what is it that you do now? / ...she does the stars and she loves you." I wonder what the heck that means.

[RavenOfRhiannon]

Hi all,
Wide Sargasso Sea and Annabel Lee and have gotten me thinking about other Stevie songs that have been inspired by literary sources - like Running Through the Garden, of course Rhiannon, you could say Alice and Juliet, and so on.

Specifically I've been thinking about Have No Heart. That song has always seemed like it's narrating a story, but I have no idea what. Does anybody know?

Also, can anybody think of any more literary allusions? I had another one in mind a minute ago but now I can't remember it!

Have No Heart is inspired by The Birthday of the Infanta by Oscar Wilde, I am almost positive.

[Christopher]

Hi all,
Wide Sargasso Sea and Annabel Lee and have gotten me thinking about other Stevie songs that have been inspired by literary sources - like Running Through the Garden, of course Rhiannon, you could say Alice and Juliet, and so on.

Specifically I've been thinking about Have No Heart. That song has always seemed like it's narrating a story, but I have no idea what. Does anybody know?

Also, can anybody think of any more literary allusions? I had another one in mind a minute ago but now I can't remember it!

"Have No Heart" was based on Oscar Wilde's tale "The Birthday of the Infanta".
http://www.oscarwildecollection.com/

"Running Through The Garden" was inspired by N. Hawthorne's short story "Rappaccini's Daughter". Stevie, as she has done many time before i.e., "Beauty And The Beast" drew parallels from this story to her own personal life when it was written. She borrowed the themes and imagery for this song, but Stevie was no doubt, the poisonous, toxic...strung out protagonist in her own song.

[equeen102289]

There used to be a great site that listed many of Stevie's literary references. Does anyone recall which site this was?

I remember it listing The Picture of Dorian Gray as one and talking about how verses from Rooms on Fire and Christian (the "Half past one" verse) were pulled from books. I can't remember which works they were from though. I wish I would have saved that stuff.

[priestofnothing]

http://www.inspiredangel.com

[equeen102289]

http://www.inspiredangel.com

This wasn't the site I was thinking of, but this is even better! Thank you for posting the link! :)

[Christopher]

The only one I can remember was sararhiannon.com & that great site has been gone for a long LONG time. Such a shame, for those that recall, it was a huge reference for Stevie's songs and demos. As well as current information in that same way as http://nickslive.blogspot.com/ and Daniels old site.

Right now theres is also http://www.buckinghamnicks.net/ >>in the lyrics and speculation area - where fans have dissected meanings and references in the comments area. But sadly, I think that site is closing soon as well.

[TrueFaith77]

this is an interesting topic because i've been thinking about how Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks handle this kind of appropriate similarly/differently. It seems, to me, that Kate Bush crystalizes moments of works of film/literary sources or embodies them while Stevie uses them as sources for expressing the incidences and emotions her own life. just a thought. perhaps simplistic.

[realsavagelike]

http://www.inspiredangel.com

Wow. That's insanely comprehensive. Stevie really likes Oscar Wilde, huh!

I just read The Birthday of the Infanta and there's no doubt that's it. I wonder what about that story moved Stevie enough to write a song. It's kind of a strange story! I imagine something about it had to strike a personal chord in order to inspire an entire song... do you think she sees herself as the princess?

[daniellaaarisen]

http://www.inspiredangel.com

This is a goldmine!

[Dark Angel]

Thank you! :) Now if I can just get all the updating and new layout up, I'll be happy. :lol:

This is a goldmine!

[David]

I love Lisa & I love Lisa's site (Inspired Angel). But it doesn't say anything about "Sisters of the Moon." The phrase "dark at the top of the stairs" might be from the William Inge play--I've certainly never heard that phrase in any context outside the Inge work.

[Jondalar]

You know I was just thinking about this today - who could Dave Stewart get to write a song with about the Wide Sargossa Sea. I bet he was in heaven. Her inspirations come from everywhere, and it's like anything goes. I know he really liked working with her. I think he fell in love her with clothes too. She's almost up for anything. There is no creative snobbery there.

When I heard the clip Wide Sargossa Sea, Rock Poet popped in to my head. I think that song is going to be one that is going to jam the writer and poet down people's mind. When they think of Stevie Nicks, they will think - aww, the storyteller, poet, writer

I still can't believe we are getting a song called the Wide Sargossa Sea. How random is that? I remember the movie from the eighties and always loved the title. I'm very happy with this development. It's a great surprise.

Wouldn't be awesome if she released it as single? I think the title would throw djs for a loop.

[Dark Angel]

Thanks David. :) The reason I haven't used the reference from the play's title is because I have found the phrase in other places. If I could find another song reference in the play, I'd be more apt to think that is where she got it from. It's funny, because I can remember you bringing this up before the site,when all I had was a huge list of what I'd found. Anyway, here's what I've found for "dark at the top of the stairs" besides the Inge play title.

"The dark at the top of the stairs once shrouded imaginary bears that lay in wait for tiny tots, but now parent, grandparents, and other grown relatives are afraid there may be a little darling lurking in the shadows, with blackjack, golf club, or .32 caliber automatic."
--Lanterns and Lances--James Thurber

"They went in from the yard and up the fourth storey. The staircase got darker and darker as they went up. It was nearly eleven o'clock and although in summer in Petersburg there is no real night, yet it was quite dark at the top of the stairs." -- Crime and Punishment --Fyodor Dostoyevsky

"In the dark at the top of the stairs, he glimpsed the back of a woman in a long white nightgown. The hem rippled over the stairs almost as if she were floating. She had long, wavy, dark hair." -- Mystery Madness--Otto Coontz

"The dark at the top of the stairs. I've seen a perfect miniature staircase in a joiner's window. I suppose every apprentice has to make one. They lead nowhere."
--Wartime--Adrian Mitchell

"A dirty yellow portal on the left side of the building leads to the dark at the top of the stairs." --Murder Ink--Dilys Winn

"Someone laughed in the dark at the top of the stairs, "Didn't I tell you the army has started to use pumpkin lanterns," and a blue shoe moved on the middle step. "Mark," the children asked the darkness, "are you there?" " -- A Ride On The Milky Way -- Marguerite Dorian





I love Lisa & I love Lisa's site (Inspired Angel). But it doesn't say anything about "Sisters of the Moon." The phrase "dark at the top of the stairs" might be from the William Inge play--I've certainly never heard that phrase in any context outside the Inge work.

[sodascouts]

Right now theres is also http://www.buckinghamnicks.net/ >>in the lyrics and speculation area - where fans have dissected meanings and references in the comments area. But sadly, I think that site is closing soon as well.

No, the site's still open, and will be until the day I die or go broke, which ever comes first. ;) It's just static nowadays.

As for literary references, though, Inspired Angel (http://www.inspiredangel.com) is the way to go. Great site.