Icarus Song

The story of Icarus has inspired many books and shows and even video games. Most notably, it has inspired many songs, such as Icarus by Bastille and Icarus by The Staves, as well as Icarus by White Hinterland and Icarus Borne on Steel Wings by Kansas. Most of these songs use the fall of Icarus as a metaphor for being in a dangerous or less than ideal situation. One song states that “Icarus is flying towards an early grave” (Bastille), referring to a person who is having fun (i.e. drinking), but also putting themselves into a dangerous position that would likely get them killed. The other songs also use the fall of Icarus as a metaphor for what they feel their life is like at that moment or using it to describe someone else’s life. Another example of this is with another song in which the singer says “I have not seen the light for days” (The Staves). The light they talk about refers to the fact that they used to feel high up and free, but now they are feeling like they are in the dark, drowning, and …show more content…
Kid Icarus is the game that seems to have gotten the most inspiration from the myth, one instance in which the main character, Pit, says: “My wish would be to fly by myself!” (Kid Icarus: Uprising). The character was saying what he would wish for if he got the Wish Seed, an item that would grant any wish. Icarus had to fly with his father, Daedalus, in the myth, and, when he strayed away, he ended up flying too close to the sun, which melted the wax on his wings, which caused him to fall and drown. Pit was likely voicing what Icarus’ wish would be as well: to be able to fly freely and without aid. This is but a few things that were inspired by Icarus, the boy who flew too close to the