Hi :0)

I Could Never Be (Ready) from the Steven Universe Soundtrack = Get ready for a lot of steven universe in these playlists, my friends. Either way, yeah. This is a very good 'being a dad scares me' song so fits Henley perfect. Also I know people are thinking things animatics and I just think there's something beautiful in the way that Henley first leaving Gregothy was out of fear and him leaving Gregothy the second time (when giving his soul coin to Ghoul) was out of bravery. Both times he didn't feel ready but for different reasons. *explodes and dies*

Oh Boy by Max Runham = Aka THE Henley Whispers song of all time to me. Every single line screams him to me. Ugh fuck it here's a post doing line by line analysis, I can't write it all here. Either way I placed it here in the playlist because it sets up the irresponsible, selfish parenting which obvs defines Henley's character the whole time.

Fundamentally Unloveable by Tiger Really = This is very much the Henley and Sylvie breakup song to me because like 'think of you and the way it used to be/ not knowing better that no one lives forever' gives Henley not being able to ever really get back on good terms with her because he burned fast and died before he ever could. Also general drug and alcohol references as a means of trying to forget the past. Some other shout outs include 'I didn't mean to run away, it's just a bad habit of mine', 'I'll never rest in peace' and 'we'll never meet again' because they never will.

Against the Kitchen Floor by Will Wood = Not the last time we will be seeing Will Wood, let me assure you. This is another Henley and Sylvie break up song to me but really it delves into Henley's horrible sense of self-worth and fucked up sense of love and care. I really don't think anyone wants another line by line analysis so I'll do some highlights again 'So, I could hold your hand, but keep you at arm's length' (he never lets anyone in really before the happy boys), 'But still you gave me your heart, I only gave you my body' (his one night stands yada yada), 'I'm just as exposed if I take off my clothes' (the fact he's always fucking naked to some degree),'The vertex of my redemption arc' (just scrumptious imagery for Henley it must be said) and all the apologising at the end and the talk of wanting to change just jkdbbdocihejbkdjslk THAT'S HIM THAT'S MY BOY!!!

Take Off Your Sunglasses by Ezra Furman = My self-indulgent Ezra Furman pick where it's about hiding behind a cool, masculine persona and your girlfriend calling you out on it. Why oh why do i link this to henley I wonder. Also fun fact this song was made before Ezra came out as a trans woman and I went to one of her gigs recently where she performed it and it just adds such. a wonderful queer layer to it that I think we should all apply to Henley, it's for his own good really.

Dirty Imbecile by The Happy Fits = Dude again I could go into so much detail but to try and be as general as possible this song gives massive Hero Henley vibes to me and his struggle to try and be universibly liked while feeling completely unloveable. Gonna give some more shout outs: 'but you won't understand/ all the things I am/ 'cause I'm crazy in just too many ways' (gives massive Henley with all his titles vibes to me, especially as his facts become more insane haha), 'Count my little scars, I've got dozens down inside' (the traumaaaaaaaaaaaaaa), 'Love my mum and love my dad/ Sure they messed up but that is/ voices that they left inside of my head' (.................yeah) and yeah asking whether he is good, living behind a thousand more digestible lies kjbkjbdckhcjsdcjoijel

The Feeling by Sammy Rae & The Friends = This is just such a vibey song about trying to avoid a love that could hurt you through sex and drugs. Lovely build up and very Henley to me idk. ALSO THE IT'SNOT WORTH BEING HURT BY LOVE IS PERFECT FOR HIM LIKE HE IS JUST PROTECTING HIMSELF HHJHKHICJKJEKJ

Someone New by Hozier = Basic but like the one above with added religious imagery for that extra damned to hell vibe.

Partyin' Is Such Sweet Sorrow by Tristen = Absolute banging tune, everyone go listen to Tristen right now. Either way, yep this is party Henley again, trying to forget it all. This one just has imagery I love specifically the king-queen look, especially considering the whole King Whispers thing and I can just picture Henley in a haze and seeing people as Sylvie, his queen. Also, this one always makes me think of how Henley sooooo met Gluebrick while high and forgot what he looked like 'love me now/ and I won't remember tomorrow' ya know ya know???

The Main Character by Will Wood = this again could be a line by line thing but COME ONNNNN THIS IS HERO HENLEY IMAGE TO A TEA HEBXJNSKSODIE FROTHING AT THE MOUTH

Boys Don't Cry by The Cure = Basic but it works so well for Henley's general sense that he can't change or get better but also his complete refusal to let himself feel that hopelessness with his 'everything is fine' mentality.

Loser Baby from the Hazbin Hotel Soundtrack = I've got a very specific Happy Boy interaction in my head which plays out whenever I listen to this song which is why it's on all of their playlists. But it just encapsulates that feeling of acceptance they all get from each other, being losers together ❤️ Who know's maybe I'll try to storyboard this thing at some point, but for context Henley is so the Angel Dust of thsi situation.

No Children by The Mountain Goats = This gives Henley's typically more worried or negative attitude to the happy boy's plans (you know, when he's not the one coming up with stupid ideas hahahah). Also got a nice nod to him lying about his past ('I'll tell them all you were a good wife' or whatever). This is gives his hopelessness about changing too, it's gotta be said.

Paper Bag by Fiona Apple = There has gotta be more Fiona Apple songs that should be on here but I haven't had time to relisten to stuff recently (I'll reblog if I add anything). Also this is just a good song for the beginnings of hope that the happy boys give him and he's trying to see a world where he can change and they make it seem possible but it isn't until the end that he gets it. For now the dove still looks like a paper bag, oof.

Paul by Big Thief = 1. PAUL REFERENCE 2. This feels like how the happy boys make him happy, where he feels loved in a good way finally but its still tainted by his own fears 'I'll be your killer and a thriller and the cause of our death' idk it just gives the vibes to me guys hear me out just 'as I realised there was no one who could kiss away my shit' HE'S LEARNING!!!! 'but I pushed you from my brain/ you see, you're gently, baby/ I couldn't stay, it's only bring you pain' KJBBKDJJOIUDHKJHKSJ LET THEM IN HENLEY YOU BASTARD LET THEM CHANGE YOU HKKJDOICOIJ I'm so fine guys WAIT SHIT NO I DIDN'T MEAN IT AS A HENLEY REFERENCE I AM ACTUALLY FINE

Complex by Tristen = This idea of being complicated, scared of what you are, loving someone but being terrified that you will hurt them...ahajjhodi ALSO ALL THAT WITH THE THEME OF PHYSICAL EXERCISE LIKE CDHJCLKJEJF Idk i think that works for Henley really well. Also 'you cna have your way, until you get in my way' feels like Henley's Neeson stuff and also his general thing. (I've also added this to my Everley Brothers playlist, because I think it can link to them both in slightly different ways)

Can I Sleep In Your Brain by Ezra Furman = Self indulgent Furman pick again but this time it's about the happy boys genuinely making him happier, giving him a break from his own brain and HKJBCSJSHHS JUST MY BOY BEING HAPPY IN THAT LAST UPBEAT SECTION THIS SONG FUCKING KILLS ME EVERY TIME HSJLLOIDENJN Also the general mind theme for the happy boys just works.

Nobody by Hozier = I like to think about this song as Henley explaining all his amazing heroic deeds in life but done of it comparing to the simple joy of being with his Happy Boys, he's never had love like this before and felt so much like himself. Also 'I wouldn't fall for someone I thought couldn't misbehave' works so well, they're all sinners making each other better like HELL YESSSSSSS. Also 'at first chance, I'll take the bed warmed by the body' I like to picture Henley running back for Gluebrick at the prison camp on layer 8, because I'm a dirty henbrick lover.

Um, It's Kind of a Lot by Will Wood = THE Henley love song. He IS canonically scared of fucking everything, including how much he loves his happy boys one of them romantically if ya wanna look at it that way . And there is just so much on a line by line basis again, but all the little references to his own ego, to his 'fans' and to being scared people will see his flaws. So so Henley coded, increadibly Henley coded song that its not a code and may as well be sung by Henry Shields that's all I can say.

With You On My Mind by Max Runham = I'm outing one of my future fic titles 👀 dude the way it works so well though!!! Literally look at this title and start acting irresponsibly. I am such a basic ao3 author, songfic ideas make me loose my mind so easily. Either way, sorry, had to get that in there because kjhkhcldlhfkhoeoiu I'm so excited to have free time soon. Anyway, so yeah 'told myself I'm best alone, but I lied' yeppppppp , 'i can feel the change in my bones' they are teaching himhow to change, 'i can close the door, knowing i'm fine, with you on my mind' they actually make him feel like things are fine sometimes and yeah just the joy of this song. 'All these people I try to be/ You took me as I was' jkjbkjchsjdkh that's the stuff. AND if we are thinking about a specific ship and the specific fic I am teasing, who does Henley inexplicably have a psychic connection to???? Okay, I'm stopping myself there, I'm just being annoying, ON TO THE NEXT ONE

Sick of Losing Soulmates by Dodie = This is generally very happy boys coded, about finding each other. 'I can finally see you're as fucked up as me/ so how do we win?' is just them, bloody hell this songs makes me so emotional about them uuuuuuh

Like Real People Do by Hozier = Back to basic but uuuuuuuh just the nature imagery makes me weak for Henley. 'before those hands pulled me from the earth' just ujkkjk. Also it could be such a sweet henbrick reference if Gluebrick pulling mushroom henley out of the ground hand't ended with him nearly choking him hahahaha. Also I feel like 'I will not ask you where you came from, I would not ask and neither would you' is especially poignant for people who are trying to start over with each other, even in hell.

I Can Change by Ezra Furman = This is not an original Furman song but why not have the furman version I ask you? Why not? This is Henley finally thinking he can change, seeing change in other people and wanting it for himself. It's fumbling towards it and through love and things not being perfect or fine but it being progress nonetheless. It's just such a sweet song. And I DON'T MEAN TO BE A HENBRICK SHIPPER AGAIN I'M SORRY BUTTTTT 'never change, that is why I feel in love' gives Henley being happy that Gluebrick hasn't really changed after becoming a paldin and then mirrored with 'I can change, if it helps you fall in love' is him asking Gluebrick how to change when they're in Rude Paul's tower like cbkkhdkjdw also loads of small things which gives henley to me like bad poetry and love being a murderer and a refernce to a kitchen making me think of the great british bake off bit and all that. Just lovely.

Better Version of Me by Fiona Apple = I love this song for Henley so much. like I'm sorry this could be line by line again but 'when the nickle drops' could easily be Gregothy's soul coin and 'of the games that I could handle/ none are ones worth a candle' gives how he was so used to having this winner persona in life and coming to hell and bearing the responsibility for his son's soul is the toughest challenge he ever faced. 'I'm a frightened, fickle person/ fighting, crying, kicking cursing' it's himmmmmmmmmm he is scared and he will claw at you like a scared stray cat as a means of self preservation. 'Can't take a good day without a bad one/ don't feel just to smile until I had one/ where did I learn' is his everythig is fine attitude being challenged and him actually feeling happy with his new friends. 'the rhyme is loosing to the riddling' is his puns again. 'I don't need a home, I'd ruin that' OOF, THERE'S THAT SELF LOATHING AGAIN, THAT HURTS. and all of that pain only to end of 'here's coming, a better version of me' AAAAAAAH YESSSSSS. It just feels so good for Henley's arch to me. So unwell about this.

Falling Up by Will Wood = AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH ahem sorry about that. Again...I could talk about every word...but to keep it short this is Henley letting go of the balloon. That's all I'm letting myself say. That with the nature imagery and UGH. This is also on my Ghoul playlist. Ghoul is falling up because he has stumbled onto redemption whereas Henley is falling up because he is falling literally to reach higher morals. AHHJNKSHLS.

Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy) by John Lennon = This song is on here equally because it is a classic father-son song and because I like to laugh at John Lennon's creepy ass 'goodnight, Sean' at the end hahahaha but in all seriousness I thought this was a sweet one to add for him finally doing something for Gregothy and the monsters that he had crammed his soul with being finally gone when Ghoul returns his soul to him. Love it. Also we know how much father-son relationships are to Henley's entire character, so it just works.

Never Going Back Again by Fleetwood Mac = I love me some Fleetwood Mac and this is just a great song for when a character never returns to where they began. Also I think this does a great job showing the strength that Henley gains from emotional vulnerability after his time with the happy boys and that it means he can't go back to the woods and his old life. 'You don't know what it means to win/ come down and see my again' like to win the life of his son he has to lose his own like and to 'come down' is that to see him people have. to come to hell because that's where he has damned himself *dies*

Bat out of Hell by Meat Loaf = This is on all my Happy Boy playlists because I keep imagining a montage whenever I listen to it and BJHDHCJNEIDIE I LOVE THIS SONG. ONE OF MY FAVOURITE EVER. AND JUST UUUUUH. I'LL HAVE TO DO LINE BY LINE AGAIN I'M SO SORRY BUT TO KEEP IT SHORT IN THIS POST 'If I gotta be damned, you know I wanna be damned/ Dancing through the night with you' like imagine an end of show silly celebration that Ghoul escaped and Henley is happy to be damned, he's actually happy to be this flawed sinner because it means his son can live and Ghoul can grow and NKJCJHCASKJIE FUCKKKKKK I'm stopping myself there, I am because this song makes me so unwell even before I listened to this dumb podcast.

Okay, safe to say Henley Whispers and his arch makes me deeply unwell. I am sorry for my behaviour today but I hope you enjoy the tunes. This is still in progress but as I said I'll reblog with more if I add them. For now, I hope you like this and please recommened more music if you have it :)))))