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Achilles’ Last Stand… in a Wheelchair? Classical References in Pop Music (Ad Navseam Ep. 98)

Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle in the vomitorium as they explore the intersection of the Latin language, Greek mythology, and rock ‘n’ roll. From Sting’s “Scylla and Charybdis” to Led Zeppelin’s “Achilles’ Last Stand,” discover how the classics live on in the top 40.

Introduction: Johnny Pop vs. Ludwig van Oldtimer

Welcome back to the “bunker vomitorium,” listeners! In Episode 98 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, hosts Dr. Jeff Winkle and Dr. David Noe are digging into a subject that bridges the gap between the ancient world and the modern radio dial: Classical References in Pop Music.

The episode begins with a bit of a “pre-show argument” hangover. Dr. Winkle has dubbed himself “Johnny Pop” for his appreciation of current culture, while accusing Dr. Noe of being “Ludwig van Oldtimer”—a man who seemingly believes pop culture has nothing to contribute to the classics.

Despite the tension (and Dr. Noe’s refusal to use the word “excitement”), the hosts agree that this is a massive subject. Classical allusions have been popping up in music since the dawn of the genre in the 1950s, proving that the Latin language and Greek myths are far from dead.

The Police: Caught Between Scylla and Charybdis

The first track on the turntable is The Police’s 1983 hit, “Wrapped Around Your Finger”. While Dr. Noe finds the music video—featuring Sting doing jumping jacks in white chiffon amidst candles—a bit “bizarre,” the lyrics offer a textbook example of classical reception.

Sting, never one to shy away from a high-brow reference, sings:

“You consider me the young apprentice / Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis.”

Dr. Noe notes the “sheer bravado” of rhyming “apprentice” with “Charybdis”8. The reference taps into the ancient axiom of being caught between a rock and a hard place9999. Dr. Winkle suggests the song is about spite—turning the tables on a master—which fits perfectly with the vindictive themes found in authors like Ovid.

Mumford & Sons: Plato in the Cave

Next up is Mumford & Sons with their track “The Cave”11. Dr. Noe initially confuses the band with the 1970s sitcom Sanford and Son, but eventually, the hosts dig into the lyrics.

The song is rich with references:

While Dr. Noe argues that the Sirens reference is a bit “too easy” and wishes pop stars would reach for more obscure myths (like Perdex the partridge), he concedes that the band successfully blends Platonic philosophy with Christian imagery.

Led Zeppelin: The Wheelchair Song

Perhaps the most famous classical title in rock history is Led Zeppelin’s “Achilles’ Last Stand”. However, as the hosts reveal, the song title is actually a bit of an inside joke.

The song was written after lead singer Robert Plant was in a severe car accident that shattered his ankle17. He recorded the vocals from a wheelchair, leading the band to originally dub it “The Wheelchair Song”. The title “Achilles’ Last Stand” is an ironic nod to Plant’s injury to his own “calcaneal tendon” (Achilles heel) and the fact that, like the Greek hero, he could not stand.

Lyrically, the song references:

Dr. Noe finds the 10-minute runtime “self-indulgent” (longer than the Peloponnesian War!), but admits the drumming of John Bonham is impressive.

Steely Dan: Retsina and the Odyssey

The hosts then turn to Steely Dan’s “Home at Last” from the album Aja. Dr. Winkle, a self-confessed Steely Dan fan, calls the album a “sonic masterpiece,” though Dr. Noe dismisses it as “too much like jazz”.

The lyrics provide a rare pop culture reference to Retsina, a Greek wine flavored with pine resin that Dr. Noe compares to “Mountain Dew with a little pitch”.

“She serves the smooth Retsina… Still I remain tied to the mast / Could it be that I have found my home at last?”.

Once again, we see the motif of Odysseus tied to the mast, proving that the Odyssey is the go-to source for songwriters looking for a metaphor for temptation and homecoming.

Suzanne Vega: Calypso’s Lament

In a shift to a more haunting tone, the hosts discuss Suzanne Vega’s “Calypso”. Dr. Winkle praises Vega for taking a well-known myth and retelling it from the female perspective—specifically, from the view of the nymph Calypso after Odysseus leaves.

“My name is Calypso… I let him go / In the dawn he sails away to be gone forevermore.”

Dr. Winkle compares this to modern retellings like Madeline Miller’s Circe, noting how it universalizes the sadness of a relationship ending.

Bob Dylan: Heracles in the Crib

Finally, the hosts touch on Bob Dylan’s “Jokerman”32. Dr. Noe, generally not a fan of Dylan (“I don’t like anything”), admits that the classical reference here is obscure enough to be interesting.

“You were born with a snake in both of your fists while a hurricane was blowing.”

This is a direct allusion to the infant Heracles (Hercules), who strangled two snakes sent by Hera to kill him in his crib35. The song blends this Greek myth with biblical imagery (“casting your bread upon the waters”) and Caribbean folklore (“Jumbies”), creating a “mystical” mix that is quintessential Dylan.

Sponsors

This episode of Ad Navseam is brought to you by:

Gustatory Parting Shot

Dr. Winkle wraps up the show with a quote from Gideon Defoe’s The Pirates! In an Adventure with Ahab:

“It was about as close as you could get to the platonic ideal of a ham. If Plato had spent more time discussing hams and less time mucking about with triangles…” 

Valete! (And let trigons be trigons!).

Resources for the Latin and Greek Learner

LatinPerDiem: Dr. Winkle recommends Dr. Noe’s Latin course, featuring over 1800 free videos and a full course on Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata for just $199. Visit latinperdiem.com

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