Lucy Gray’s version of “The Hanging Tree” has been released in preparation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and it sounds remarkably different to Katniss’ version in The Hunger Games. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is a prequel to The Hunger Games, set 64 years before as it focuses on the 10th Hunger Games. TBSOS focuses on Coriolanus Snow as a young mentor and his District 12 mentee Lucy Gray Baird. Snow and Lucy Gray fall in love throughout their mentorship, the Games, and Snow’s position in District 12 afterward, but his power-hungry nature battles with his love.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes introduces the Covey, Lucy Gray’s chosen family, and the songs they perform for the District stand the test of time, with some appearing in The Hunger Games. The Covey’s existence explains the origins of some of District 12’s stories and legends, with “The Hanging Tree” being key among them. Katniss sang “The Hanging Tree” multiple times in The Hunger Games movies, and it was recognized by many both within and outside District 12. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes revealed that Lucy Gray wrote “The Hanging Tree” and it has been passed down through District 12 generations since then.
Lucy Gray Wrote ‘The Hanging Tree’ To Be Performed
Despite being the same song that Lucy wrote, Lucy and Katniss’ versions of “The Hanging Tree” sound very different, which is because Lucy wrote it to be performed. Lucy wrote it for Snow, but she is a performer who intended to sing it onstage with the Covey in front of the audience of District 12. This is why Lucy’s original version of “The Hanging Tree” song has backing music, a folk tune, and Lucy singing in more of a performative style. Lucy’s version of “The Hanging Tree” is haunting, emphasized by the words and the context of the song, and she does not skip out words like Katniss does.
Still, the skipped words are most likely the product of the song being passed down and misheard throughout generations. Katniss knows “The Hanging Tree” less as a song to be performed and more as a folktale or nursery rhyme, something passed down and taught to children in District 12. This passing on of the song is the main reason for why it sounds so different when Katniss sings “The Hanging Tree” on a base level. But, Katniss is not a performer, and she sings “The Hanging Tree” to spur on a rebellion which is a major reason as to why it is so different in The Hunger Games.
‘The Hanging Tree’ Differences Emphasize How TBSOS Will Be Different To THG
The differences between Lucy and Katniss’ versions of “The Hanging Tree” are important, as they emphasize how different TBSOS is to The Hunger Games. The folk-version of “The Hanging Tree” reflects the era Lucy lives in and how much has changed in the time between Lucy and Katniss’ Hunger Games. Further exemplified by the song, there numerous strong comparisons and differences between Lucy and Katniss, with some even referring to her as the “Anti-Katniss.” Snow is definitely reminded of Lucy with Katniss’ rebellion mainly because he recognizes someone who could strip away his power, but in no way are the two girls the same.
Lucy’s reasons behind singing the song are very different to Katniss Everdeen’s. Lucy sang it for her lover, to perform, and as a message for escaping District 12. Katniss sang it as a fighter to spur on the rebellion, and her version of “The Hanging Tree” is much rawer to reflect this. The differences are apparent, but the bare bones of both versions of “The Hanging Tree” highlight the link with Snow. Reinventing “The Hanging Tree” in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes makes it an even more haunting song, as audiences will surely be reminded of what is to come in Snow and Panem’s future.
Key Release Dates
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Release Date:2023-11-17
