literary inspiration
 

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.

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.

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

"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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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?

This is a goldmine!

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

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.

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.