Rue’s lullaby takes on a special significance within the context of the trilogy as it promises a better tomorrow. The song allows Rue, Katniss’ friend and ally, in the arena to welcome death with hopeful arms. ‘Deep in the Meadow’ also provides hope for a better future for the people in the districts.
Lyrics of ‘Deep in the Meadow’
Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes
And when again they open, the sun will rise.
Here it’s safe, here it’s warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it’s morning, they’ll wash away.
Here it’s safe, here it’s warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
‘The Hunger Games’
Significance of ‘Rue’s Lullaby’
‘Deep in the Meadow’ is a simple lullaby that is sung by parents to their hungry babies to put them to sleep. Katniss mentions that the song is very old and that it was made up long ago in the hills.
It is a soothing lullaby, one that captures a mother’s gentle intention to protect her children from harm. It wishes to shield the listener from the cruel realities of the world they live in. It offers a sweet escape for a few minutes from the suffering and adversity that is otherwise constant in the lives of the children of the district.
The song, popularly called ‘Rue’s lullaby,’ revolves around a beautiful meadow, which offers a place of calm refuge to fretful children. The meadow is filled with warmth, serenity, and much-needed solace that allows the child to go to sleep peacefully.
“The song that comes to me is a simple lullaby, one we sing fretful, hungry babies to sleep with. It’s old, very old I think. Made up long ago in our hills. What my music teacher calls a mountain air. But the words are easy and soothing, promising tomorrow will be more hopeful than this awful piece of time we call today.”
‘The Hunger Games’
Rue’s Lullaby in the 74th Hunger Games
‘Deep in the Meadow’ is sung by Katniss during Rue’s death. In the Gary Ross-directed movie, Jennifer Lawrence sings to the young actress, Amandla Sternberg, in a particularly poignant moment. Musician Danny Elfman is the composer of the song for the movie. The core fanbase of the franchise film has praised Lawrence’s singing voice in this scene.
After Katniss and Rue have blown up the supplies of the Career Pack at the Cornucopia, Katniss goes to look for Rue in their designated meeting place. However, her young friend has been caught in a net and killed by the District 1 male, Marvel. Katniss understands that it is too late to save Rue. Rue requests her to sing a song. The only song that comes to mind is a simple lullaby called ‘Deep in the Meadow.’
The song is supposed to put the listener to sleep and here, it puts Rue to sleep forever. Katniss is barely able to sing the song without getting choked up but she tries her best as this is Rue’s final request.
Rue’s lullaby is broadcast to the rest of the nation, and everyone in the districts acknowledges the kindness that Katniss has shown room by singing such a beautiful song to her in her dying moments. The song moves people not only because of the circumstances in which it has been sung but also because of its enchanting meaning.
Rue’s lullaby allows the singer to provide the listener with inner strength during periods of turmoil. It also offers the listener the hope of a better tomorrow. As a result, the song is extremely significant in ‘The Hunger Games’ as it unwittingly sparks hope of a better future within the rebels when they hear Katniss sing the song to Rue.
Further, Katniss’ act of singing the song to a tribute from another district demonstrates the unity between the divided districts. This is crucial to the rebellion it illustrates to the districts that they can stand side by side with one another facing the Capitol. Further, this act of Katniss also brings forth a gift of a loaf of bread from District 11. This makes Hunger Games history as this is the first time a tribute has ever received a gift from another district.
Katniss ponders over the song 20 years after the end of the rebellion. She sings the song to her children often and her children take the words of Rue’s lullaby for granted. They do not realize that the song was once a far-fetched dream for their parents. Katniss’ children enjoy all sorts of liberties while being unaware of her nightmares.
Origin of ‘Deep in the Meadow’
The person who wrote the song, ‘Deep in the Meadow’ is unknown. The song has been around for decades as Lucy Gray Baird sings it to Maude Ivory in ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.’ This is a song that both of them are familiar with as Lucy Gray has sung it to Maude Ivory before when she was recovering from croup.
Coriolanus Snow hears the song and finds it soothing at first. However, the Mockingjay around the meadow soon pick up the song and begin to sing it themselves. As Coriolanus is uncomfortable with the Mockingjays, he begins to feel disturbed by the repetition of the song. Coriolanus’ discomfort becomes more significant later in his life when Katniss sings the song to her ally in the arena and the rebels take hope from the song.
Rue’s lullaby is taught to Katniss by her music teacher at school. The teacher calls it “a mountain air.” Katniss sing a lot in her childhood especially with her father. Mr Everdeen loved music and taught Katniss how to sing. However, Katniss avoids music and singing, especially the songs that were taught by her father, after her father’s death. This is because it brings too many painful memories to her mind. ‘Deep in the Meadow’ is the only song that she allowed herself to sing to her younger sister, Primrose Everdeen, whenever she was ill.
‘Deep in the Meadow’ in The Hunger Games film
The melody for the song ‘Deep in the Meadow’ was written and sung by Sting and released when ‘The Hunger Games’ film hit theaters in 2012. The song was released as a bonus track to the album, ‘The Hunger Games: Songs from District 12 and Beyond.‘ It was released on March 27th and is available for download with the purchase of the soundtrack.
FAQs
What song does Katniss sing to Rue before she passes away?
Katniss sings a simple lullaby to Rue, called ‘Deep in the Meadow.’ In the script, the song is an old song taught to Katniss by her music teacher. It is the first song that springs to her mind when Rue asks Katniss to sing her song as a final request. Rue loved music and wished to exit the world while hearing a song.
What does the meadow symbolize in Rue’s Lullaby?
The meadow in Rue’s lullaby symbolizes a place of peace and harmony. In the meadow, all is right with the world, because this is where the children of suffering can escape to experience a moment of happiness with nature and their mother’s love. The meadow also symbolizes a place to rest and recover from the struggles of life.
What song did Katniss sing to Prim?
Katniss sings the song, ‘Deep in the Meadow’ to her younger sister, Prim, whenever she is ill. This is the same song that Katniss sings to Rue, her ally in the arena, in her dying moment, and the same song that Katniss sings to her children in the meadow years later. The significance of the song changes in each of these instances and the lullaby provides a different kind of hope to Prim, Rue, and later, Katniss’ children.
