Juxtaposition: Holden and The Quiet Things that No One Ever Knows

Brand News song, The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows, connects to Holdens
sense of alienation, his emotional repression and his loneliness. The songs title suggests
that this song is about feelings that are kept internally: The Quiet Things That No One Ever
Knows can allude to all of the emotions that people process internally, instead of
expressing externally. Holden demonstrates several moments where he represses emotions
as well.

For example, in chapter 7, Holden reveals his limited expression with his only

friend Ackley: I never discussed my personal life with him (47). This quotation is one of
many to suggest that Holden is very personal about his emotions.

These repressed

emotions are also alluded to in Holdens discussion with Mr. Spencer; in chapter 3, Holden
refuses to tell Mr. Spencer about the real reason he is failing at school.

The audience

witnesses the contrast between Holdens thoughts and his words. This parallels with Brand
News lyrics: todays the day we drop out. The idea of escaping from responsibility and
society appears in both texts. Holden escapes Pencey Prep to enter the adult world, where,
just like in the song, he [gives up] his body and bed / all for an empty hotel. Holden too
finds himself in an empty hotel after his failure to follow through with his plans involving

Sunny the prostitute. In conclusion, we can see the many similarities between The Catcher
in the Rye and The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows through juxtaposing both texts;
these similarities suggest that despite the fact that these emotions are kept quiet, they are
actually common emotions amongst many people.

"The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows"

We saw the western coast
I saw the hospital
Nursed the shoreline like a wound
Reports of lover's tryst
Were neither clear nor descript
We kept it safe and slow
The quiet things that no one ever knows
[Chorus: x2]
So keep the blood in your head
And keep your feet on the ground
If today's the day it gets tired
Today's the day we drop out
Gave up my body and bed
All for an empty hotel
Wasting words on lower cases and capitals
I contemplate the day we wed
Your friends are boring me to death
Your veil is ruined in the rain
By then it's you I can do without
There's nothing new to talk about
And though our kids are blessed
Their parents let them shoulder all the blame
[Chorus: x2]
So keep the blood in your head
And keep your feet on the ground
If today's the day it gets tired
Today's the day we drop out
Gave up my body and bed
All for an empty hotel
Wasting words on lower cases and capitals
[Bridge: x2]
I lie for only you
And I lie well...
Hallelu...
[Chorus: x2 (words from bridge continued in the background)]
So keep the blood in your head
And keep your feet on the ground
Today's the day it gets tired
Today's the day we drop out
Gave up my body and bed

All for an empty hotel

Wasting words on lower cases and capitals

Citation:
"The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows." A-Z Lyrics, 9 Nov.
2016,http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/brandnew/thequietthingsthatnooneeverknows
.html.