Songs of 1972
1. "Take it Easy" by the Eagles
After dealing with PTSD for 3 years, Brian Forsberg returns home and is now learning to "Take it Easy." We'll see how long that lasts.
2. "Doctor My Eyes" Jackson Browne
A great song about being jaded and cynical, which fits Forsberg to a t. Just like the lyrics state, there is no quick fix for seeing the horrors of the world.
3. "Saturday in the Park" Chicago
Back in 2010, this song made my playlist. Now, it is the title for Forsberg returning to a city celebration in Split Rock. Yes, it's happening in the city park on the 4th of July.
4. "Old Man" Neil Young
Brian has some issues with his closed-up Old Man, Glenn. While Brian isn't emotive, his father is even worse, including some very serious issues.
5. "You're Breaking my Heart" Nilsson
Meet Helen Surdy! She's definitely a heart-breaker, but the fact that she's married to Brian's idol makes him get a bit nasty towards her.
6. "You Don't Mess Around with Jim" Jim Croce
A bully faces another bully? Whether Slim vs. Jim or Forsberg vs. Rick Janos, the theme of the song fits the moment and the whole conflict in the novel.
7. "Too Late" Cornelius Brothers & Sister Jane
The title says it all. Forsberg delayed his return since 1966, and now that he's home, he's gotta own it. We also get our first clue...bullet casings along the Blue Knife River.
8. "Listen to the Music" The Doobie Brothers
This song introduces a major theme for the series: Forsberg's use of music and playlists to capture ideas. Charlie Morrison's illegal marijuana sales also connects to the band, the Doobie Brothers.
9. "Okie From Muskogee" Merle Haggard
"We don't smoke marijuana" captures where Forsberg is coming from. He wants to keep the status quo of his smal town from the corruption he's seen around the world.
10. "Wild World" Cat Stevens
Dark times in 1972. From attending college classes to simply watching the news (Munich Olympics), Forsberg sees darkness everywhere he looks.
11. "You've Got a Friend" James Taylor
Yet home still has some "good folks" and Forsberg certainly finds plenty of allies upon returning home. He also meets a new friend in Helen Luning.
12 "Keep the Customer Satisfied" Simon & Garf.
Great lyrics with a sarcastic edge. Forsberg's customers are now high school students, and his new gig as a custodian has deep symbolic meaning for him.
13. "Down on Me" Janis Joplin
Sorry about the sexual pun, but an inappropriate scene in a back alley provides Forsberg with the sliver of hatred that will motivate him later.
14. "Walk Away" The James Gang
After stumbling across corruption at home, Forsberg goes for a walk before deciding that he can't walk away and must face the problems head on.
Volume 2
15. "Rocket Man" by Elton John
This song works in a variety of ways. First, it immediately introduces Karson's failed rocket project. Second, it captures what Captain Chuck is going through having been shot down in Vietnam. Lastly, it mirrors the isolation of Forsberg. He's "not the man they think I am at home."
15. "Rocket Man" by Elton John
Helvetica Light is an easy-to-read font, with tall and narrow letters, that works well on almost every site.
16. "I Gotcha" Joe Tex
"You thought I didn't see you" As a janitor, Forsberg's observations pick up on all of the social drama going on at Split Rock High School. He connects with Karson and begins to put a few puzzle pieces into place.
17. "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves" Cher
The Gypsy? Leah. The Tramp? Molly. The Thief? As Forsberg meets Ron Spears, cliches and sterotypes are thrown around as the two Vietnam Vets let trivial social problems keep their focus.
18. "Brand New Key" Melanie
Oh, the sexual innuendo. This is my "crazy Leah" theme song as she literally skates around Split Rock at night. Her paranoia and jealousy are also found in this song.
19. "I Don't Need No Doctor" Humble Pie
Back to the "Doctor My Eyes" theme, Forsberg is a physical and emotional mess. In this chapter, Father Gary is the doctor trying to fix Forsberg's soul.
20. "You Know the Score" The Hollies
Literally...what's the score of the football game. Yet this song gets really dark by the end, when the Hollies chant "Death and Destruction" it reminds me of Theoden.
Forsberg does love LOTR.
21. "Free Ride" Edgar Winter Group
A song about highs and lows. Home is no longer the promised land, so Forsberg must make it better himself.
22. "The Boxer" Simon and Garfunkel
Literally boxing on TV but this song once captured Jimmy Nielson, so as a metaphor, it captures all those who have taken a beating in life.
23. "Into the Fire" NIlsson
If you play with fire, you will get burned. Well, things get a little "hot" in this chapter between Helen and Forsberg. The violence of the drums and stages of the song mirror the whole evening.
24. "Get on the Good Foot" James Brown
Forsberg gets off on the wrong foot with Ron Spears, but with a shrug, he also finds a new friend who views things from the perspective of an outsider.
25. "All the Young Dudes" Mott the Hoople
What is a hoople? Forsberg is still a young man, but he's a dinosaur compared to his peer Charlie and Karson Luning.
26. "Maggie May" Rod Stewart
Yes, it's late September, and Forsberg should just be focusing on school, but his new relationship with an older, married woman is certainly complicating his life.
27. "Slipping into Darkness" WAR
Literally, a chapter set in darkness, where Forsberg reflects on Vietnam night ambushes. It also captures the "slip" of one of our villains, who keeps stepping further over the line.
28. "Sunday Morning Coming Down" Johnny Cash
When you wake up on a Sunday morning with the cops at your door, it'll make you rethink your decisions.
Love how this song's POV voice wants life to be sweet again but feels like an outsider now.
Volume 3
29. "Hold Your Head up High" Argent
After dealing with officers in the military, the local guys aren't about to rattle Forsberg, especially when he's innocent.
30. "Everybody Plays the Fool" Main Ingredient
All sorts of fools in this one, and after sorting through the list, Forsberg makes a foolish decision to confront a thief.
31. "I'm on the Lamb" Blue Oyster Cult
Beating up a kid certainly makes it hard to wait for justice to arrive, so Forsberg walks away only to step into an even worse problem when Ron admits he's being bullied into joining AIM.
32. "Starting All Over" Mel and Tim
Can't go back to life as a janitor if you keep beating up the students, so Forsberg gets a new job with Wally at Ulman Oil.
33. "Undercover Man" Edgar WInter Group
Despite feeling the eyes of Split Rock upon him, Forsberg goes down to the grocery store where he runs into Karson and has to check out with Gregg.
34. "Jesus is Just Alright" Doobie Brothers
Despite having a priest as a close confidant, Forsberg is reticent about his faith.
He also begins to investigate the Kauffman family.
35. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" Robert Johns
Rick Janos is the lion, and while he's busy hunting other game, Forsberg and Spears can visit the lion's den for a bit of insight into who he is.
36. "Troglodyte" Jimmy Castor Bunch"
A funny song that Forsberg connects with Janos the Caveman.
37. "Down by the Lazy River" The Osmonds
The Crow Wing and Blue Knife cut right through Hiawatha County and form borders. Migisi lives along the now "lazy" Blue Knife, and Forsberg gives him an update.
38. "Long, Cool Woman in a Black Dress" Hollies
It's not you, it's me! Helen again shows up at Brian's door with one HUGE problem that needs to be dealt with.
39. "Witchy Woman" The Eagles
Another Leah Kauffman classic! Raven hair? Yes. Ruby lips that Karson never shoud've kissed. A restless spirit? She sure is. And the poor thing certainly drove herself to madness by the end of the book.
40. "I Hear You Knocking" Dave Edmunds
Janos knows. So he openly confronts Forsberg to try to recruit the other "alpha" in town. The cards are laid on the table, but for Forsberg, they turn out to be clues.
41. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Simon & Garf.
To confirm his suspicions, Forsberg deals with a problem that's been bothering him for a decade, which leads him to the Blue Knife Bridge.
42. "Rock Me On the Water" Jackson Browne
A fishing trip is ruined when my grown up scouts discover evidence of something terrible, so this song had plenty of dark tones.
Volume 4
43. "Where No Man Has Gone Before" Star Trek
It's just me, but the dark irony of such an optimistic show contrasted with the death of a young man dressed in a Captain Kirk outfit almost brings me to tears when this song comes up in the playlist.
44. "Country Roads" John Denver
After a tragedy strikes Hiawatha County, Forsberg goes for a ride to clear his head. Instead, he runs into Migisi, who only adds fuel to the fires of suspicion.
45. "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" Temptations
Migisi lets Forsberg (and the reader) know about the dark history of Lake Manitou and why a single death is a very serious problem.
46. "Paint it Black" Rolling Stones
Sure enough, Forsberg sees the "Hooded Dumpster Bandit" and realizes that the two issues plaguing Split Rock are getting worse.
47. "Big Iron" Marty Robbins
Forsberg and Spears make a game plan for dealing with the illegal weapons showing up in the area.
48. "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" Slade
Big Mack has some interesting information about Marty and Claire Kauffman, which worries Forsberg about a bigger, darker shadow looming over everything.
49. "Bed Time Story" Tammy Wynette
Instead of making Forsberg feel better, Uncle Ed transitions from a day's hard work to talk about the supernatural.
50. "Alone Again (Naturally) Gilbert O'Sullivan
Forsberg wakes up alone on Thanksgiving. After avoiding going over to a crowded Nielson house, he drives to Staples where he learns some shocking news.
51. "Don't Cross the River" America
After getting out of the crowded house, Forsberg and his brother-in-law walk down to the river, where they find a blood trail.
52. "Changes" David Bowie
Karson's world is up in the air when he realizes that his dad is alive and soon to be coming home.
53. "Feeling Alright?" Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker leaned into the irony of NOT feeling alright, and neither is Forsberg.
54. "Bang a Gong (Get it On)" T Rex
With a loud explosion (gong), the book explodes with violence and action. All the "pussyfooting around" with Forsberg ends as he shifts into Atlas mode.
55. "American Pie" Don McLean
Back in 2010 with Ulysses Bow, this song REALLY came to life. The jester=Karson w/a cast. He delivered newspapers. "Fire burned high into the night" was the house fire. Leah was in the marching band. Football captain=Gregg. Almost every phrase came to life in the book, so this began as my most "Mixed Tape" song.
56. "Superstition" Steve Wonder
As the book ends, Forsberg finds himself surrounded by a group of friends who not only understand the darkness of Hiawatha County but believe him and his story of a person who got away with cold blooded murder.
Want More?
Watch author Jason Lee Willis's YouTube video breaking down the meaning of all these songs in the context of the plot.
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