Song Connections

The Glass Castle is all about a dysfunctional family that is a topic a lot of people can relate to so, there are a number of connections to the book from the world around us. Here is a list of songs that relate the novel, The Glass Castle.

1. Concrete Angel by Martina McBride – This song is about a mother who was abusive towards her daughter both physical and neglect. Some could say that he Walls just had a different way of raising their children but others could argue that by neglecting the children and their needs in times of need, they performed serious abuse.

2. The Climb by Miley Cyrus - Jeannette Walls certainly had a few obstacles (to say the least) in her lifetime to overcome; a drunken father, a selfish mother, several occurrences of potential rape. But it was the memories of hard times and the lessons she learned along the way that allowed her to get so far. The lyrics to this song say, “ It’s not about how fast I get there. It ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.” Despite all odds, this brave little girl kept her head high the whole journey up the colossal mountain and turned her life around, becoming a strong and successful women.

3. Blown Away by Carrie Underwood - The story behind this song is about a child who has grown up in a dysfunctional family and wants to leave it all behind… wants it to just get “blown away” by the twisters in Oklahoma where she lives. This is the same way Jeanette and her sibling felt when they left Welch to go live out their dreams in New York City. They knew they would not get anywhere in Welch and had to leave even if it meant leaving their parents behind. After all, it was Rose Mary and Rex Walls who were responsible for the rut the children were stuck in.