quiet soundtrack

"The Reach" Soundtrack 

“The Reach,” a short story by Stephen King, is a fascinating story of an old woman braving the deathly cold weathers to follow her deceased husband, perhaps into the afterlife. If I were to create a soundtrack to this short story, it would be composed of songs from three of my favorite artists: The Lumineers, Mumford & Sons, and Of Monsters and Men.

The following are my choices for an exquisite and beautiful soundtrack that I feel follows well with the themes throughout the short story.

1.     The Lumineers – Stubborn Love

Stubborn Love is a beautiful rendition of the strength of love and the fight sometimes necessary at times. I feel this can relate to the fight that Stella Flandders puts up in order to pursue the calling of her deceased husband. Additionally, the lines of cold weather play perfectly well with the weather themes running throughout the short story.

2.     The Lumineers – Slow It Down

Slow It Down is one my favorite songs and I think in a way, we can see Stella’s perseverance in the lyrics of this song. I feel like this song would be perfectly played as she is leaving the house, bundled up in her many layers, and moving on into the winter cold.

3.     Of Monsters and Men – Little Talks

Little Talks, although a much faster beat, touches on those topics of death and what is to come after, which is a maim theme throughout the short story. One of the most moving lines for me is “soon it will be over and buried with our past, we used to play outside when we were young and full of life, and full of love…though the truth may vary, this ship will carry our bodies safe to shore.” Although the death of Stella Flandders was a sad death, I think it could also be rejoiced, and her life should be celebrated – complimented well with this song.

4.     Mumford  & Sons  - Awake My Soul

“In these bodies we will live and in these bodies we will die,

and where you invest your love, you invest your life….awake my soul.”

The romantic lines in this song I feel perfectly show the struggle of Stella through the woods, searching for her husband…"Do You Love?"

5.     Mumford & Sons – After the Storm

Just as the storm takes hold of Stella,  After the Storm shows the victory that can come after the storm, after the struggle.

“And there will come a time you’ll see, with no more tears,

And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.

Get over your hill and see what you find there,

With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.”

I love the way this song depicts the victory that can follow a struggle, complimenting the scene of Stella, sitting peacefully looking over the water, with her late husband’s hat – content and still. 

King, Stephen. “The Reach.” American Gothic Tales. Ed. Joyce Carol Oates. New York: The Penguin Group. 378-389. Print.