Various songs appear and are mentioned throughout The Hunger Games trilogy. Music, in general, holds importance for many characters: Katniss Everdeen's father was renowned for his singing voice and taught many songs to his daughter; Rue described music as her favorite thing in the world, and music often plays a part in celebrations or important events throughout Panem.

Music is prominent in the prequel novel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, in which the character Lucy Gray Baird is a member of a performing group known as the Covey. She performs a number of songs throughout the novel.

"Deep in the Meadow" (also known as "Rue's Lullaby") is a song sung by Katniss to Rue as the latter was nearing death (Marvel had speared her in the stomach)[1]. Because of her love of music[2], Rue's last request was to hear Katniss sing. At first, Katniss did not know what to sing, but then remembered a lullaby she would sing to her sister Prim when she was ill. The words are easy, soothing, and calming.[1]

Katniss also found herself musing on the words of this song many years later as she watched her own children play in the Meadow in District 12.[3]

In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lucy Gray Baird sings this song to Maude Ivory, having sung it to her in the past when she had croup. Coriolanus Snow also listens to the song and finds it soothing, until mockingjays pick up the melody, as he finds them disturbing.[4]

Deep in the meadow, under the willow A bed of grass, a soft green pillow Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes And when again they open, the sun will rise. Here it's safe, here it's warm Here the daisies guard you from every harm Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true Here is the place where I love you. Deep in the meadow, hidden far away A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray Forget your woes and let your troubles lay And when again it's morning, they'll wash away. Here it's safe, here it's warm Here the daisies guard you from every harm Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true Here is the place where I love you.

"Deep In the Meadow" by Sting

Official version of Rue's Lullaby, performed by Sting (released as downloadable bonus track)

An official version of "Deep in the Meadow" was recorded for The Hunger Games film by English musician Sting. Jennifer Lawrence, who portrayed Katniss in the film series, recorded a version of the song for the soundtrack of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2.

"The Hanging Tree" was a song Katniss learned from her father when she was young, but Mrs. Everdeen forbid them from singing it because of the song's morbid and rebellious lyrics. Katniss would not sing the song again for another ten years, when she sang it for Pollux.[5]

In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1, the song was surreptitiously recorded for a propo, and Plutarch Heavensbee had the the words changed from "necklace of rope" to "necklace of hope". After the propo aired, rebels took it up as a protest song as they lew up hydroelectric dam, causing a massive power outage in the Capitol that allowed rebel forces to carry out a rescue mission.[6]

"The Hanging Tree" has a brief backstory in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It was one of many songs composed by Lucy Gray Baird, and it was written about the execution of Arlo Chance at the real hanging tree.[7][8] The song was banned by Commander Hoff, who considered it rebellious.[9] Soon after, Hoff was replaced by a new commander who banned all musical performances at the Hob because music caused trouble.[10]

Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where they strung up a man they say murdered three? Strange things did happen here No stranger would it be If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree. Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where the dead man called out for his love to flee? Strange things did happen here No stranger would it be If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree. Are you, are you Coming to the tree Where I told you to run, so we'd both be free? Strange things did happen here No stranger would it be If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree. Are you, are you Coming to the tree Wear a necklace of rope, side by side with me. Strange things did happen here No stranger would it be If we met up at midnight in the hanging tree.''

The national song of Panem at the time of the 74th Hunger Games. It often accompanies Capitol propaganda media and is played at the end of each day in the Hunger Games arena.