Essay: The other Kate Bush banger that deserves a comeback right now

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Honestly, I’ve always connected more with “Jane Eyre” than “Wuthering Heights.” I read both when I was pretty young, and while I appreciate “Wuthering Heights” now, back then the intense, complicated relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine just went over my head. I was a lonely, bookish kid myself, so I really related to Jane – her story just felt more accessible and resonated with me more deeply.

When I experienced my first intense love in college, I was drawn to Kate Bush’s dramatic interpretation of “Wuthering Heights.” Her unique, emotional performance captured the essence of Emily Brontë’s 1847 novel in a way that simple summaries never could – even before the age of AI! Through her lyrics and music, I finally understood the story’s central theme: the painful and complex dynamic of needing someone desperately, yet being unable to coexist peacefully with them.

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Kate Bush, “Wuthering Heights” video

I still love to read, and as a book critic, reading is part of my job. I often find myself immersed in dramatic, passionate stories – tales of intense emotions and wild landscapes. Like the character Cathy in Wuthering Heights, I keep returning to the power of stories, words, and the authors who create them. As Kate Bush sang, I just can’t let go of Wuthering Heights.

Books

With the release of Emerald Fennell’s new movie inspiring huge demand for Emily Brontë’s novel, six authors explore why “Wuthering Heights” remains a powerful and rebellious story.

Many are revisiting Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel thanks to the new film adaptation directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi. The movie is expected to introduce the story to a wide audience, highlighting Brontë’s deeply personal work and its iconic, yet troubled, romance – a couple destined for heartache but unable to stay apart.

After hearing that one song, I was completely captivated – not just by the music itself (like how “Running Up That Hill” gained popularity again thanks to “Stranger Things”), but also by the idea of musicians drawing inspiration from stories and books. It’s clear with some songs, like Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” (based on “The Lord of the Rings”) and Bronski Beat’s “Ain’t Necessarily So” (which references the story of Moses), but because I love fiction, I wanted to discover even more examples of this.

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Many popular songs draw inspiration from classic literature. David Bowie’s “1984” is a well-known example, adapted from George Orwell’s novel. Fans also recognize the influence of Mikhail Bulgakov’s “The Master and Margarita” on the Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil,” and Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” clearly references “Alice in Wonderland.” Even a small group of pop and rock songs are based on Anne Rice’s vampire stories, including Sting’s “Moon Over Bourbon Street,” Annie Lennox’s “Love Song for a Vampire,” and Concrete Blonde’s “Bloodletting.”

I love how often classic literature pops up in music! It’s amazing to think about songs like Steely Dan’s “Home at Last” and the Soggy Bottom Boys’ “I am a Man of Constant Sorrow” – both drawing inspiration from Homer’s “Odyssey.” It’s a shame ABBA’s “Cassandra,” while based on the “Iliad,” just doesn’t quite hit the mark – and honestly, some other songs based on great books, like Loggins and Messina’s take on “The House at Pooh Corner,” aren’t much better. Of course, Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” is a constant source of inspiration, appearing in countless lyrics and famously getting its own beautiful ballad from Mark Knopfler.

Movies

We spoke with Jacob Elordi, Margot Robbie, and a daring British director about a new take on Emily Brontë’s classic story.

Mark Knopfler, who studied literature in college, wrote my all-time favorite song, “Sailing to Philadelphia,” inspired by Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Mason & Dixon.” The song is a condensed version of the book’s story about two English surveyors tasked with establishing the boundary line between the northern and southern United States in 1765—a line that later played a role in the Civil War. The song, a duet with James Taylor, uses intricate guitar work to create the sounds of the ocean and its wildlife, while the two surveyors debate the risks and potential success of their journey – one measuring the land, the other the stars.

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Hearing “Sailing to Philadelphia” sparked my interest in Thomas Pynchon’s work back in the early 2000s. I hadn’t read anything by the notoriously private author before – I was focused on medieval literature in graduate school – but I was immediately captivated by his playful style and the fluid, unconventional structure of his writing. I’ve now read two other Pynchon novels, “The Crying of Lot 49” and the more recent “Shadow Ticket,” and I plan to read “Vineland” soon.

Review

‘Wuthering Heights’ is a bold, filthy fantasy — but these moors need more erotic heat

Despite a talented cast including Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, and plenty of potentially shocking content, Emerald Fennell’s latest film hasn’t quite captured the same impact as her previous work, ‘Saltburn’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’.

The best adaptations spark your interest in the original story. Not everyone will recognize references – like the connection between Kate Bush’s song and Emily Brontë’s novel, or ABBA’s “Cassandra” and Homer – but those who do might be inspired to read the book. And right now, it’s hard to think of a more fitting example than David Bowie’s “1984” and its roots in George Orwell’s novel.

Considering how prevalent commercialism is today, when Taylor Swift’s songs about feeling good inspire her biggest fans to revisit classic books like “The Great Gatsby,” they might realize that even hopeful symbols, like the green light representing forgiveness, can be deceptive. I don’t believe that simply including literary references in song lyrics will suddenly make everyone start reading more.

I’m guessing I’m not the only one who loves books and also keeps track of songs inspired by them! What’s your favorite song based on a book? And can you think of any really unusual or lesser-known ones? Let’s create a big list together.

I’m going to be enjoying some quiet time in my reading corner, listening to Kate Bush and revisiting “Wuthering Heights.” Just a reminder: the book is almost always better than the adaptation!

Patrick is a freelance critic and author of the memoir “Life B.”

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2026-02-12 14:04