h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

who has heard a song with lyrics that are directly taken from characters and stories in Greek Mythology?

Here are some that i know;

Tori Amos' latest album contains a track called Apollo's Frock, which which directly invokes the legend of the sun god Apollo, who pursued the maiden Daphne (the chased daughter of a river god who did not want Apollo's love) and in the end she transformed into a laurel tree to escape him. Apollo was saddened by this, and he took off some of her leaves and made them into a laurel wreath, which he was always associated with since.

In the song Apollo's Frock, Tori Amos says "I am tired of you taking from me, and I have let you eat from the fruits of my tree. I am not the one to turn into a laurel wreath".

Tori Amos also makes a reference to Apollo's image as an archer; "The soul has been lost of the bow and quiver..."

She also mentions "Apollo your frock was always as beautiful as your sister, that your light shined on..."
We all know that Apollo's sister was the moon goddess Artemis.

Heather Nova wrote a song called 'I'm the Girl' (see her album Siren), in it she says "I'm a siren. I'll wreck you on my shore" We know from legends such as Jason and the Argonaughts and the Odyssie that the sirens were sea Nymphs who sang so sweetly that they caused sailors to crash their ships and meet a gory death on the jagged rocks of their island. In th same song, Heather Nova says "I'm Medusa". We all know who Medusa the snake-haired gorgon is. Both mythological creatures are famous exaples of the femme fatale theme that Heather Nova chose for this song.

Wasn't there a song by Cream (w/ Eric Clapton) called 'Tales of Brave Ulysses'?

I little web searching shows there's also a band called "Ulysses" from Nashville, and another called 'Nation of Ulysses'

There's also a song cycle/concert piece by Adam Guettel called 'Saturn Returns' which was recorded as 'Myths and Hymns'. It is a mix of modern spirituality, Christianity and Greek myth. There's a stunning song about Icarus, and an amusing one about Sisyphus, plus songs about Bellerophon (probably the wrong spelling) and the love story of Hero and Leander (though I think that might be of Roman origin?). Well worth investigating.

David

A few years ago, Suzanne Vega wrote "Calypso" about the nymph Odysseus lived with for 9 years (if I remember correctly) and then abandoned.

Also From The Underworld by The Herd, I think. I'm in owrk, so can't be sure. A single from 1967, is all about Orpheus and Eurydice. Nice.

Also, both King Mids In Reverse by The Hollies and, indirectly, Goldfinger by Shirley Bassey are involved with King Midas and his unfortunate affliction.

tales of brave ulysses: eric clapton, martin sharp

Further to songs with actual references, slightly less high brow sources are Toploader with "Achilles Heal", ang going back to the 80's, The Police with "Wrapped around your finger", quoting references from the Oddessy "Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis", though this may be off at a slight tangent.

'Cupid, draw back your bow' - and many other songs with cupid.

'Don't pay the Ferryman' (a mythological theme)

Styx (the band, same theme - rivers were also gods)

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