Thomas Paine was an historical figure from the enlightenment era. While Rip Van Winkle was a fictional character written in a romantic setting. Both are pretty different from each other and I think their music choices, if they had the opportunity to own iPods, will suggest that.     

     To begin, I want to connect the Queen song, “I Want to Break Free” with the beliefs of Thomas Paine. In this song, Freddie Mercury is proclaiming freedom. He wants to break free. Mercury seems to be singing about a bitter relationship he has had and sings, “I want to break free from your lies. You're so self-satisfied I don't need you” (Queen). This is the same manner that Thomas Paine wants to break free from the tyranny of the British monarchy and hierarchical society; a very bitter relationship indeed. Paine writes about the great injustice system of the British monarchy. He doesn't agree with the idea that Kings or any person for that matter is above another human. We should all be equal. In terms of crimes, Paine writes in , “whether he who does it is a king or a common man . . . neither can any just cause be assigned why we should punish in the one case and pardon in the other” (Paine 177). He doesn't agree with this and wants to break free from it. Ryan Widuch responds to Paine's ideas of this tyrannical British monarchy be saying Americans need to move “past the barbaric and oppressive ways of the Old World” (Widuch, “Paine - RW”). I agree with Ryan. With the help from Paine, Americans need to remove themselves from “Old World” Britain. You may even suggest that the British monarchy is “self-satisfied” (Queen) and Paine doesn't need it!

     This Queen song also has the lyric, “God knows I want to break free” (Queen). Paine's belief in God correlates with this statement; in fact, it might be the very reason he wants to break free. Paine was a Deist and believed that, “Human beings are free agents whose minds work as they choose” (Creel). Paine believed in freedom of the mind and the freedom for a person themselves and God knows it. The very idea of Deism promotes thought and free ideas. This is the God that Paine believes in. Paine also writes, “for so unlimited a power can belong only to God” (Paine 170) when referring to being “bound” in all aspects of life. He calls this idea “slavery” (Paine 170). He wants to break free from this imprisonment.

     The second song I think Thomas Paine would listen to is “What's So Funny 'Bout Peace Love and Understanding” by Elvis Costello. The title itself is a great start. What is so funny about peace, love and understanding? Is it funny at all? Why? Well, it seems that it is “funny” because those things are not universally accepted. Not everyone has the opportunity to think freely or achieve a sense of togetherness and be peaceful. While I do think that it may not be completely achieved in all humans, I do think the case should still be presented. Paine supports this idea. He wants peace and calls for it. He writes, “secure us the peace and friendship of all Europe” (Paine 88). He seems to care about his fellow Europeans. That looks like love to me.

     Costello also sings, “Is all hope lost?” (Costello) in this song. Definitely not. A single phrase was written by Paine that crushes the thought of hope being lost. He writes, “in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive” (Paine 176). Really? This is pretty extreme and yet profound. Paine suggests that even when it's cold and dark. Nothing seems to be left. Everything around you is dead. But even in this decayed environment there is still hope. Hope is definitely not lost.

     Two songs really resound when thinking about Rip Van Winkle. I think he would have two Bob Dylan songs on his iPod. The first being “Series of Dreams.” I think Rip would have this song on his iPod because he was a romantic character. He didn't care too much about how things worked. He didn't really even care if things got done. He sort of went with the flow and enjoyed his time. He definitely loved to take in his surroundings and appreciate them for what they were. I don't think he felt the need to question it. For instance, Van Winkle, “would sit on a wet rock . . . and fish all day without a murmur” (Irving). Even sitting on a wet rock didn't phase Van Winkle. He was so content with being surrounded by nature that lounging in wet clothes didn't worry him. Bob Dylan sings, “Wasn't thinking of anything specific” (Dylan) which is exactly what Rip likes to do. I wouldn't say Rip was thoughtless, but he was absentminded. His mind was elsewhere. Within that, he wasn't this methodical, scientific person. This is why he is a romantic character. He based his life more on what he felt and sensed rather than processing everything with logic.

     And the song continues with more lyrics like, “Nothing too very scientific, Just thinking of a series of dreams” (Dylan). It seems that Rip went through life in just “a series of dreams” (Dylan). And most agreeably he missed out on a chunk of his life because of dreaming. I think you could even say that his absentmindedness itself was a “series of dreams” (Dylan). Going back to romanticism, Dylan sings, “Nothing too very scientific” (Dylan). All of these ideas of dreaming, feeling and not being logical are romantic ideas. They are not scientific and quite a bit different than how Paine thought.

     And then we have “The Man in Me” by Bob Dylan. I think Rip might be listening to this song because of two possible outcomes. The “man” in Van Winkle is either the one that helps everyone or the “man” is actually the one that hides himself and runs off into the woods. The lyric, “the man in me will do, nearly any task” (Dylan), could be the epitome of who Van Winkle was. Washington Irving writes, “He would never refuse to assist a neighbor even in the roughest toil” (Irving). Any task that was asked of Rip, he would most agreeably oblige. Unless of course the task was presented by his wife. This is where the other “man” in Van Winkle could lie.

     Dylan sings, “The man in me will hide sometimes to keep from being seen” (Dylan). Rip would often excuse himself from his own duties of keeping up with his farm or even remove himself from his familial duties. Irving writes, “to escape from the labor of the farm and clamor of his wife, was to take gun in hand and stroll away into the woods” (Irving). He found solace there because he was hidden. Hidden from his fellow townsfolk, hidden from his duties and hidden from his family. Adam Wick agrees with this description by saying, “Rip’s solo adventure in to the forest represents escapism; his journey allows him to pack up and leave his old life behind” (Wick, “Rip”). Rip is escaping to “keep from being seen” (Dylan).

     May I also add that I think about Bob Dylan himself as being a slight version of Rip Van Winkle. I mean that Dylan isn't in the media much and seems to keep to himself. And whenever he finally resurfaces, he looks 20 years older than the last time I saw him. Even if it had only been a few years. He seemingly ages like Van Winkle. I think Dylan's old, wrinkly appearance is less to do with sleeping though, and more to do with smoking countless cigarettes day in and day out. Oh well, I still love the man!

     Thomas Paine and Rip Van Winkle are really unlike each other. Thomas Paine was an enlightenment thinker. He used reason and thought to come to conclusions. Rip Van Winkle on the other hand was a romantic character who lived life by experiencing and going with the flow. He didn't like duties very much and took solace in nature. I wonder what sort of feelings each would get if they had the opportunity to exchange iPods and have a listen to the others songs. I think they would ultimately enjoy themselves. You know, a good change of pace.