Examples Of Songs That Relate To Catcher In The Rye

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Too Much Authority
In Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger, The song “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash relates to the events that occurred in chapters 1-7 because Holden is disgusted with Pencey. The lyrics state, “well if they freed me from this prison/ If that railroad train was mine.” Holden has convinced himself that Pencey is similar to a prison of which he wants out of. He does not want to reside at Pencey because he feels trapped and imprisoned. School brings Holden hell-like experiences, and he despises structured areas with authority. Holden wants to roam free, but school is preventing him from reaching his full potential.
“Well if they freed me from this prison
If that railroad train was mine
I bet I'd move it on a little farther down the line
Far from Folsom prison, that's where I want to stay
And I'd let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away”

Cheap Dates
The song “Sex and Candy” by Marcy Playground relates to Holden Caulfield's situation in chapters 8-13 in Catcher in the Rye because he is involved with a hooker, a bar, and three women. Holden enters a bar and gets …show more content…

Sinatra sings “I've loved, I've laughed and cried/ I've had my fill, my share of losing/ And now, as tears subside, I find it all so amusing.” Holden has exceeded the point of no return, and he is weeping due to life he has had. He recognizes that he chose to make the choices that led him to being beat up by a prostitute’s boss, thrown out of multiple schools, and living on the streets. Realizing this, Holden weeps in remorse. Also, he weeps in hope because he has reached bedrock. The only direction available for Holden to go is up. Through losing in life, and being a sorry, cigarette smoking highschooler, Holden knows he did it his way. Amused by his failure, Holden endured hell to find what he truly loves, and needs to be: a catcher in the