Theme Songs

2003

We've all done it: listened to a song and thought, "God, that just describes some character/show/plot perfectly." Sometimes we go on to commit the cardinal sin of a songfic. I know I have. And sometimes it's just nice to have something to listen to when you're writing about that particular character/show/plot.

Here are a few character themes, songs I feel relate to particular characters at one point or another during their shows. If you have anything to add, e-mail me your suggestions. This page will be periodically updated as I think of more songs.

Ray Kowalski | Seamus Harper (1) | Seamus Harper (2) | Willow Rosenberg | Faith Lehane (1) | Faith Lehane (2) | Alex Krycek

Ray Kowalski, about Fraser; Due South, "Mountie on the Bounty"

Poe, "Dolphin"

There's a broken beam inside of the big big bridge
I guess that whole thing is caving in
Maybe it is time I learn how to swim
I'll be a dolphin
I'll be a dolphin

Sometimes I think I'm breaking down
And other times I think that I'm fine
But something got into my engine
It slowed me down
Now I got to turn this whole thing around

I'm gonna be a dolphin
Gonna be a dolphin
I'm gonna be a dolphin
Gonna be a dolphin

There's not a lot I believe anymore
I mistrust everything I am longing for
There's not a lot that I know anymore
But I know if a good bridge is burning

You gotta be a dolphin
You gotta be a dolphin
You gotta be a dolphin
You gotta be a dolphin

Sometimes I think you're crazy and sick
And other times I think you're so fine
But I know I'm in danger 'cause
You feel like a stranger
And I know that something's going to give

When I dive into that ocean
God I hope I don't sink like a stone

No

Gonna move like a dolphin

There may be a lot I don't know about you
But I know if I don't swim, I'm already drowning
'Cause a broken bridge
Is a broken bridge
So I swim to you now

Oh... here I come
Oh... here I come
Oh... here I come
Oh... here I come

I'll be a dolphin

There's a broken beam inside of the big big bridge
I guess that this time I have to swim

I'll swim
I'll swim
I'll swim

Seamus Harper, Andromeda, Season 2 (and most every other time)
(credit Viridian5)

Jack Off Jill, "Fear Of Dying"

I'm not afraid of standing still
I'm just afraid of being bored
I'm not afraid of speaking my mind
I'm just afraid of being ignored

I'm not afraid of feeling
And I'm not afraid of trying
I'm just afraid of losing
And I am afraid of dying

Without you, yes I do and I hope that you do too
Without you, yes I do
Without you, yes I do and I hope that you do too
Without you, yes I...

I'm not afraid of being sick
I'm more afraid of being well
I'm not afraid, put the gun in my hand
I'm just afraid it will hurt like, hurt like hell

I'm not afraid of screaming
And I'm not afraid of crying
I'm just afraid of forgetting
And I am afraid of dying

Without you, yes I do and I hope that you do too
Without you, yes I do
Without you, yes I do and I hope that you do too
Without you, yes I...

Fear of
Fear of
Fear of
Fear of

I'm not afraid of looking ugly
I couldn't care what they say
I'm not afraid of happy endings
I'm just afraid my life won't work that way

I'm not afraid of forgiveness
I absolve you everything
I'm not afraid of lying
But I am afraid of dying

Without you, yes I do and I hope that you do too
Without you, yes I do
Without you, all I do is sit and think about you
Without you, yes I...

Seamus Harper, Andromeda

Garbage, "Begging Bone"

You're just like a dog with your begging bone
You're always chasing psychos down those rabbit holes
You like them the best 'cause they are dangerous
And they get off on you and your subservience

What can I do, can't make a monkey out of you
I can't keep you wild and loose, can't lock you in your room
I can't make you pay for dreams, suspicious of the world
And I can't teach you lessons that you never want to learn

You've started to believe that you're completely unlovable
Which makes us want to laugh 'cause you're adorable
You say you've been depressed but no doubt you'll get over it
And get back on your feet just like a pugilist

What can I do, can't make a monkey out of you
I can't keep you wild and loose, can't lock you in your room
I can't make you pay for dreams, suspicious of the world
And I can't teach you lessons that you never want to learn

It's okay to be afraid of what's inside another mind
An invitation to discover and explore the other side
It's okay to be afraid of finding out you really care
Like a hammer crashing down between the clouds out of the air

Pray that they come true, of course they never do
Pray that they come true, of course they never do
Pray that they come true, of course they never do
Pray that they come true, of course they never do

Of course they never do
Of course they never do
Of course they never do
Of course they never do
Of course they never do

Willow Rosenberg, about Xander; Buffy, Seasons 1-3

Tori Amos, "Silent All These Years"

Excuse me but can I be you for a while
My dog won't bite if you sit real still
I got the Antichrist in the kitchen yelling at me again
Yeah I can hear that

Been saved again by the garbage truck
I got something to say you know but nothing comes
Yes I know what you think of me, you never shut up
Yeah I can hear that

But what if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of his with her name still on it
Hey but I don't care
'Cause sometimes
I said sometimes
I hear my voice and it's been
Here
Silent all these years

So you found a girl who thinks really deep thoughts
What's so amazing about really deep thoughts
Boy you best pray that I bleed real soon
How's that thought for you

My scream got lost in a paper cup
You think there's a heaven where some screams have gone
I got 25 bucks and a cracker do you think it's enough
To get us there

'Cause what if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of his with her name still on it
Hey but I don't care
'Cause sometimes
I said sometimes
I hear my voice and it's been
Here
Silent all these

Years go by will I still be waiting
For somebody else to understand
Years go by if I'm stripped of my beauty
And the orange clouds raining in my head
Years go by will I choke on my tears
Till finally there is nothing left
One more casualty
You know we're too
Easy easy easy

Well I love the way we communicate
Your eyes focus on my funny lip shape
Let's hear what you think of me now
But baby don't look up
The sky is falling

Your mother shows up in a nasty dress
And it's your turn now to stand where I stand
Everybody lookin' at you
Here take hold of my hand
Yeah I can hear them

But what if I'm a mermaid
In these jeans of yours with her name still on it
Hey but I don't care
Cause sometimes
I said sometimes
I hear my voice
I hear my voice
I hear my voice and it's been
Here
Silent all these years

I've been here
Silent all these years
Silent all these
Silent all these years

Faith, about Buffy; Buffy, Season 3

Teal Thompson, "As Good as She"

Her voice cracks and
Twists and turns me
In a way I can't explain
Call it jealousy
Call it an act of faith
In my belief in me
It doesn't really matter

I only hoped to be as good as she
Even though I'm not supposed to compare
I only hoped to be as good as she
Even though I'm not supposed to compare

I am dancing in her shadow
I am playing in her light
I am making her guess at every left and right
I am closer than she thinks
I crawl inside her head
To feel the way her blood boils
The memories that she's had

I only hoped to be as good as she
Even though I'm not supposed to compare
I only hoped to be as good as she
Even though I'm not supposed to compare

I am two steps ahead as she falls behind
I stand back and capture the diamonds that she finds
I come out at night like a slowly creeping mist
I wanna do wrong, I wanna do right
It's revenge that I kiss

I only hoped to be as good as she
Even though I'm not supposed to compare
I only hoped to be as good as she
Even though I'm not supposed to compare

It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
Not supposed to compare
It doesn't really matter
It doesn't really matter
I'm not supposed to compare
It doesn't really matter

Faith, Buffy and Angel

Curve, Come Clean
This entire album is a Faith album. Completely. It's practically her whole character arc. And as an added bonus, "Chinese Burn" is the song Buffy and Faith were dancing to in "Bad Girls".

Some sample songs:

"Chinese Burn"

She burns friends like a piece of wood
And she's jealous of me because she never could
Hold herself up without a spine
And she'll look me up when she's doing fine
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favorite daughter
Spoiled and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies they're all the same

All the same
Crush her fame
Burn her name

She'll break a promise as a matter of course
Because she thinks it's fun to have no remorse
She gets what she wants and walks away
And she doesn't give a fuck what you might say
Because it cuts her up like Irish mortar
Mother's pride is what we taught her
Soiled and petty as we happily taunt her
Friend and enemy we're all to blame

She'll burn us bad
She'll flaunt her flame
She'll make us remember
Make us remember her name

She'll burn us bad
She'll flaunt her flame
She'll make us remember
Make us remember her name

If she sits still like she knows she could
She could win this game and be the queen for good
Save herself up for the cream of the crop
And she'll look us up when she's ready to stop
Because the rage it burns like Chinese torture
She's just someone's favorite daughter
Spoiled and ugly as she willingly slaughters
Friends and enemies are all that came

To burn her name
Crush her flame
Burn her name
Crush her flame
Burn her name
Crush her flame
Burn her name
We're all to blame

about Buffy:
"Beyond Reach"

It's nice to know
Nice to know
Exactly where you're going

It's nice to know
Nice to know
Exactly where you're going

Sorry for these bitter words
But I'm in no mood to pretend
Why should I bother with you
When you're not even a good friend
I'm a tosser for thinking
It was anything more than it was
But you're the loser
Yes you're the loser
You think you're above God
And beyond reach

Beyond reach
Beyond reach
Beyond reach

It's nice to know
Nice to know
Exactly where you're going

Never pick a fight with someone bigger than you
That's what I learned when I was at school
And it doesn't really matter how clever you think you are
Those years they leave
All kinds of scars

It's nice to know
Nice to know
Exactly where you're going

It's nice to know
Nice to know
Exactly where you're going

Carry on as you always have
And you will get your just reward
It may not be what you expected
But then there's nothing you can't afford
Oh I'm the joker for dreaming
That it could get much worse than this
But you're the loser
Yes you're the loser
You think you're above God
And beyond reach

Beyond reach
Beyond reach
Beyond reach

about Angel:
"Alligators Getting Up"

Grow out of your obsessions
You think you're bad but I'm badder than you
'Cause mine has come through consideration
While your reaction is nothing new
So go on genius be who you are
You're so flat and one-dimensional

If you go my way you won't go wrong
You'll find out where you really belong
If you search it out it will make you strong
You'll go on and on and on

You want what's mine but you don't deserve it
One tenth is all you can have
Why care why share
Stamp your feet 'cause life's unfair
Why share why care
Stamp your feet 'cause life's unfair

If you go my way you won't go wrong
You'll find out where you really belong
If you search it out it will make you strong
You'll go on and on and on
On and on and on
On and on and on

You have to watch for the smallest details
Just to stop
The alligator from getting up
The alligator from getting up
The alligator from getting up
The alligator from getting up
The alligator from getting up

"Killer Baby"

I'll put you down as the third alternative
When you get to the bottom of the list
In the call for sanity
Nothing breathes

So I'll put you up as a friend of Mary's
'Cause when she's raring to go she's quite contrary
In the race for courage
Everyone's gone blind

You're doing real well now
Killer now baby
Real well now
Killer now baby
Real well now
Killer now baby
Real well now
Killer killer killer killer killer killer

Happy in a manic sort of way
But I'm real on a manic high day
Till the universe has left us all behind

You're doing real well now
Killer now baby
Real well now
Killer now baby
Real well now
Killer now baby
Real well now
Killer killer killer killer killer killer

I can't let go of the past
When it's my future that's safe and rosy
I can't step out on the streets
When it's my moods that keep me broody

Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens
Throw it out and see what happens

"Coming Up Roses"

I'm coming up roses now
Flying high
No one can touch me
As I wave goodbye
I'm as tall as a willow baby
Tall as a willow
I'm sure not sorry for that

You wouldn't believe the stuff I know
And have collected

I'm hung up on breathing now
When I want
No one can hurt me
When I'm in trouble
I'm strong as I'm mellow baby
Strong as I'm mellow
I sure am happy for that

Have you ever seen the things I own
And have neglected
They're all quite strange and unconnected
And that's why they're strong

A mile is long when home is far away
(Coming up roses now)
(Flying high)
A mile is long when home is far away
(Coming up roses now)
Home is far away

I'm holding the fiddle now
Playing hard
I've learned my lesson
In self-composure
I shout and I bellow baby
Shout and I bellow
Can you hear me out back

Can you feel the way I've grown
And disconnected

A mile is long when home is far away
(Coming up roses now)
(Flying high)
A mile is long when home is far away
(Coming up roses now)
(Flying high)
A mile is long when home is far away
(Night is long, day is long)
(Night is long, day is long)
A mile is long when home is far away
Home is far away

(Night is long, day is long)
(Night is long, day is long)

A first thought came to the sound
(Night is long, day is long)
And it filled itself with spectrum
So it can see from the back of its head
Feel the beat fall in
It did that to spite me
Throw me off the scent
Feel the beat fall in
A beast at the core of its nature
A beast at the core of its nature

Alex Krycek, The X-Files
More of a Mulder/Krycek song, really. Or Krycek to Mulder. There's something doomed and apocalyptic, and just this side of sarcastic, that I really like.

Call Me Alice, "We Grow Stronger"

Draw a line deep in the sand
Try to figure who I am
Make your distinction clear, my friend
'Cause it will matter in the end

So many borders to protect
From guilt of ones we suspect
So draw your line deep in the sand
As they engage the master plan

Somebody tell me
Please reassure me
That these wounds will heal
This pain that we all feel, oh
Somebody help me
Explain to this child
That the world is still good
And you cannot run and hide

So draw a line deep in the sand
Now that you know just who I am
Make your intentions clear, my friend
'Cause it will matter in the end

Somebody tell me
Please reassure me
That these wounds will heal
This pain that we all feel, oh
Somebody help me
Explain to this child
That the world is still good
And you cannot run and hide

Oh, the freedom they lived for
The same freedom they died for
You cannot take it away
No way, no way, oh

We grow stronger every day

Email: panthea@populli.net

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