Recurring Themes: 4 Unique References in Rock Music

But what about the actual content of these lyrics? ‘Xanadu’ is a mythical land lost to the sands of time (more on this below), while ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is one of the best rock songs of all time that covers the story of a poor orphan, referencing medieval clowns and Galileo (more on this below, too). When taking a closer look at rock hits, it’s clear that writers aren’t too worried about throwing audiences for a loop.

In fact, over time, rock n’ roll started to incorporate enough unique references that some themes come into focus. Looking back at the biggest acts from the past up until today, let’s explore these references and why they’re so commonplace.

Poker

For well over a century, lyricists have used poker to detail life’s tougher challenges and ponder how to handle hard times. From country to rap, it’s a well-known reference. In fact, poker has remained a common theme in music because the game remains popular with players.

Around the US, millions of people compete via online platforms with the hopes of advancing to a larger tournament. As the New Year approaches, Texas Hold’em tournaments and other types of special series are being announced.

Within the context of rock, poker lyrics reflect a hardy can-do spirit that’s common to wanderers, along with a certain type of wisdom that comes from enduring hard times.

Most people are familiar with Kenny Rogers’ ‘The Gambler’, but other hits also cover a similar tale of life on the road and at poker tables. Like the Mötorhead hit ‘Ace of Spades’ says, “you win some, lose some / it’s all the same to me”. 

High Fantasy

Back in the 1970s and 80s, poker was a much more well-known topic than high fantasy. Still, high fantasy (including projects like Lord of the Rings) found its way into more than a few major bands. The most well-known is Led Zeppelin, as Robert Plant was a hardcore high fantasy fan. From ‘The Battle of Evermore’ to ‘Ramble On’, you can see the influence of LOTR.

But it’s not just iconic bands like Led Zeppelin—or Rush, which released ‘Xanadu’ back in 1980. Back in the 1980s, Cirith Ungol made its (cult) name thanks to blending elements from the high fantasy series by Michael Moorcock and JRR Tolkien. The Sword is a modern group taking on this trend, having published their first studio album ‘Age of Winters’ back in 2006.

Pirates

Let’s move into some of rock’s strangest corners. Officially, pirate metal is a subset of heavy metal, which is itself a shoot-off of rock. And, as the genre suggests, the majority of lyrics include a reference to the age of piracy and the pirate life. Think: eye patches, violent lyrics that include sea monsters and treasure, plus plenty of partying.

While it might seem like a modern phenomenon, the first pirate metal album was released back in 1987 by Running Wild. At that point, the band had published three albums—and didn’t think they were inventing a new genre. Today, one of the biggest names in pirate metal is Scotland’s Alestorm.

The Middle Ages

Given most high fantasy worlds are set in the Middle Ages, it might not come as a surprise just how many rock songs delve deep into Europe’s medieval past. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, for example, mentions names like Galileo, Scaramouche (a stock character from medieval plays), and fandango (a Portuguese dance from the Middle Ages).

Bands like Jethro Tull took on the Middle Ages multiple times, from ‘Songs from the Wood’ to ‘Broadsword’. Deep Purple took things even further with its album ‘The Book of Taliesyn’, a reference to a Welsh manuscript that dates back to the 1300s and possibly covers the exploits of the famous wizard Merlin.