Literary references in music?

Mastodon uses Moby Dick as reference and inspiration for their album Leviathan. The album is really good too.

The song "Layla" by Derek & the Dominoes was inspired by an Arabian love story ("Layla and Majnun") that Eric Clapton was very familiar with, as the story goes...

But what people often don't know is the song "I Am Yours", which is also from *Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs*, features direct quotes from that same poem, rather than being loosely based the way "Layla" is.

As well, the Genesis album "Selling England by the Pound" has many literary references and allusions.

Iron Maiden makes literary references in several of their songs,

The Police referenced the book Lolita (Don't Stand So Close To Me) and Scylla and Charybdis from the Greek myth (Wrapped Around Your Finger)

Alan Parsons made an album based on Poe's work...so did Lou Reed, actually

The Doors, their song The End references Oedipous Rex.

Rime of the Ancient Mariner- IRON Maiden!

Sting/The Police were pretty literate.

Example:

It's no use, he sees her,

He starts to shake and call,

Just like the old man in,

That book by Nabokov

- Don't Stand So Close To Me

Stephen King is a member of a band called "The Rock Bottom Remainders" that is made up entirely of writers.

Not sure if they're referencing the book or the film but Sonic Youth has a song called "Mildred Pierce". It's not exactly a very literary-like reference in any case... here are the lyrics, in their entirety...

Mildred Pierce

Mildred!!!!!!

Mildred Pierce!!!!!

Mildred Pierce!!!!!

Noooooooooooooooooooooooh!!!!!!!!!!

Mildred Pierce!!!!!

Mildred Pierce!!!!!

Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!? !!!!

Mildred Pierce!!!!!

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

:)

You're thinking about half of Led Zeppelin's discography.