Below is the lyrics to Peter Gabriel's "No Way Out" song from his album "Up". The song applies perfectly to the turmoil Hazel Grace and Augustus face.
Saw a group of people forming Round a figure lying down And someone runs to make a phone call And the man kneels on the ground The man kneels on the ground There's a tightening in my chest I know that I'm drawn in Oh God let it not be you Don't leave us Don't leave like this Don't leave me here again I'm not quitting on you No one else You're not quitting on us No running out The colour in your shirt is darkening, Against the paleness of your skin I remember how you held the goldfish Swimming around in a plastic bag Swimming around in a plastic bag You held it up so high In the bright lights of the fair It slipped and fell We looked everywhere Don't leave us (your eyes are bright, your blood is warm) Don't leave like this (your heart is strong, you're holding on) Don't leave me here again (I feel your pulse, I hold your hand) I'm not quitting on you There's no one else You're not quitting on us There's no way out No way out Don't leave us Don't leave like this Don't leave me here again (I feel your pulse, I hold your hand) I'm not quitting on you There's no one else You're not quitting on us No running away no way out | Applications to TFIOS These lyrics represent how Hazel feels while finding out about Gus's relapse. This chorus can be seen as Hazel Grace's plea for Augustus to survive and to stay alive. These lyrics represent Hazel begging for Gus to stay alive. This shows Hazel staying by Gus's side through it all. Hazel never walks away from the pressures of Gus's sickness. Running away from the reality was never an option. | Analysis This song clearly illustrates how Hazel feels while dealing with the approaching death of Augustus. She is never willing to give up on him. Hazel Grace is always by his side with whatever he needs. For Gus and Hazel, there is never an option to run away and to escape the ultimate fate they each face. This song captures the endurance Hazel has while dealing with the sickness and death of her star-crossed love of her life. The other two songs at the bottom of the page, "Don't Give Up" and "In Your Eyes", both capture the enduring the themes of perseverance and love. "Don't Give Up" represents Augustus's promise to Hazel to continue to fight throughout the difficult times ahead. The lyrics sung by Kate Bush can be applied to Hazel as she talks to Augustus saying, "Don't give up.../ It's going to be alright/ When times get rough/ You can fall back on us". The second song, "In Your Eyes", represents the strong love Hazel and Gus have for one another. They both find comfort in one another's eyes in times of exhaustion and heartbreak. |
Other Peter Gabriel songs that also apply to TFIOS are listed below with their links.