great expectations (1998)

Great Expectations, one of the most popular novels of Charles Dickens, first appeared in All Year Round as a series from December 1860 to August 1861. It has been adapted several times over for stage and screen since then. In 1998, a film directed by Alfonso Cuaron starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Ethan Hawke, proved once again the immense popularity and timelessness of the novel.

It is, however, the soundtrack of this 1998 film which has left its indelible mark on my memory bank – the strength and poetry of the lyrics of the tracks and the friend I had who I sang these songs with while downing immeasurable vodka tonics, talking about men, quoting Christina Rossetti, reading favourite passages from books we loved and hated in equal measure, discussing films which left us breathless, she introducing me to Sting, me haranguing her with Van Gogh, and both of us with great expectations of the future ahead of us.

Artist: The Verve Pipe

Song: Her Ornament

I never really meant to volunteer

I felt the urge to stretch

After a yawn and incidentally raised my hand

I just want to be her special

Someone who will never pioneer

I prefer to watch the mud break off her heels

And turn into cement

I just want to be her ornament

Her shadow seems much cooler

Camouflage myself and plan a special entrance

I just want to be her situation pending expectation

I just want to be her ornament

I never really meant to volunteer

I felt the urge to stretch

After a yawn and accidentally lost my head

I just want to be her exploitation and abbreviation

I just want to be her ornament

Artist: Fisher

Song: Breakable

Do you always have to tell him everything

On your mind?

You know that too much honesty can be

So unkind

And every time you throw him to the floor

Why are you surprised to see he's breakable?

You always try to find what's holding him

Away from you

But do you ever see your anger standing there

Right between you?

And every time you throw him to the wall

Why are you surprised to see he's breakable?

Tell the world that he's breaking your heart

Go tell the world nothing's ever your fault

Go tell them all

And every time you throw him to the floor

Why are you surprised to see he's breakable?

And every time you push him to the wall

Why are you surprised to see he's breakable?


Artist: Pulp

Song: Like a Friend

Don't bother saying you're sorry

Why don't you come in

Smoke all my cigarettes again

Every time I get no further

How long has it been?

Come on in now, wipe your feet on my dreams

You take up my time

Like some cheap magazine

When I could have been learning something

Oh well, you know what I mean, oh

I've done this before

And I will do it again

Come on and kill me baby

While you smile like a friend

Oh and I'll come running

Just to do it again

You are the last drink

I never should have drunk

You are the body hidden in the trunk

You are the habit I can't seem to kick

You are my secrets on the front page every week

You are the car I never should have bought

You are the dream I never should have caught

You are the cut that makes me hide my face

You are the party that makes me feel my age

Like a car crash I can see but I just can't avoid

Like a plane I've been told I never should board

Like a film that's so bad but I've got to stay till the end

Let me tell you now: it's lucky for you that we're friends.


Artist: David Garza

Song: Slave

black orange white and reddresses

hanging off your bed

from now until you reach your grave

baby I will be your slave

ask for your hand to hold

you know I could never be so bold

I could never be so brave

baby I will be your slave

lying words like overflow

they'll rule your heart -

before you know

they'll cover you - from head to toe

they'll never mean a word they say

they just go

I'll bring your mother back to life

I'll bring your father back his sight

back float in a tidal wave

baby I will be your slave

I had a dream of bleeding skies

crippled legs and static eyes

open land and quiet cave

baby I will be your slave

I love you, don't you trust me?

Do you love me, like I love you?

I'm broken, lost in misery

but you don't have to worry about me

I have no more soul to save


Artist: Lauren Christy

Song: Walk This Earth Alone

You're in the doors that keep revolving

The sirens that keep screaming

You're in the flashing of the headlights

The things that I'm believing

You're in the water that I'm drinking

The sound of 911

The walls that protect me

From the damage that you've done

In this world you are with me

But I walk this earth alone

But all I've ever known

Is you are right beside me

If I love you for a day

You'll blow my life away

Could I leave you behind me

You're in the crashing of the windows

The angels 'round the ceiling

You're in the fire in my belly

The fucked up way I'm feeling

You're in the warning on the label

The pills that disappear

The whines as I'm talking

The words you'll never hear

In this world you are with me

But I walk this earth alone

But all I've ever known

Is you are right beside me

If I love you for a day

You'll blow my life away

Could I leave you behind me

Could I leave you behind me...


Artist: Reef

Song: Resignation

How will I wake tomorrow?

Can Laughter come from sorrow?

Well I've been waiting,

For a feeling, and I've waited a long time

Well I've been around the world

And I ain't seen none like you

However can I follow?

All the words that you borrow

Well I've been waiting

For a feeling,And I've waited a long time

Well I've been around the world

And I ain't seen none like you

Well I was over you

Before you told me

I was the first to feel this way

Before you chuck me out

I was the first to doubt you

I was the first to feel this way

Well I've been around the world

And I ain't seen nothing like you


Artist: Poe

Song: Today

Standing in the doorway

Of my life in this house

Trying to find a way to get out

Looking for a sign

That I should open the door

This craziness is getting me down

But today is the dayWe break free

Walking down the stairway

To the traffic below

Anything could happen

I know

But I'm sick of everybody

Telling me what to doI hear you

Hey but I already know

And today is the day

We break free

It's clear in my mind

After all of this time

What I feel my love

There are so many times

That the sun doesn't shine

But I'm here my love

And today is the day

Maybe I should wait

Just a minute or two

It's getting cold now

I feel so insecure

The future is a mistress

That is so hard to please

And the past

Is a pebble in my shoe.