You've probably heard Chris Martin’s voice crackle through the radio, belts out those specific lines about Achilles and his gold, or Hercules and his gifts. It’s the hook of "Something Just Like This" by The Chainsmokers and Coldplay. But honestly, when I hear the lyric i have been reading books of old song, I don’t just think about a catchy EDM-pop crossover that dominated the charts back in 2017. I think about why we are so obsessed with comparing our messy, boring lives to the legends of the past.
It’s a weird human quirk.
We look at our bank accounts or our struggling relationships and then we look at the myths. We see the "books of old song"—the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Norse sagas—and we feel small. The song is basically a therapy session set to a synth-pop beat. It captures that exact moment of insecurity where you realize you aren't a superhero. You’re just a person.
The Mythology Behind the Books of Old Song
When the lyrics mention "books of old song," they aren't just making up a vibe. They are referencing a specific tradition of oral storytelling that was eventually written down. In academic circles, we call these "epics." Think about the Epic of Gilgamesh. It was literally sung or chanted long before it was etched into clay tablets. These are the original "songs" that Chris Martin is referencing.
Take Achilles, for example. The song mentions "Achilles and his gold." Now, if you’re a mythology nerd, you might pause there. Achilles wasn't really known for his wealth; he was known for his "kleos," or eternal glory, and his terrifying rage. His "gold" in the context of the song is likely a metaphor for his status—the golden standard of what a hero is supposed to be. When the narrator says i have been reading books of old song, he is looking at these impossible standards and feeling the weight of his own inadequacy.
It’s a heavy lift.
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Hercules and his gifts? Same thing. The Greek Heracles was a figure of absolute, divine power, but also absolute tragedy. If you’ve actually read the "books of old song," you know these guys were disasters. Achilles was a sulking man-child for half the Iliad. Hercules killed his own family in a fit of madness. Yet, through the lens of time, we’ve polished them into these perfect icons of "superhuman" capability. The song strips that back. It asks: why are we comparing our 9-to-5 lives to legends that were probably never meant to be role models in the first place?
Why This Lyric Resonates in a Digital Age
We live in a world of curated excellence. Social media is our modern version of a legend. Instead of i have been reading books of old song, today’s version might be "I have been scrolling through Instagram feeds of old friends." The feeling is identical. It’s the gap between the "myth" of someone else’s life and the reality of yours.
The Chainsmokers were smart to pair this with Coldplay’s earnestness. You have these high-energy drops, but the lyrics are grounded in a very old-school literary tradition. It’s a contrast that works because it mirrors the internal conflict of the listener. We want the excitement of the "superhero" life, but we actually crave the safety of "something just like this"—a simple, human connection.
- The song spent 115 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.
- It has billions of streams.
- It remains a staple at weddings and graduations.
Why? Because everyone feels like they’re failing the "myth" test. Everyone feels like they aren't living up to the books of old song.
The Literary Roots You Might Have Missed
If you go back to the source material, the "old songs" were often cautionary tales. The Odyssey isn't just a travelogue; it's a story about a guy who just wants to get home to his wife and eat a decent meal. He turns down immortality. He turns down goddesses. He basically says, "I don't want to be in a book of old song, I just want my life back."
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This is the hidden layer of the song. The narrator isn't just sad he isn't a hero; he's realizing that being a hero actually sucks. Superheroes are lonely. Spider-Man can't pay his rent. Batman has no parents and a lot of trauma. When the lyrics shift to "I’m not looking for somebody with some superhuman gifts," it’s a rejection of the very myths the narrator was just reading.
It’s a realization that the "books of old song" are actually quite dusty and cold.
Spiderman, Batman, and the Modern Myth
The song bridges the gap between the ancient and the modern. It mentions Spiderman’s control and Batman’s fists right alongside the Greek legends. This is key. It shows that our myths haven't changed; they’ve just changed clothes. Instead of tunics, they wear spandex. But the pressure they put on us—to be "super," to be "perfect"—remains the same.
I’ve spent a lot of time looking at how pop culture absorbs classical literature. Usually, it’s pretentious. But here, it’s sort of sweet. It uses the i have been reading books of old song line to admit that we all seek escapism when we’re feeling insecure. We dive into stories because reality feels too small. Then, we have to find our way back to reality and realize that reality is actually where the love is.
Beyond the Radio: How to Use This Insight
If you find yourself stuck in that "comparison trap," whether it's against a Greek god or a LinkedIn influencer, there are actual ways to snap out of it.
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First, look at the "books" you’re reading. Are they giving you inspiration or are they just making you feel like garbage? There is a difference between a story that pulls you up and a standard that holds you down. The narrator in the song had to stop reading the books to actually look at the person standing in front of him.
Second, recognize the "gold" in your own life. It sounds cheesy, I know. But the whole point of the song is that the "something just like this"—the mundane, the ordinary, the person who stays when things get boring—is actually more valuable than the "gifts" of Hercules.
Actionable Steps for the "Myth-Obsessed":
- Audit your influences. If you are constantly consuming "hero" narratives that make you feel inadequate, pivot to "human" narratives. Read memoirs instead of epics for a week.
- Define your own "Super." What does "superhuman" mean to you? Usually, it's just being consistent. Showing up. That doesn't make it into the "books of old song," but it’s what keeps a relationship or a career going.
- Listen to the lyrics again. This time, focus on the response. The "she said" part. It’s the voice of reason. It’s the world telling you that you’re enough without the cape.
- Write your own "song." Not literally (unless you want to). But acknowledge that your story, with all its flaws and lack of "gold," is the only one you actually have to live.
The "books of old song" are great for a rainy afternoon. They are wonderful for understanding the human condition. But they are terrible blueprints for a happy life. The narrator figured that out by the time the chorus hit. You should too. Stop trying to be Achilles. Achilles died young and angry. Be the person who is "looking for somebody" they can actually talk to. That’s the real legend.
If you want to dive deeper into this, look at the work of Joseph Campbell. He wrote The Hero with a Thousand Faces. He basically explains that all these stories—from the old songs to the new movies—are the same story. They are all about us trying to figure out how to be human in a world that demands we be more. Once you see the pattern, the pressure starts to melt away. You realize the "books" are just mirrors. And you can always choose which mirror to look into.