Playlist: Madeline Miller’s “Song of Achilles”
This modern retelling of “The Iliad” explores the friendship and eventual romance between Achilles and Patroclus. “Song of Achilles” inspires a playlist to follow their lives and love story, ending in just as much tragedy as the book itself.
Written by Gracie Warhurst
Image courtesy of Ecco Press
The following playlist contains spoilers.
“Song of Achilles” is packed with every emotion in the human experience: from desire, love, and fear, to sorrow, grief, and many more. The main characters are literary opposites, Patroclus the sensitive social pariah and Achilles the prodigal demi-god, who somehow fall into an all encompassing love. The Iliad is a long journey, and these accompanying tracks will help you follow all the paths of this modern day retelling.
“All the Pretty Girls” by Kaleo
Image courtesy of Atlantic Records
Kaleo’s “All the Pretty Girls” captures Patroclus’ feelings as the novel begins: “All the pretty girls like Samuel / Oh, he really doesn't share / Although it's more than he can handle / Life is anything but fair, life is anything but fair.” An outcast in the Myrmidons of Thessaly, Patroclus sees Achilles as the person every boy wants to be and every girl wants to love, sparking jealousy. They are both still children, yet Achilles is already more than Patroclus would ever hope to be. Kaleo’s lines, “It's only making me feel smaller / All the hidden love beneath” describe his insecurity, feeling as though he’ll never be as important as Achilles, simultaneously admiring and envying him.
“Mystery of Love” by Sufjan Stevens
Image courtesy of Madison Gate Records
As Achilles and Patroclus grow older, their feelings for each other grow stronger. No longer is Patroclus an outcast, as Achilles befriends him and heightens his status. “Mystery of Love” by Sufjan Stevens perfectly describes their transition from friendship to tentative intimacy, especially in the lines “Oh, to see without my eyes / The first time that you kissed me.” Though wondrous and exciting, they still fear their teenage love. Both are boys and from vastly different social positions, so breaking the tension also meant risking being caught. Stevens emulates this shame and anxiety in the lyrics, “Lord, I no longer believe / Drowned in living waters / Cursed by the love that I received.”
“I Will” by Mitski
Image courtesy of Double Double Whammy
Abandoning their fear of being together, Achilles and Patroclus eventually flee to Mount Pelion to train with the centaur Chiron for survival. Here, their relationship is fully realized and they don’t have to hide. However, nothing good can last in a greek tragedy — Achilles and Patroclus are called home to eventually be drafted in the war. Mitski’s “I Will” follows this new maturity in their romance, and a deep desire to protect each other. Her lyrics, “And while you sleep / I'll be scared / So by the time you wake / I'll be brave,” voice both Achilles' and Patroclus’ inner monologue. As they sleep one last time in the place they became friends and fell in love, they head towards what will become the Trojan War, unknowingly cementing their fate.
“Achilles Come Down” by Gang of Youths
Image courtesy of Sony Music Studios
“Achilles Come Down” by Gang of Youths parallels the entirety of the Trojan War from Patroclus’ perspective. Despite initially fleeing his draft, Achilles grows into his title as the ‘Greatest of the Greeks’ when he finally joins the army. But, as the war continues year after year, Achilles descends into his own hubris, prolonging the prophecy of his death. The lyrics develop from gently encouraging Achilles to do the right thing — “Just humour us / Achilles / Achilles come down” — to begging him to end the war — “Be done with this now / And jump off the roof / Can you hear me Achilles? / I’m talking to you.” Although Patroclus continues to stand beside him, he doesn’t recognize the person Achilles has become.
“As the World Caves In” by Matt Maltese
Image courtesy of Cafe Bleu Recordings
Everything takes a nosedive when Patroclus attempts to save Achilles from his own pride. Achilles has avoided killing his enemy Hector, thus prolonging his own life, but Patroclus is killed when he wears Achilles’ armor and goes after Hector himself. Matt Maltese’s “As the World Caves In” is the perfect dramatic ballad to accompany Patroclus’ tragic death. The lines, “And as the earth runs to the ground / Oh girl it's you that I lie with,” likely reflect Patroclus’ thoughts as he succumbed to Hector. At this point, Patroclus has done everything to save Achilles, and suffered the consequences for it. Despite this, he loves Achilles even in death, reminiscent of Maltese’s lyrics, “I weep and say goodnight love / While my organs pack it in.”
“Saturn” by Sleeping at Last
Image courtesy of Sleeping at Last
Achilles becomes a shell of a person while mourning Patroclus. He has no one to blame but himself, but still goes after Hector in vengeance. True to the prophecy, Achilles soon dies after killing Hector. His dying wish is for his ashes to be mixed and buried with Patroclus’, yet the grave is only marked with Achilles name, preventing Patroclus from passing on. “Saturn” by Sleeping at Last recounts Achilles’ shameless and desperate desire to honor Patroclus and be with him in death. Achilles knows Patroclus was better than him, the lines, “I'd give anything to hear you say it one more time / That the universe was made just to be seen by my eyes,” representing Achilles’ realization of what Patroclus had tried to tell him all along. Eventually, Patroclus’ soul is freed from his grave and can finally meet Achilles’ again, albeit in the underworld. Sleeping at Last’s lyrics, “I'll try to explain the infinite / And how rare and beautiful it truly is that we exist,'' show how Achilles would greet him again, each finally free from the things that plagued them on Earth.
From beginning to end, “Song of Achilles” reads as the literary equivalent to a tragic love song. Though these six songs cover the main plot points, the full playlist chronicles Achilles’ and Patroclus’ story in its entirety.