Songs

Various songs are mentioned in The Hunger Games trilogy.

"Rue's Lullaby"
thumb|300px|right|"Rue's Lullaby". Please note that this is a fan-made adaptation, not an official version. "Rue's Lullaby" is a song sung by Katniss to Rue, who was on her deathbed after Marvel speared her. For Katniss to sing was Rue's last request. Upon hearing this, Katniss did not know what to sing. She remembered a lullaby, that she would sing to Prim when Prim was ill. The words are easy, soothing, and calming. It can be found in The Hunger Games and at the end of Mockingjay. It is also used in the unofficial short film, Hunger Games: Katniss & Rue.

Lyrics
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 Hanging Tree"
This song was taught to Katniss Everdeen by her father, Mr. Everdeen, when she was young. Her mother, Mrs. Everdeen heard her singing the song and watched Katniss's little sister making necklaces of rope to go with it. Fearful, Mrs. Everdeen yelled at Mr. Everdeen and told Katniss to forget the song lyrics. This caused Katniss to run into the meadow under a tree crying, and of course remembering every word of the song. After Mr. Everdeen's death the song played itself over and over in Katniss's head.

When she was younger she didn't know what it meant, but eventually she understood that the person singing the song is a dead man, calling for his lover to come join him in death. It meant that a life of torture must have not been worth living. At one point in revelation, Katniss really understands what this means, because she knows that being tortured by the Capitol is a much worse fate than death. Katniss sings this to Pollux after he plays with the mockingjays. This song is mentioned many times throughout Mockingjay.thumb|right|300px|"The Hanging Tree". Please note that this is a fan-made adaptation, not an official version.

Lyrics
Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Where they strung up a man they say murdered three.

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Where the dead man called out for his love to flee.

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Where I told you to run, so we’d both be free.

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

Are you, are you

Coming to the tree

Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me.

Strange things did happen here

No stranger would it be

If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.

The Weeping Call
There is a song that is old, rather sad song, most likely from District 11. It is called "The Weeping Call." It is about a man who works in the orchards, who happens to love a woman who does as well. He watches out for her every day, but one day she doesn't come. He is horrified to find that she hung herself from a tree in the orchard, and from then on, the man is sullen that his true love is dead. This song was not in any of the books, it was purely based on them.

Lyrics
"As I worked in the fields, not too far away. From my small, shanty home. I remembered the day, when the mockingjays sang the once old weeping call."

"They remember the trackers, and the stings that were plump. And the birds that flew in the trees. But do not forget natures sweet honey makers, called the bumblebees."

"I saw a woman, who worked in the orchard, who jumped from tree to tree. A dark haired beauty, nimble and quick was she. I loved her more than life itself, and offered if she ever needed my help."

"After we became friends, and our eyes first met, I knew she was my very own. I waited for her that night, to come to the orchard. This place was like her home."

"I walked through to find her, and to my horror..... there was nothing I saw. But a fine, fair maiden, hanging from a tree, I sang my own weeping call."

"All those horrible nights, I spent, not leaving her alone. Even though her spirit was gone, to me her heart was my own."

"Everyone mourned her, but mostly me. Her silhouette haunted my few memories. The first day I saw her in the orchard, all those hours we spent. After I found a letter, her own little note, it was that to me she lent."

"My love, you are my life. I wish very dear to be your wife. But alas, I must leave you. I love you more than life itself. You, like me, are nimble and quick. But to this world, I no longer, can offer my life to stick."

"She, my love, had left this world. My life now has no meaning. I've even sometimes thought about my own Earth's leaving."

"As I worked in the fields, not too far away, from my small, now sullen home. I remembered the day, when me and the mockingjays sang, the once old weeping call."