The Outsiders Musical Connection to Dally

Mrs. Baker’s Example

Stay Gold -- by First Aid Kit

The Response: Answer, Cite, Explain

The song, “Stay Gold” by First Aid Kit could possibly fit a few characters in The Outsiders for different reasons. When I first hear the words “Stay Gold,” I immediately think of Ponyboy and Johnny because of Pony’s reciting Robert Frost’s poem in the church, and because these are Johnny’s final words to Pony as he is dying. However, as I listen carefully to this particular song, I think most of Dally. I think that this is a song that would resonate with Dally, that he’d like it and find meaning in it. I think that if Dally heard this song he would appreciate and agree with the lyrics in it.

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The lines in the song, “What if our hard work ends in despair?” seems to me to be very similar to Dally’s questioning what it is all worth to do something to help others if it will end in heartbreak. FOr instance, Dally did not want to risk his or his friends’ lives to save the children from the fire; but Pony and Johnny went ahead in the burning church anyway while Dally watched. As Johnny dies from the burns he got, Dally questions, “Dally swallowed and reached over to push Johnny’s hair back...So that’s what you get for trying to help people you little punk...” pg. 149. “...our hard work ends in despair.” Also,the line inthe song, “What if I fall and can’t bear to get up?” illustrates Dally’s very sad and tragic end, when he can’t bear that he has lost Johnny. Pony says, “Dallas is gone...He ran out like the devil was after him. He’s gonna blow up. He couldn’t take it.” pg.152. “‘So he finally broke.” Two-Bit spoke everyone’s feeling.” pg 152.The lyrics in the song, similar to the poem, “No gold can stay,” seem to be the way that Dally lived his life, that when things seem to be good, they do not last.

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This song, “Stay Gold,” is very similar to Robert Frost’s poem with the theme of newness and youth giving way to “day,” or that which we get used to. And Dally does touch on what is good and new and “gold” in his friendships with Pony and Johnny and the others. But it does not “stay” for him. For Dally, unfortunately, what is “gold” for him does “end in despair” and sadly in tragedy. This song is one that Dally may have liked and may have listened to with his friends Pony and Johnny. Maybe they would have even disagreed, in the end, with Frost and this band on their thinking of whether or not “Gold can stay.”

Answer the question:

Cite the text:

Explain the thinking