17 Songs Inspired by William Blake

Is there anyone more visionary than William Blake?

The poet and artist, who was born in 1757, saw things. As a young boy, he reported witnessing visions: God at the window, angels in trees. His parents sent him to drawing school. A skilled artist and craftsman, he would go on to incorporate fantastical visions into his creative work throughout his life.

He earned a living as a printmaker and found a way to print both text and images at the same time, allowing him to experiment with color, image, and text.

Living and working in London during a tumultuous time, he witnessed political and economic repression and social unrest; the American and French revolutions raged in the background. His art was political and complex. Through his poetry, he protested social and monarchal oppression, explored the nature of humankind, and embraced imagination and free thought. His watercolors—of devils, angels, humans, and a small, smiling tiger—added another layer of symbolism to the work.

Blake’s life and work have moved many artists, musicians in particular. His influence has crossed genres: classical, punk, and folk musicians have all cited his work as playing a role in opening their doors of perception.

When asked about her connection to Blake in 2015, Patti Smith remarked, “I often find reading poetry—quite beautiful, poetry is, but I always seem to want to take it to the next level. Something within me wants to sing poetry. And then I wound up singing ‘Tyger, Tyger,’ because whenever I read it, I hear the music.”

So sit back and listen to a varied collection of songs touched by William Blake. Then come see his work in person in William Blake: Visionary at the Getty Center through January 14, 2024.