the poetry that inspired harry styles' music (explained by a literature graduate)

[@jack_edwards]

A note on this analysis: I personally don’t think it’s fair or necessary to speculate or scrutinise anyone’s sexuality, and so I will not use this platform to do so. All evidence used in this video is based on things Harry Styles has spoken about publicly, but remember that he has never ever labelled his sexuality. Since he has intentionally chosen to avoid labels, this video does not assign any. I hope you enjoy the video and check out the other video I uploaded on the books he has recommended! :)

[@lindsay4254]

Love this

[@marianaruiz6831]

I love youuuu

[@lucia-gx4fe]

this was amazing and so interesting ! thank you for taking the time for doing this and for respecting harry more than all

[@kassia___]

i loved it!! your videos are really interesting and fun to watch and it's clear all the effort and dedication you put in them. thank you for this one (and the taylor swift one too)💗

[@jessicastyles425]

I love this video im so glad you are not larry baiter .you respect harry love you. I subscribed your channel btw. god bless you

[@daniLA972]

"i don't know if im just reading too deep into things BUT" isn't that just english lit. graduates in a nutshell

[@jasmineflora1619]

Any English degree graduates at all, really

[@yinhannasjournal]

Overthinkers in a nutshell. 🤡

[@nusifromthebrook]

If you study any literature, any art, it is going to be a recurring concern 😅 As a comparative lit and film and tv grad I am talking from experience.

[@UnJadedJade]

THIS IS INCREDIBLE

[@anniewayscha0s]

Hi Jade!

[@SethuChandra]

omg jade you like harry too?

[@mathildelabibliothequedouc1360]

JADE LMAO ONE OF MY CLOSE FRIENDS GAVE HARRY THE WASTELAND AT THE PARIS LISTENING PARTY 😭😭 I'm gonna sens her the vidéo she's gonna freakkkk outtttt (it's Mathilde hehe from paristudying)

[@robindehaan2084]

I was on my way towards the comments bc i wanted to say that he has the same kinda vibe of you, Jade. And then you already saw it, i liked that :)

[@hermionegranger4080]

Aww jadeeee

[@aliceflanders5151]

I came for Harry Styles, I stayed for the English revision lesson

[@mel5u990]

I just learned more literature from you than 3 months in ap lit

[@eviekirtley6471]

Bukowski once said "Baby, I said, I'm a genius but nobody knows it but me." that is literally what harry styles does

[@charlottapeterson]

The effort that goes into these vids is unbelievable - dedicating a month to one vid! woah

[@yinhannasjournal]

Absolutely. 🥺

[@mishyy]

I wanna thank you and Harry styles for inspiring me to become a literary student in the future

[@jack_edwards]

yaaaaaayyyy!!!

[@harryshome3785]

Istg i used to hate reading then i saw your video and started reading the books you suggested and now I’m OBSESSED

[@gabrielacesarino3204]

@@jack_edwards dude, I bumped into your video by pure coincidence and now I'm actually considering becoming a literature student. You inspire me. Love from Brazil.

[@lisalea9749]

You should consider a career in teaching. That passion, knowledge and ability to explain complex theories to idiots like me should not go unused! Fascinating.

[@izzyklein7999]

Completely agree!!

[@jodief9970]

I can’t agree more! Please teach- you are charismatic and funny and you speak fast- which I enjoy. Too bad most people don’t end up teaching the olds - but thank you for the lessons 😉

[@nivneedscoffee]

Harry styles should SERIOUSLY see this 👀

[@yinhannasjournal]

Totally agree. 🥺

[@HugoPerezNeto]

I'm a simple man, I see Harry Styles, I click on the video

[@aleksandra6686]

Came for Harry, definitely staying for you

[@Sohamsta]

Okay but imagine this ✨a Harry Styles and Jack Edwards collab irl✨

[@yinhannasjournal]

Please. 🥺

[@Sohamsta]

@@obviouslystraightobviously9270 woahh

[@user-uk1tl4ct9y]

The One Direction stretch is like,,, my new favourite thing lmao

[@missmacapaca]

I am absolutely obsessed with the fact that jack is getting to flex his English lit knowledge and skills

[@yinhannasjournal]

As he should. 🥺

[@lukebates7354]

When a girl tries to explain she is Harry Styles' biggest fan, I will just show her this video and say you're not the biggest fan.

[@t.ris_]

this girl : I am the biggest fan of HS *proceeds to show an erotic fanfic of HS on wattpad* Tell me I'm wrong. I'll wait 😂

[@rheganbrooks2544]

Two well-read and fashionable men talking about the novels which inspired their artistry and passion would be a divine watch. If Jack Edwards does become a TV presenter in the future and is able to do interviews, then Harry Styles must be at the top of his guest list. Poems, novels, fashion, books and men are topics on many peoples tongues as we talk toxic and fragile masculinity in the current climate. “Bring back manly men” said Candace Owens. “Fuck that” said Jack, Harry and I. Toxic masculinity exists as it has an emphasis on the heteronormative cishet white male culture that has been indoctrinated within us for generations. If you have an effeminate energy, it does not mean your masculinity is toxic; it does not mean you are less male - it just means you are comfortable to not live in the societal brackets formed for us that try to break us down as individuals everyday. Wear a dress and be a man, do whatever the fuck you want! In the words of Ewan McGregor as Mark Renton from Trainspotting: 1,000 years from now there will be no guys and no girls, just wankers. Sounds great to me.

[@rheganbrooks2544]

@Farabee Pushpita thanks farabee ☮️

[@toyaleigh916]

I love this

[@rheganbrooks2544]

@@toyaleigh916 I don’t know why this has so many likes stream better man - the courteeners to get the same message as this in a three and a half minute song lol

[@Rinaa11214]

Well saidd

[@followthyomens93z]

omg i love this whole comment im quoting u

[@szilvidaczo5362]

The fact that Harry is so well-read, but keeps it to himself in a way until he writes and sings it out makes him even more of someone worth looking up to, as if his whole existence wasn't a gift for us.😍 Thanks Jack for the investigation and for making me appreciate this human even more than I thought it was possible.

[@gee7359]

I just want you to know I watched this with my undivided attention

[@emigrace]

me: a harry styles/1d stan & a English lit major IVE NEVER CLICKED FASTER

[@pagla_basu]

SO TRUE!!!

[@dunkirkharry4564]

me 😭

[@cam8258]

There he is! My two favourite white boys!

[@alyssia7239]

How to fangirl AND educate oneself at the same time 👌

[@hannahclaire8355]

this video was absolutely EXCEPTIONAL

[@yinhannasjournal]

Absolutely!

[@annabelsheridan1]

i will never hear "sweeeeet creature" with the same innocence and obliviousness again

[@lydiakind9151]

forget the masters, someone just give this man a phd already because he's contributed to global knowledge with this 🙌

[@wally123495]

Im a STEM student and a massive harry stan and this was genuinely so helpful and interesting!! I dont really tend to dig into lyrics to songs as much as I would like to so this was awesome! Really enjoyed it :)

[@spoon2793]

The way you talk about literature always clarifies that I have chosen the right degree

[@sophie4705]

a jack video about harry is something I didn't know I needed

[@rociostyles9378]

as a harry styles fan and english literature graduate I am: LIVING

[@chelseagabil]

Jack when I'm telling you Directioners are gonna be so grateful you made this video, you best believe it. I've been one for 9 years now so I know what I'm talking about.

[@marinazeballos6819]

I never comment on youtube videos but this one deserves the exception. I came for Harry Styles and stayed because of your incredible idea and amazing analysis. You were so excited about the topic, it made me super excited as well. I loved watching every second of it.

[@laridpk5080]

11:56 - the waiting was worth it because i was in love. It sreams larry i am just saying

[@durandcamille4103]

110%

[@Ellie-hd7sw]

I read the title as "the poetry that inspired harry potter's music" and was slightly confused, but ready to hear about how the soundtrack of a movie was based off of poetry. my brain cells are really working overtime rn

[@lilliansnyman1742]

IT'S THE WAY THAT THE POEM ABOUT STYLE IS HIS TOUR OPENING LINE

[@EstherO3]

Omg this is literally one of the best things I've seen on the internet. I'm a huge Harry fan so I found this, both Harry's brain and yours are so juicy.

[@molly3713]

stanning jack making literary knowledge available and accessible for the masses

[@emmacampagnolo882]

I thought it was interesting that in both the poem "the wait" and the passage from Othello, the metaphor of picking kisses (like picking flowers) is used

[@dannamacias8192]

im so impressed how smart, talented and devoted harries are, I love it here.

[@anniewilde1235]

Okay this might be my FAVOURITE video to ever exist. A video encompassing jack edwards, English lit and his royal highness Harry styles?? Sign me the fuck up!!✨🌈

[@traceyhoffman8430]

Someone give Jack a job - what a star.

[@illegitimateotaku794]

I love it when StudyTubers educate us in videos like this.

[@andreaorozco8975]

This should've been your thesis. ✨IMMACULATE ✨ vibes

[@flo5227]

ahhh I’m studying othello at the moment and I thought that maybe that part might have been inspiration for Harry’s song and I’m so glad I’m not the only one thinking that

[@sanjanasenapati97]

16:22 you highlight similar lines in sweet creature , sign of the times and meet me in the hallway. Harry has said on record that sign of the times is about a mother losing a child at birth, which makes sign of the times a rather family oriented or platonic song. The use of similar lines with the theme of not speaking enough is also there in sweet creature. This could suggest sweet creature is also a platonic premise song. Loved this analysis. It was so satisfying. TPWK. xx

[@sanjanasenapati97]

Or maybe he could be referring to someone he considered as close as family, in sweet creature. :)

[@nehasnotes_]

i feel SO educated and i'm not ashamed about procrastinating anymore ;))

[@akiraaain]

not me - an English literature student - watching this and paying more attention than I do in my actual lectures.

[@yinhannasjournal]

😂😂

[@whatsinentertainment13]

I hope you meet Harry Styles in one of the post pandemic days, I would love to see that interaction. Also, I suppose that you both could write a song together and it would be a masterpiece of poem references. All the best :-) TPWK.

[@mariamtorres835]

Can I just say I was screeeeching during this video over how happy it made me to see so many references to some of my favourite artists and writers that I somehow didn't manage to spot first time around. This is just about my favourite youtube video right now.

[@amykatherinex]

sweet creature - Shakespeare’s Othello

[@aisha5491]

I SEEEE

[@almariyaabdulla2095]

not me thinking he was going to talk abt louis when he was analyzing 'sweet creature'

[@pagla_basu]

Finally found a Larrie!! Yes! I loved watching this video, loved his analysis. I wish I could help him with the "Louis the Fish" a bit more, but its okay. Got to know all sides. And all of a sudden, everything makes sense.

[@irinarodrigues9306]

@@pagla_basu heyy, could you explain me the “Louis the fish”?

[@pagla_basu]

@@irinarodrigues9306 there is a popular book called "Louis the Fish" by Arthur Yorinks, its kind of a children's book. The theme of that book surrounding sadness and downfall and then being happy and living life again resonates a lot of energy from the Adore you Mv. like the resemblance is uncanny. You can find summaries online, and also KZbin videos explaining the story. What makes it linked is that such a story exists with the fish named Louis, and Harry's Mv has his character meet a fish of similar characteristics. Also, if you're deep enough you would know that the Eroda account on twitter is very active in the sense of retweeting Larry content just like a hint, and they never denied this theory either.

[@irinarodrigues9306]

@@pagla_basu thank u for ur help, appreciate it

[@pagla_basu]

@@irinarodrigues9306 no problem at all

[@TreespeakerOfTheLand]

The love for the Humanities is strong with Jack. It's great to see someone so engrossed in a field they love and sharing it with the world, especially if it is an underrated field. I myself am engrossed in Latin this semester and I think people are starting to get sick of me speaking about Latin :P Also, if someone bothers you while you read and you wanna confuse them... Just say "lego", which is Latin for "I am reading". *stops nerding out*

[@nlbhaduri]

Jack, have you listened to Harry Styles on Calm? The poem he speaks mentions “blades of grass” and I can’t help but think he is alluding to WW “ Leaves of Grass”... it’s such a personal story he tells us that I believe he wrote it with only a little assistance from the two “authors” he credits. It’s full of references to his music ( Golden and Sunflowers) and seems aimed at a specific listener ( not necessarily the public).

[@lynnaandrea6931]

I'm so happy that you mentioned this as I have listened to Calm quite often/ It certainly fires off my visual cortex, but it also seems to be a mix of very personal experiences and thought processes, maybe lit. and poetry references also/Have also revisited an unhealthy amount of times, the Gucci episodes that featured Harry. A close friend of the designer, there is this flow of emotions, in colours, visual effects, daily experiences of life and bits of poetry, and it seems all the music chosen is 'messaging' something very personal/I cannot help but think that Harrys' personal life weaves through the narratives of each episode/Nice to have something to think about and investigate through Harrys' artistic process!

[@abirami4386]

15:45 you said u think it’s about family because two hearts in one home, ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE YOU TO LARRY STYLINSON, Harry moved in with Louis Tomlinson at the start of one direction in princess park, and it’s a fan theory that two hearts into one home is a reference to his time with Louis :)

[@dominique6128]

JEKSJDJD I was looking for a comment about that fanku

[@kla_udia743]

finally some linking to larryyy

[@rohiniprajapati1024]

I literally searched the entire comment section looking for this comment!!! Fanks ❤️

[@madds6766]

Did you even watch the whole thing?

[@asmirao1977]

also when he said adore you is about camille rowe i laughed so hard😂

[@chelseagabil]

It's 2 am where I live I've got my math exam later and I cannot explain how glad I am to see Harry Styles in a Jack Edward's video. Thank you Jack!

[@robot12423]

Hope it went well.. sigh

[@morgantyll3324]

I was unaware other people were just as submerged into the harry obsession as I am. I love.

[@strawwberryyy]

THIS IS THE COOLEST IDEA EVER

[@zuzannakarcz8638]

unpopular opinion: “she” could be also influenced by McCartney&Lennon’s “A Day In The Life” 🤔

[@pizza4lifeu441]

I’m so happy and shocked that Harry Styles actually enjoy poetry and derive inspirations from them!! I always envisioned celebrities as quite vulgar, unintelligent to be honest, (probably because of the Kardashians ) and then here comes Harry Styles, a well-read, kind and civil gentleman and musician! 💙

[@raylightbown4968]

Well done, Jack. I'm an old man, who is not knowledgeable about pop songs but I do like Harry very much in interviews and brief video clips of concerts. I can see how these influences have also had a part of play in Harry's gender fluidity and ambiguous sexuality/non-binary sexuality. I welcome his influences and your literary search for those influences.

[@mkaylagomez1959]

Firstly, I love the insight you’ve given into this interesting topic. But also.... I LOVE the pearls you’re wearing in this, it feels very Harry appropriate ✨

[@aishwaryarohatgi8406]

Honestly chief kiss to you for giving it a MONTH of research, absolutely loved it

[@shweta9503]

The effort in this video is insane! Thanks Jack :)

[@chlxiv919]

finally i found a video who would go deep into harry’s songs 😭😭 thank you for your hardwork to explain it to all of us i loved it so much! i really love musicians talking about how they wrote their songs and it’s even more amazing that people like you do that 💖💖 you’re amazing!

[@Annapoorni_Arulanandan]

1. Rumi 2. Charles Bukowski Poems 3. The Wait 4. Othello by William Shakespeare 5. Walt Whitman

[@SethuChandra]

I cant, I watched ur eng lang videos for gcse help and I am a HUGE harry stan and figuring out this video was made my you is BLOWIN MY MIND AHAHHA I LOVE THIS SM

[@emilieclarke555]

I feel like Jack could be on his way to turning into an explainer channel 👀

[@meganalora1835]

i’m so unbelievably glad this showed up on my recommended i will now watch ever video u have ever made

[@isaacbarnard9574]

JACK IVE DONE ENOUGH POETRY ANNOTATIONS IN THIS PAST TERM IN SCHOOL AND I DONT NEED YOU TO BREAK DOWN A POEM WHICH INFLUENCED HARRY STYLES!

[@Progress234]

Why

[@LHCleo]

Randomly came across your channel after looking voor Harry videos and completely blown away by your videos, research, clarity and passion. I love Harry but his fandom is sometimes a bit overwhelming and crazy so I loved this take on his music based on literature instead of gossip.

[@djsk3124]

Thank you so much for making this video, my month has also vanished thanks to the depth of Harry Styles' references (and the people around him) and I have barely touched literature. It's ridiculous and I'm in a deep deep hole finding more stuff every day. I think he leaves a deep impact wherever he goes, both on himself and others, and he's not shy to take inspiration from those who have impacted him. Anyway, I just wanted to touch upon Sweet Creature, I understand not wanting to speculate about anyone's sexuality but I doubt it's meant to be platonic and about a family member. He referenced both *that* Othello verse AND he song is ridiculously similar to a soundtrack from Brokeback Mountain (called "sun"). It's not the only song, also From The Dining Table is similar to another Brokeback Mountain one (I think it's the main soundtrack), although something in those songs make me think they're not about the same person. Either way, with Sweet Creature, I'm more comfortable speculating it might have to do with a boy instead of a family member.

[@carolyn7775]

its the taking my two favourite things and putting them into one video for me

[@shreyakrishnan8789]

"burning in fire, drowning in flame" is also very interesting because looking back, on 1D's fifth album Made In The AM, the song 'Long Way Down' opens with the lyric "we made a fire, went down in the flames"

[@itschesta]

as a larrie this made me uncomfortable but LOVED the hardwork !!

[@charlotte-xq7sl]

Same . Especially the adore you with Camille rowe and the two hearts in one home lyric being about his mum or sister but he worked so hard on it

[@brittney1261]

weak larry moments, i believe the adore you fish to be more about camille now bc its low key more believable then it being linked to louis by a children’s book

[@nefelikourvisianou9154]

@@brittney1261 harry said the fish is a he... 😂 The eroda account liked a tweet about that book. I hope i was helpful ! ❤️

[@dancemomsrelived]

can yall just refrain from mentioning your mlm fetishisation and shut the fuck up for once

[@cadiecooper6479]

same

[@lukassimon3933]

Just, completely besides the actual content presented; I love your way of going about explaining specific lines and influences and that you take the time to explain certain vocabulary such as “verisimilitude”. I feel really educated and entertained at the same time and my literature-heart is absolutely tearing with joy!

[@floreh.8260]

Am I the only one who would really like to see an in-depth video of you analysing the lyrics and the poems. Like really just your process. I would pay money for that! Take us with you in your step by step plan, please. I want to see it but mostly I want to learn how to do it!

[@email7689]

I’m a simple person. I see Harry Styles and books, I click.

[@marti8467]

i’m sure harry would absolutely love this video

[@ishhynavarro8888]

I LOVE THIS!! I was just a wee teen when I stanned One Direction and truly felt like I matured with them. I just started reading books and poetry on my own so these def go to my reading list. Such a great video! You are a joy to watch 😊 Keep doing what you're doing!

[@mariamm9400]

This...this video SAVED 2020! SOMEONE NEEDS TO DO A DISSERTATION ON THIS! gosh, harries are such amazing people. Thank you for this!

[@alessioimoh9228]

I find a lot of similarities in the way lana del Rey references classic literature and poetry in her work, including Whitman ✨great video

[@mymessynotebook2207]

Lana and Harry have powerful minds and I’m so grateful to be blessed by their art.

[@abk9203]

Dude u should be a Music journalist and critic. Literally the way u dissect things musically and lyrically, poetically relating to one another I have never seen anyone do that.... Even Harry would be proud of ur work...

[@yosoysoya7944]

The One Direction theory sounds amazing, the only problem I see with it that I'm not sure if Harry read that when he was sixteen :D...

[@rosiesewell389]

Who else had to stop the video to listen to the songs?? Such a thoroughly researched video - and it took a whole month👏👏

[@abibas3050]

This man is singlehandedly teaching me A level english lit

[@araksimouhibiyan5825]

RESPECT FOR THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO CREATING YOUR VIDEOS! THANKS!!!

[@catarina8852]

i loved the video, a really great analysis. but one thing that really bothered me was on the sweet creature part, u didn't even mention a possibility of it being about louis. which connects so well with the whole song analysis, they literally lived together ("two hearts and one home"). anyway, great job. side note: I personally don't see a problem with speculating who a song is about, harry himself said he won't ever tell someone is wrong in their speculation. he never labeled himself which means the general public doesn't know what his sexuality is and it doesn't matter. if it's okay to speculate his songs are about certain women why not about men?

[@darkoutlaw88]

You should totally do more poetry videos, I like really like hearing your takes and general like conversation (points?/discourse?) around poetry

[@emilycrowleyyy]

if my english teacher related all the books we read to harry styles maybe i would’ve got a better grade lol

[@hannah-jv3hc]

this literally made me understand harry sm more. i love this and you thank you.

[@asianarkiewicz169]

My jaw was dropping like every 30 seconds of the video no joke

[@emmagreenwood7426]

Now I understand why he preaches so much about finding love in vulnerability 🥺💛

[@katywilson488]

I LOVE how accessible your videos are! I feel live anyone could watch and understand these because you explain and give definitions so precisely! You're brilliant

[@lucyxxx8991]

I freaked out when I saw this video jack edwards and Harry styles omg I’m dying 💚💙💚💙

[@charlotte-xq7sl]

Are you a larrie just asking by the blue and green hearts . It's cool if your an anti bit I'm personally a larrie💚💙💚💙💚💙

[@martinacardenas1688]

i just know this video is going to blow the FUCK OUT and it’s going to be so well deserved

[@lizzy4868]

This is probably the best 19 minutes I’ve spent in a long time👁👄👁

[@isha.inamdar]

From now on if anyone questions your love for Harry Styles, just show them this video. ❤️♥️

[@marydavis2312]

this is the first video i see of you and also my most favorite genre of the whole internet. Your voice, harry styles, books and art/artistry. Heaven came down today thank you for this

[@pagla_basu]

Jack, idk if you'll see this, but I hope you listen to Louis Tomlinson's music as well. If you loved Harry's masterpieces, you'll love him too. It's not rich with literature references, but you'll get heavy pop-culture references and also find his songs very meaningful in general. If you're reading this, hope you have a wonderful day, I loved his video of yours.

[@dipsikhadas816]

Ikr Louis songs are so touching

[@scoobydoo4507]

ZAyn Malik album Icarus Falls

[@ix1260]

Yesssssss

[@nourashunnar5273]

This is my new favourite genre on KZbin. It’s amazing

[@manjunair2840]

I'm so happy that Harry loves The wasteland as I have recited the poem multiple times..so we have the same taste❤️😍😍😍😍