Playlist for Tam Lin

The Playlist


#1 Black Or White- By Michael Jackson Picked by Evan
In this song Michael is talking about no matter where your from, no matter what your skin colour is that you should be treated the same as everyone else.  In the House of the Scorpion Tam Lin always treats Matt like a human even though he is a clone and everyone else treats him like an animal.  He always defends Matt and even teachs Matt how to survive in the wild.  In the end of the book all of his work with Matt pays off and Matt is able to escape from Opium.  He always treats Matt as an equal and with respect and that is what this song is about.  And I Told About Equality, And It's True, Either You're Wrong, Or You're Right is what MJ said and I think that Tam Lin would agree.


#2 Sacrifice by Elton John Picked by Evan
I picked this song because Tam Lin makes many sacrifices for Matt in this book.  For example he risks everything including his life to help Matt escape from the House. In this song Elton John says


Sensitivity builds a prison

In the final act

We lose direction
No stone unturned
No tears to damn you
When jealousy burn

and in the end he sacrifices him self by drinking the poisoned wine that El Patron gave to him even though he knows that he will die if he drinks it.  I think that he thought the way to redeem himself to the world was to help Matt. He even tells Daft Donald not to drink the wine and Daft Donald is the one that gives Matt the news that everyone is dead.  

#3- Don't look back in anger by Oasis  Curtis
I think Tam Lin would have this song on his playlist to remind him to forget about his past. Since Tam Lin was not very happy with himself after he killed all of the children he kept trying to forget about it and move on. Tam Lin also tells Matt how it was a mistake and he wishes he didn't do it.

#5 Akash OH MY PA-PA by Eddie Fisher 
This song is talking about a actual father and what he means to his son or daughter and Tam Lin is not Matt's actual father but fits the criteria. By this I mean, even though he isn't Matt's blood related father he acts like one he cares for him just like another character Celia. This song/poem describes what a father does and how he makes his kids feel.  


#6 Akash Man I used to be (K-OS)

When Matt meets Tam Lin it has been many years since he joined El Patron in Opium and he sees Matt as a younger version of El Patron or in other words the son he never had. He tries to steer Matt away from the evil of El Patron as a bit of redemption for himself for the 20 kids he killed. This is shown when Tam Lin says "It's like the old vulture was being given a second chance" (farmer 69). In the song K-os tries to get back to his roots. "Back into the man I used to be. I tried it, I couldn't fight it"

#7 Change by Blind Melon

This song follows Tam Lin’s life. It starts out with how his life was so bad and not worth living after he killed the 20 kids on the bus. 

I don't feel the suns comin' out today
its staying in, its gonna find another way.
As I sit here in this misery, I don't
think I'll ever see the sun from here.

This was like Tam Lins life after the accident but then like in the song his life slowly started to get better and he enjoyed life more when he was a bodyguard for El Patron. 

#8 Grant  Scotland the Brave (Bagpipes) – Scharmutzel

Tam Lin is a patriotic Scotsman. He is a Scottish nationalist. He wants to separate Scotland for the United Kingdom. Because of his past he wouldn’t ever be able return to his homeland. So this song helps him get through this fact. This song has represented Scotland and Scottish pride for years. This song is also a sad song and is played at Remembrance Day ceremonies. This also shows that Tam Lin is sad about having to leave Scotland

#9 Grant Space oddity – David Bowie

The main theme of this song is being lonely. Tam Lin is a lonely person. His body might be in opium but his heart is back in Scotland. After his mistake he hasn’t been able to return to his homeland of Scotland. Tam Lin had friends and family members back home in scotland because of simple mistake. He was one the run with no one to turn, no one rely on. Then he found El Patron.

#10 Grant The logical song  - Supertramp

Tam Lin is a very matter of fact and logical person. He doesn’t hide things from Matt nor does he sugarcoat things either. “I’ll tell you this much lad.” He hauled matt up by the front of his shirt. “You where grown in that poor cow for nine months and then you where cut out of her. You where harvested. She was sacrificed. Your step mother was turned into ruddy T-bone steaks.” Found on page 189. This song about being logical. Tam Lin would have this song to remind him to remain logical not matter the situation.