The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes: singing reviews

Hannah Langley '25

Opinion Editor

The “Hunger Games” franchise is a beloved staple in the dystopian world, and the new movie, “Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” is no exception. The forever iconic book series and their movie adaptations were the hottest topics of the 2010’s, and now they have added another legendary movie to their collection. The songs in the movie hold great significance that have connections to other plots and characters in the series. In this article, a deepdive into the different messages and meanings of the most prominent songs will be discussed, which means: spoiler warning!

The first song on the movie’s album is called “Wool,” sung by Flatland Cavalry. The chorus conveys a struggle; something is wrapped in wool and the narrator cannot distinguish if it is a fool or a monster. We can assume that the narrator is supposed to be a young President Snow, the main character, and the song is used to show a constant theme surrounding Snow: he does not know why anyone does anything for others. Snow cannot see the true intentions of whatever is wrapped in wool because of his assumption that those who are not selfish are fools.

“Nothing You Can Take From Me” is sung twice in the movie, and it is the first song Lucy Gray sings. Lucy Gray sings the song after she has been selected at the reaping, and it sounds remorseful and angry. The song voices their rebellion against the savageries of the games; the lyrics and tone of it suggest that the capitol can only take away their lives, but not anything worth keeping.

The “Boot Stompin Version” of “Nothing You Can Take From Me” is sung by the Covey. It changes the meaning of the song as the Covey and Lucy Gray sing and dance loudly and joyfully to the song, a scene unlike when we first heard it. The new meaning further sends their message to the capitol that even after trying to erase their existence, they cannot take away their joy, wit, laughter or connections to those around them through their art and freedom in it. The song embodies everything the capitol has failed to eradicate and it is a cry of victory from District 12.

Junior Hannah Langley's sister admiring young President Snow

“The Ballad of Lucy Gray Baird” is a powerful message that reminds Snow that no matter how capitol he is, it does not make him any better than her. Lucy Gray’s ballad reminds him that she is the person Snow has jeopardized his need for power for. So, when he finally gets what he wants, she'll still be there to remind him of what it cost.

“Pure as the Driven Snow” is sung by Lucy Gray to and about Snow. The song progresses to where Lucy sings of how Snow is different and went through so much to help her and the other tributes by bending the rules and giving her advantages in the Games. The chorus repeats in different ways how, despite the bad that happens, Snow will stay as pure as the driven snow. The verses and chorus tell the story of how Lucy Gray went from meeting to loving to giving Snow her most precious gift, her trust.

Lucy Gray bares her love and trust to him in the song. This showed her that he finally put her over his own ambitions. Some great imagery and foreshadowing is shown during the scene where she sings this song to him as he leaves before the last verse about her trusting him, dismissing the whole meaning of the song and with it, Lucy Gray.

“Lucy Gray (Part 1)” is Lucy Gray’s story from her perspective; she sings it in the arms of Snow on the shore of the lake. The song tells the story of the disappearance of a sweet little girl she once was. The final verses talk about her going to town for her mother, as directed by her father, and taking a lantern. The song ends with Lucy Gray walking into fresh, powdery snow, creating her own path.

“Lucy Gray (Part 2)” continues little Lucy Gray’s story; she gets lost because the snow storm came early, so her parents look for her and find footprints in the snow. They followed them until they eventually stopped, and Lucy Gray was never found. The last verses say some still think she is alive and her song is carried through the whistles of the wind. The whole song is about how Lucy Gray Baird got lost in Snow himself, but even then her song is still heard by others, Snow’s least favorite part.

“The Hanging Tree,” a song that we now see echoes throughout the whole series, ties directly back to Snow. This song reminds Snow of the loose ends, as he called them, that could have stopped his rise to power. The reason this song is so triggering to him is because when Katniss and the rebels continue on that song when they rebel against his presidency in the Mockingjay books, until his death, it forever reminds him that Lucy Gray lives on. His one loose end haunted him until his death. One could say that Snow’s demise started with Lucy Gray and ended with Lucy Gray.

“Can't Catch Me Now” is sung by Olivia Rodrigo, and in my opinion, it is the final seal of Lucy Gray’s eternal legacy and victory over Snow. She will always be there to haunt Snow and remind him of all the things he fears and hates. The freedom and wildness of Lucy Gray could not be tamed or controlled. The song shows Snow that no matter what he does, he will never be able to erase her legacy. Lucy Gray’s name might have been forgotten but her songs will be remembered forever.