For this assignment we had to choose 8 songs and write 8 poems that described Janie's life throughout "Their Eyes Were Watching God." This was one of the more enjoyable projects from my Advanced English class because I was able to be creative and had fun visiting old songs.

Playlist:

Rumors - Jake Miller
In the song Rumors, Jake Miller talks about how people talk behind his back about him and his girlfriend. “Yeah we the world up on the streets, they talk talk talk ‘bout you and me.” In TEWWG, the porch sitters also gossip about Janie when she comes back to town. But Janie doesn’t care much about them and doesn’t bother telling them her story herself. This is represented when Miller says “no we don’t care if somebody knows, body knows. People talking, that's just how it goes.” At the end of the book, Janie also talks to Phoebe about how she knows they will keep gossiping but she doesn’t mind because they don’t know real love. 

Hair - Lady Gaga
In this song Lady Gaga expresses how her hair is an important part of her identity that can be used to show one’s character. In the song she says, “I’ve had enough, this is my prayer, that I'll die living just as free as my hair.” Gaga shows that she will live as who she wants to be and be accepted as who she is. In TEWWG, Janie’s hair also symbolizes her sense of identity, power and freedom. When Joe dies, Janie lets her hair loose which shows that she was now independent of Joe

Marshmello - Silence ft. Khalid
This song overall represents Janie's life before meeting Tea Cake. One of the lyrics is “I’ve been silent for so long,” which relates to how Jody does not let Janie express herself. For example, when Janie is asked by Taylor to say a few words of encouragement, Jody doesn’t let her and says her place is in the home. This angers Janie because her opinion wasn’t taken into consideration but she keeps quiet. There are also other parts of the song such as “I’ve never had someone to call my own,” “never felt a feeling of comfort,” and “I’ve found peace in your violence.” This can be tied to Janie’s unfulfilling experiences with Logan and Jody and finding peace when Jody dies. 

After All - Elton John ft  Charlie Puth
This song is about finally finding true love after having given up. This is related to Janie’s experience because she has been searching for her love since age 16 and couldn’t find the right one until Tea Cake. This is shown by the lyrics “thought I found love so many times.” “They were just doing it wrong” shows how Logan and Jody mistreated her and weren’t the right ones. “Nothing compares to you” and “I gave up on love until you made me believe in it after all” shows how Tea Cake is the right one and fulfilled her dream about love. After Jody’s death, Janie had given up on love because she liked her freedom and independence until Tea Cake showed up. 

One Call Away - Charlie Puth
One Call Away by Charlie Puth can have multiple interpretations that can be tied to Janie’s experience. It is originally about a long distance relationship telling her to call him so that he can help. One of the lyrics is “Come along with me…I just wanna set you free.” This can be represented through Tea Cake's point of view and how he helps Janie fulfill her goals. Another interpretation  is about calling on God during hard times. This is similar to Janie and Tea Cake during the hurricane when they were watching God.  

God of the storm - Scott Logan
In this song, Scott Logan expresses how God is in control of the storm, waves, and circumstance. One of the lyrics is “when the darkness closes in, and I'm barely hanging on, I'll rest on what you’ve said.” This is similar to Janie’s experience during the hurricane when she and Tea Cake felt like they had no control over their lives. Instead, it is God who is in control. In TEWWG, Hurston states, “they seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God” (160).

Blame It On Me - Post Malone
In the song “Blame it on Me,” Post Malone shows how he is tired and cries out that he can’t breathe while pleaing “it’s not my fault.” This is similar to Janie’s situation when blamed for Tea Cake's death. She feels betrayed by her friends and knew they were against her when they came to watch in the back of the courtroom. When Malone says “I couldn’t breathe,” this represents how Janie is silent. “You can’t blame it on me It’s not my fault” shows how although she is the one who killed Tea Cake, Janie is afraid that she will be misunderstood.

Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts
The main lyrics “life is a highway” symbolizes how life is full of ups and downs in which you have to overcome. Examples of this happening in TEWWG is Janie meeting Jody (up), their relationship begins to weaken (down), Janie becomes more independent and meets Tea Cake (up), and Tea Cake dies (down). This song could also mean how you have to take risks in order to live your life to the fullest. Janie had to make the right call to leave Logan in order to meet Jody which led her to meet Tea Cake. Although Tea Cake died at the end, she realizes that Tea Cake showed her true love and had lived life to the fullest thanks to him.


Poems:
Pear Tree Haiku
The pear tree blossoms
From childhood to womanhood
New hopes and dreams made

The Lamp
The lamp is installed through the night
When the moon shines the most bright
To bring others people are sent
They come to see what the lamplighting meant
The women got together to make the sweets
While the men together looked after the meats
By 5 o’clock the party is at its greatest
As I walk the street the lamp shines brightest


T-E-A-C-A-K-E
Tea Cake Tea Cake you are the one for me
Early on I knew it too
Although we went through some hardships
Courage and strength you gave
And although you are no longer with me
Kindness and love you filled me with
Everyday and everynight i think of you the one for me

Janie’s Point of View of watching Jody get old
When the light fades
From your eyes
The days are gray
Submission
And complaint
And reliance
But at the cost of demise
When days are gray
Your words tear at me
Until I can’t breathe
Until I can’t see
Until I’m barely me anymore
But then you begin to gray
To fade
Away
In front of my eyes
And I can see color again
I can yell and defend myself
When you fate to gray
I don’t submit
I don’t comply

Horizon Haiku
Distant horizon
Possibilities it holds
Lifelong search of joy

The Storm
The natives say a storm is approaching
News spreads and anxiety rising
Tea Cake, Janie, and Motor Boat stay
And wait it out till the very next day
The waves splash on the shore
Boom! Splash! people they ignore
Through the hurricane the people see
The lack of control they have
And though they seem to be staring into the dark
Their eyes were watching God

Language is Power
Many voices to be heard but mine is silent
Not by free will but hidden by the man who towers
Otherwise he will start to get violent
I wish to find my voice because language is power
Distinctive language shows individuality
Now I’ve finally found my voice
I thought I could relax and rejoice
But life has taken a different turn like before
Which left me with no choice
But to stay silent once more

Janie and Her Husbands
Nanny wants me to marry a man 
Who can financially aid me more than she can 
First comes Logan who is very wealthy
But he can only do so much to make me happy 
He treats me like an object and is abusive 
Soon I leave him for another guy
Then comes Jody who I thought was the one for me
But he turns out just as cruel and dry
Soon he dies and I am independent and free
Just as I thought my love life was done
Tea Cake comes and shows my life’s just begun