Songs

Various songs are mentioned in The Hunger Games trilogy.

"Rue's Lullaby"
"Rue's Lullaby" is a song sung by Katniss to Rue, who was on her deathbed after Marvel (the boy tribute from District 1) speared her in the stomach. For Katniss to sing was Rue's Iast 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.

''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, and 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 all away.''

''Here it's safe, and 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 Prim making necklaces of rope to go with it with Katniss. Fearful, Mrs. Everdeen yelled at Mr. Everdeen, who told Katniss to forget the song lyrics. This caused Katniss to run into the meadow under a tree crying, and of course remembered 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 was a dead man calling for his lover to come join him in death. Before her mom banned it, Katniss and Prim made rope necklaces like in the song. 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 she plays with the mockingjays. This song is mentioned many times throughout Mockingjay.

''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.''