The Shawshank Redemption Soundtrack
December 28, 2025
Andy Dufresne: That's the beauty of music. They can't get that from you... Haven't you ever felt that way about music?
Red: I played a mean harmonica as a younger man. Lost interest in it though. Didn't make much sense in here.
Andy Dufresne: Here's where it makes the most sense. You need it so you don't forget.
Red: Forget?
Andy Dufresne: Forget that... there are places in this world that aren't made out of stone. That there's something inside... that they can't get to, that they can't touch. That's yours.
Red: What're you talking about?
Andy Dufresne: Hope.
I haven’t blogged in public like this for many years. I suppose this is a slight oddity for me to make a small come back? So here is my first entry…I hope you enjoy this raw moment as I’m not the brightest or most colorful and fun crayon in the set of 64 (sharpener included).
I’m quite nervous but wanted to start this blog as a means to share music in which I find lost or forgotten in time. Or just something simple to chill out to whether it be new or old. Maybe something that might put a little boogie-woogie in your system? Songs that just bring back a wave of nostalgia, all your senses engulf you and transport you back to the good times (sometimes bad), from the warmth of an analogue radio station to your heartstrings. Geez I sound ancient. Some music I find comforting like many of you readers who find music to be a healing experience. Maybe something I share will sooth your soul as it does mine (do I really have a soul)? Andy Dufresne: [to Red] I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living, or get busy dying.
Just as the quote I have expressed on my profile about music baths - I’ll share what I am metaphorically bathing in. I’m not planning on going into much detail about the music or moods (unlike this post). It’s just more or less simple sharing for those curious cats willing to share or spare some of their 9 lives along with me. Oh, and potential inspiration for any of you dreamers, writers, visionaries, philosophers and anyone I may have forgotten (sorry).
The Shawshank Redemption holds a special place in my heart. A film I can rewatch over and over again. My soul aches and my eyes weep each time I rewatch it. While I don’t want to get too personal, this is a film my mother and I discussed many times and eventually agreeing that our lives were not planned, all our challenges and let-downs have been our tunnels of shit that we pray to escape from with the hopes of coming out clean on the “other side”. If interested, send a message and we can discuss more deeply. My mother is, or was (she passed away in 2018), the Andy Dufresne to my Red. Let me tell you, we’d find ways to incorporate anything Shawshank in our lives to the point of her retirement and my graduation from college we wrote similar letters to each other just like Andy did for Red when he found the tin full of cash at the end of the long rock wall under that tall white oak tree (“something out of a Robert Frost poem”).
The music from Shawshank, composed by Thomas Newman, is what I would consider bold, stoic, calculative, dark, and haunting yet calming, freeing. Sometimes I pop my earbuds in then hopefully drift off to sleep. However, the bad news is - as I write this posting and listening to said score - my brain is hot with so many thoughts. I would encourage any of you who had read this far and willing to go further to sit, have a listen, maybe even watch the movie (and read the book - Rita Hayworth and The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King).
I could quote Shawshank all day and express my love of this absolute classic, a true masterpiece (clearly my opinion), but I really need to end this here or else I’ll be back writing another long winded term paper!
One last quote I promise!
Andy Dufresne: [in letter to Red] Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.
*Not sure if I need to make a disclaimer but I will anyways - The Shawshank Redemption Original Motion Picture Soundtrack that is shared in this post does not belong to me whatsoever! Composed by Thomas Newman and copyrighted by Sony Music Entertainment.