What songs pop into your head while watching Outlander? The Outlander Cast staff curated character-specific playlists. First up, Claire’s playlist.
Music has always been special to me. I keep a list of songs in my head that could easily be called the soundtrack of my life. Sometimes, when I hear a song, I can remember exactly where I was, who I was with, or what I was doing the first time I heard it. Music has in equal parts soothed and healed me and, in today’s world, it’s never more than an arm’s length away.
Given my history with music, it probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to know that since watching the first episode of Outlander, I began to develop my own personal soundtrack for the show. There were scenes that came even more alive for me when I thought of them overlaid with my favorite songs. Some of the themes explored in the show were tied so closely to my own favorite songs that it was difficult for me to avoid combining the imagery and the music in my head, resulting in my own personal Outlander/MTV mashup. I know I’m not alone on this one. Outlander Cast Editor-in-Chief Ashley Crawley beautifully captured her own thoughts about music and story lines in a thank-you to Toni Graphia and Matthew B. Roberts for their inclusion of a Bob Dylan song in “Of Lost Things.”
Last year I was hanging out with some of my Outlander Cast pals and I, half-jokingly, asked what kind of songs Frank’s playlist would include (you’ll have to wait to find out). From there, we tossed around lots of fun ideas and it became clear that Jamie, Claire, Frank and Black Jack Randall all deserved their own playlists. Since Outlander games are always more fun with a group, I asked the other Outlander Cast writers and staff if they would like to join me. Did they ever? These folks blew me away with their song choices and the words that accompanied them. I should note here that none of this is meant to take away from the genius of Bear McCreary‘s official Outlander soundtracks. His amazing music has assured that whenever I hear “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye” or “Faith” I will either smile or shed a tear. For me, that’s pretty close to magical.
This is the first of a three-part series devoted to the playlists that we created when we put our brains together. They are dedicated to our shared love of Outlander and its characters. Each song on this list conjured emotions within us or made us recall a specific moment in the show. We hope you enjoy reading about and listening to this music as much as we enjoyed creating the playlist for you. We created the playlists in both Amazon Music and Spotify and links are included below. You’ll be able to listen to the playlist in its entirety on Spotify. To hear more than previews on Amazon, you’ll need an account.
CLAIRE’S PLAYLIST
“Time After Time” by Cyndi Lauper
This reminds of me Claire in the first five episodes of Season 3. She is stuck in a time that no longer feels like hers with “suitcases of memories” from a different time and place that she shared with the man she loved. — Nikki
“All Through the Night” by Sleeping At Last
Yes, this is a Cyndi Lauper cover but can one really have too much Lauper in their world? That’s rhetorical. This Sleeping At Last cover is one of my favorites, and offers a more haunting and emotional beat to Claire’s sleepless nights longing for something she can’t have that works better here than Cyndi’s version for me. — Ashley
“Exes and Oh’s” by Elle King
Elle has no shortage of man troubles and neither does Claire. Their exes haunt them like ghosts. — Nikki
“Falling” by The Civil Wars
This song captures the feeling of Claire’s entire post-return from the stones relationship with Frank. She’s falling out of love and she feels like she’s drifting and drowning and he believes all the while that it’s just a phase she’s going through. — Nikki
“Don’t Wanna Fight” by Alabama Shakes
This song was in my head in all of the Season 3 episodes that featured Frank and Claire. Every conversation seemed to turn into an argument until there “was nothing left worth winning.” It’s about the struggle to keep a relationship together and all the second-guessing that makes you question if it’s worth the fight. — Nikki
“Strong Enough” by Sheryl Crowe
I really don’t know if this is meant for Jamie or Frank, but maybe Claire is asking them both. Regardless, I think we all know which man was strong enough for Claire. — Nikki
“In My Life” by Diana Krall
Yes, I know it’s a Beatles song but I love the mood in this version and that it’s in a woman’s voice. In Claire’s recollections of her time with Jamie, I can almost hear her say, “but of all these friends and lovers there is no one who compares with you.” — Nikki
“Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift
I can’t see the scene with Claire smacking Laoghaire in Season 1 without thinking of this song. I thought of it again when watching “First Wife” and seeing all the grief that Jenny gave to Claire while Claire was powerless to defend herself. — Nikki
“I Will Follow You Into the Dark” by Death Cab for Cutie
Claire followed Jamie into the darkness in Season 1 while he was recovering in the abbey, and she was prepared to follow him to the battlefield and death in Season 2. — Nikki
“Just a Little Lovin’” by Shelby Lynne
The opening scene of “By the Pricking of My Thumbs” shows Jamie “attending” Claire while Murtagh bangs on the bedroom door. Who doesn’t need “just a little lovin’ early in the mornin’?” — Nikki
“Send My Love (To Your New Lover)” by Adele
This is my ode to Candy Sandy and that’s all I have to say about that. — Nikki
“Chasing Cars” by Snow Patrol
“If I lay here…if I just lay here…would you lie with me and just forget the world.” Yes, Jamie, I would. Thank you very much! — Karen
Note: if you are interested in seven degrees of Outlander separation, we would like to point out that Laura Donnelly (Jenny) dated Snow Patrol bassist Nathan Connolly for several years.
“Unlike Any Other” by Delta Rae
I thought of this song when Claire was wondering whether or not she could or even should return to Jamie. It’s about the idea of wanting to return, but not knowing if it will work tangled up with the realization that no one else can fill the empty space in your heart. There is also this beautiful line, “I can’t believe that I got this close again, now I’m afraid to move, you might really see me,” that takes me back to the Print Shop and those beautiful moments when Claire is staring down at Jamie but he hasn’t yet seen her. — Nikki
“Grounds for Divorce” by Elbow
Claire first wants a divorce, and then Frank wants one. Everyone wants it, but no one moves. Then there’s the moment with Jamie on the cliff where we feel like Jamie and Claire might go their separate ways. — Holly
“Feels like Home” by Chantal Kreviazuk
The chorus of the song is enough of a reason, knowing how long Claire has searched for a “place” to call home. The two of them just simply being together is home, no matter where they are or what they face. The whole song stands out to me, but these lyrics especially: “If you knew how lonely my life has been and how long I’ve been so alone. If you knew how I wanted someone to come along and change my life the way you’ve done.” — Ashley
“Arms” by Christina Perri
This song makes me want to bundle Jamie and Claire up tight and put them in my pocket for safe keeping. The lyrics also talk about home— “you put your arms around me and I’m home”—and I just don’t think we can stress that enough where Jamie and Claire are concerned. — Ashley
“Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac
“I’ll follow you anywhere, any time. Meet you everywhere, in every time.” This is my interpretation of Claire’s unspoken promise to Jamie. Plus, try not to bob your head and belt it out as Lindsey and Stevie kick in with their magic: “Can you hear me calling out your name? You know that I’m falling and I don’t know what to say. Oh I want to be with you everywhere.” — Ashley
“Refugee” by Tom Petty
Because I had to find a way to work the late great Tom Petty into this mix, and I can’t help but imagine this scoring the entire time spent at the abbey when Claire is fighting to break through to Jamie and convince him that she’ll take him—broken or whole—and he doesn’t have to live in the darkness alone. — Ashley
“Fix You” by Coldplay
If Tom Petty isn’t your style, this would be a good alternative to think about during Jamie and Claire’s time at the abbey. — Ashley
“Wildflowers” by Tom Petty
Okay I lied, here he is again. When Claire’s trapped eyes stare longingly out her Boston window, jealous of an uncaged bird, I can’t help but picture her hearing Jamie’s voice (or even her own) urging her to be someplace she can feel free. — Ashley
“After All” by Peter Cetera and Cher
If you don’t belt this out like no one’s watching and no one cares, then you’re dead to me. Plus, the raspy harmonic sounds of CHER. Oh, and the lyrics and intent of this song are spot-on: “After all the stops and starts, we keep comin’ back to these two hearts, two angels who’ve been rescued from the fall. After all that we’ve been through, it all comes down to me and you. I guess it’s meant to be, forever you and me, after all.” — Ashley
“One Way or Another” by Blondie
This to me is Claire’s theme pre-reunion. Her answer to Jamie’s “I will find you.” They should have used this instead of the bat theme. Besides, Blondie is a Caitriona favourite. She would approve. — Holly
“Afterglow” by Chvrches
This Glasgow band’s song encapsulates the devastation (lyrics and music) on both sides in the moments and years after Claire and Jamie’s separation. “All of the empty thoughts, all of the outlines, are laid out before us now to leave a trace. All of your words and mine they keep returning. I’ll find my own way back to the silence.” — Holly
“Something Just Like This” by The Chainsmokers with Coldplay
This is basically the Jamie and Claire Relationship, and who doesn’t want that? The lyrics also contain references to superheroes, including Batman! It also speaks to taking risks and acknowledging that people and relationships are not perfect. “But she said, where’d you wanna go? How much you wanna risk? I’m not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts, some superhero, some fairy tale bliss just something I can turn to…somebody I can kiss. I want something just like this.” — Anne
“Fly by Night” by Rush
This is Claire all the way and her decision to leave Boston for Scotland.
“Why try, I know why, this feeling inside me says it’s time I was gone. Clear head, new life ahead, it’s time I was king now not just one more pawn. Fly by night, away from here. Change my life again. Fly by night goodbye my dear. My ship isn’t coming and I just can’t pretend.” — Blake
“The Only Thing Worth Fighting For” by Lera Lynn
This is Claire talking to Frank in Boston and the embodiment of their fractured relationship. “Waking up is harder than it seems, wandering through these empty rooms of dusty books and quiet dreams. Pictures on a mantel speak your name, softly like forgotten tunes just outside the sound of pain.” — Blake
“The Battle of Who Could Care Less” by Ben Folds Five
This one is for Claire about her relationship woes with Frank. He’s just some lame guy that would love The Rockford Files. — Blake
“Why Don’t We Do it In The Road” by The Beatles
Claire and Jamie—need I say more? — Blake
“Grown So Ugly” by The Black Keys
This song is for all the Frank haters and Claire supporters. The lyrics describe how a wife doesn’t recognize her husband anymore. — Blake
“Twentieth Century Fox” by The Doors
This is all Claire, and the title says it all. — Blake
“Better” by Maggie Rose
“I just want to feel good, feel alright. Feel anything but what I feel tonight. I just want to move on with my life, put the pieces back together. I just want to feel better.” This is Claire searching for her missing heart in Frank purgatory. — Bobbi
“Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash
This is for Claire, but it works for Frank too. It’s about the whole debate about whether each of them should stay with each other. And then Claire about whether she should stay with Jamie—which of course we all know the answer to. — Janet
“You’re Still the One” by Orleans
Because Jamie and Claire will always be the one for each other. — Janet
“Help!” by The Beatles
For all the adventures and misadventures Jamie and Claire need help for. — Janet
“You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” by The Beatles
For when Claire had to do just that during all those years with Frank. — Janet
“I Touch Myself” by The Divinyls
That scene where Claire just can’t get Jamie out of her head—20 years is a long time! — Mary
“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell
There’s nothing that can keep these two apart—not BJR, the Ocean, or Time! — Mary
“A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton
“I wonder if I could fall into the sky do you think time would pass me by?” — Mary
“Keep Me In Your Heart” by Warren Zevon
Jamie and Claire held each other in their hearts and dreams. — Karen
“Mutineer” by Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires Isbell
This is a Warren Zevon cover and one of my all-time favorite songs. I couldn’t help but think about these lyrics when Jamie and Claire were aboard the Artemis and all of the adventure that followed. It also speaks to the alliance that Jamie and Claire have formed. Whatever this is, they are in it together. “Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum hoist the mainsail here I come. Ain’t no room on board for the insincere. You’re my witness. I’m your mutineer.” — Nikki
What do you think of our choices, and what songs would you add to Claire’s playlist?
28 Comments
Leave your reply.