Holocaust TunesBy Sarah Johnson

Content1. Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel2. Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day3. Big Bad World by Plain White T’s4. Poprocks & Coke by Green Day5. Full Moon by The Black Ghosts6. We Are Nowhere, And It’s Now by Bright Eyes & Emmylou Harris7. The Pretender by the Foo Fighters8. For Reasons Unknown by The Killers9. Wonderwall by Oasis10. Parachutes by Pearl Jam11. Believe by Yellowcard

This song was written specifically about Anne Frank, and her experiences during the Holocaust. The lyrics: “But now we must pack up every piece of the life we used to love… Just to keep ourselves at least enough to carry on” talks about the lives of Holocaust victims after the war is over, and how even though they had nothing left, they had to carry on.

Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel

“The only girl I've ever lovedWas born with roses in her eyesBut then they buried her alive One evening 1945”

Boulevard of Broken Dreams by Green Day

Basically, this song talks about being alone, misunderstood, and feeling trapped. The lyrics like: “I walk a lonely roadThe only one that I have ever knownDon't know where it goesBut it's home to me and I walk alone” makes me think of the Holocaust because they talk about being isolated and wanting to be found. I could imagine that a Holocaust victim could feel this way about their situation.

Big Bad World by Plain White T’sThe lyrics inspire you to keep going even

when it gets tough. Sometimes fighting for what is right is all that you can do, and sometimes you can change the future for the better. This song also talks about how life is never fair, and can sometimes be a nightmare, but hopefully it’ll work out in the end.

“It's a big bad lifeAll that we can dois try to make it rightTomorrow’s something newSo if a big rain cloudfollows you aroundDon’t let it get you down”

Poprocks & Coke by Green Day

The lyrics talk about staying together, and always being there for someone. It shows the courage it takes to be true to yourself, and others. The lyrics “Where there’s a truth, you know I’ll be there. Amongst the lies, you know I’ll be there. I’ll go anywhere, so I’ll see you there” are uber positive, and give you a sense of hope. Having faith and hope during the Holocaust was important to survival.

“If you should fallYou know I’ll be thereTo catch the callYou know I’ll be thereI’ll go anywhereSo I’ll see you there”

Full Moon by The Black Ghosts

These lyrics are full of imagination, and a slight mystique. They show that having a good imagination can sometimes save you from the harsh reality. I know this must have been important to Holocaust survivors, such as Gerda Weissman.

“And I don't know where I'll goAnd I don't know what I'll seeBut I'll try not to bring it back home with me”

This song is about how life can be strange, and unfair, and difficult. It tells you that you should always keep faith in yourself despite the odds, and that life will keep on going. The lyrics “You see stars that clear that have been dead for years, but the idea just lives on...” tells you that even when you’re gone, things will move on. Having these values during the Holocaust would make it easier to focus on just surviving.

We Are Nowhere, and It’s Now by Bright Eyes & Emmylou Harris

“And if you swear that there's no truth and who caresHow come you say it like you're right?Why are you scared to dream of GodWhen it's salvation that you want?And like a ten minute dream in the passenger's seatWhile the world was flying byI haven't been gone very longBut it feels like a lifetime”

The Pretender by the Foo Fighters

The lyrics like “What if I say I’m not like the others, what if I say I’m not just another one” is all about not conforming to the vast majority. It makes me think of people in the Holocaust, like Dr. Korzack, who helped hundreds of orphans survive.. He was a positive figure that gave hope to many children during the war.

“I'm finished making senseDone pleading ignoranceThat whole defenseSpinning infinity, butThe wheel is spinning meIt's never ending, never endingSame old story”

For Reasons Unknown by The Killers

In this song, it’s about not comprehending the actions of others, and how life can be so unpredictable. For some people, it is still hard to believe that that many innocent people were killed during the Holocaust. This song shows that sometimes we will never know exactly why something happened, because sometimes there really is no explanation.

“I know if destiny’s kind, I’ve got the rest of my mind.But my heart, it don’t beat, it don’t beat the way it used to.And my eyes, they don’t see you no more.”

Wonderwall by OasisThis song is about your life’s journey, and

how even though you may believe you know your path in life, there will always be obstacles. The lyrics: “And all the roads we have to walk are winding, and all the lights that lead us there are blinding” tell how life can be challenging, but having a positive outlook can change your perspective dramatically. I think that being optimistic during the Holocaust saved lives, and that staying strong was essential to surviving.

“Today is gonna be the day That they're gonna throw it back to you By now you should've somehow Realized what you gotta do I don't believe that anybody Feels the way I do about you now”

Parachutes by Pearl Jam

Lyrics such as “One can't seem to have enough, and war--break the sky and tell me what it's for” tells how war can break people, and dreams, and lives. It talks about how greed can change the course of history forever. “And love

Wish the world could glow again with loveOne can't seem to have enough

And warBreak the sky and tell me what it's forI'll travel there on my own”

Believe by YellowcardThis song was originally written about

9/11, but I think that it can also apply to the Holocaust. The main lyrics, “Everything is gonna be alright. Be strong, believe” inspire courage, hope, and strength in a time of devastation. During the Holocaust, the reality was sometimes hard to face, and looking towards the future with strength and courage could save you. “Think about the love inside the strength

of heartThink about the heroes saving life in the darkClimbing higher through the fire, time was running outNever knowing you weren't going to be coming down aliveBut you still came back for meYou were strong and you believed”