Every Song In True Detective: Night Country & When They Play

Summary True Detective season 4 blurs the lines between the supernatural and material world, while delving into the personal demons of hardened detectives.

The talented cast, including Jodie Foster, lends depth to the gripping narrative and well-written character beats.

The show's soundtrack further enhances the chilling atmosphere and thrills of its crime drama.

Other than walking through a compelling mystery drama that unfolds in a small Alaskan city, True Detective: Night Country also features scintillating tracks that perfectly complement its pivotal moments. Like every new season in the True Detective series, season 4 introduces a whole new roster of characters and a self-contained storyline. At the same time, it also draws several subtle references to True Detective season 1, hinting that it unfolds in the same universe where Rust and Marty had once teamed up.

Like season 1, True Detective season 4 not only blurs the lines between the supernatural and the material world but also presents hardened detective characters who start confronting their personal demons as they get to the bottom of the overarching mystery. Owing to this, it is not surprising that, like all previous seasons of the series, True Detective season 4, too, has a talented cast that includes Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Finn Bennett, Fiona Shaw, and John Hawkes, among others. Along with a gripping narrative, well-written character beats, and a strong roster, True Detective also has a great soundtrack that further enhances the chills and thrills instilled by its crime drama.

Related Where Was True Detective: Night Country Filmed? All Filming Locations With its unique Alaskan setting, viewers are wondering where True Detective: Night Country was filmed. These are all of season 4's filming locations.

All Songs In True Detective: Night Country Episode 1

The Season Premiere Features Songs By The Beatles And Billie Eilish

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"Twist And Shout" by The Beatles: The Beatles "Twist and Shout" plays in the opening scene of True Detective season 4's episode 1, where the camera explores the inside of a research facility in Alaska. Moments later, all the researchers suddenly vanish from the facility. When a delivery man arrives at the facility a few days later, he hears the same song from a distance, believing that the researchers are still inside. However, to his surprise, he finds no one. When Jodie Foster's Detective Danvers first arrives at the site to investigate the disappearance of the researchers, she, too, hears the song and rushes inside to turn it off. The anxiousness with which she turns it off suggests it reminds her of something traumatic from her past.

"Sweat (A La La La La Long)" by Inner Circle: This upbeat track plays in the truck of the delivery man as he makes his way to the Alaskan research facility to deliver goods to the researchers.

"Bury a Friend" by Billie Eilish: Golden Globe Winner Billie Eilish's "Bury a Friend" is the opening theme of True Detective season 4. The song's ethereal quality is in tandem with the show's themes and even its lyrics seem to foreshadow season 4's primary plot points.

"Magpie" by The Unthanks: This one briefly plays when Danvers arrives at the TSALAL facility to investigate the disappearance of the researchers. It later plays again during the end credits of the True Detective season 4 episode.

"You Are Amen" by Pollyester: When Navarro visits Annie's brother, she receives an emergency call from a fellow detective, who calls her to her sister's place. As Navarro makes her way to her sister's apartment, Pollyester's "You Are Amen" plays in the background.

"Black Sedan" by Charlie Crockett: Charlie Crockett's "Black Sedan" can be faintly heard in Hank Prior's home when his son, Peter, arrives at his place to sneakily collect Annie's murder case file.

"Rescue Me" by Unions: This one can be heard in True Detective: Night Country's episode 1 when Navarro visits Eddie at his place and makes love to him.

"State of the Art (A.E.I.O.U.)" by Jim James: This Jim James track plays in True Detective season 4's episode 1 when Danvers carefully skims through all the evidence she has acquired surrounding the researchers' case and tries to figure out if it shares any links with Annie Masu Kowtok's murder. The song continues playing throughout the sequence in True Detective: Night Country until Danvers finally finds a connection between the two seemingly distinct cases.

Related True Detective: What Happened To The Researchers In Night Country? True Detective season 4's storyline leaves viewers with two nagging questions: what might have happened to the researchers and who murdered them?

All Songs In True Detective: Night Country Episode 2

Episode 2 Includes More Billie Eilish As Well As Johnny Cash And The Spice Girls

"Bury a Friend" by Billie Eilish: Billie Eilish's "Bury a Friend" is the opening theme in True Detective season 4's episode 2.

"Song to the Siren (Take 7)" by Tim Buckley: In True Detective: Night Country's opening arc, Navarro visits Rose's home to learn more about her visions of Travis. Before opening up to Navarro about her supernatural connection with Travis, Rose plays Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren (Take 7)" in her room.

"Little Saint Nick" by The Beach Boys: As the frozen bodies of the researchers get shifted to Ennis' ice hockey arena, The Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick" plays in the background.

"You're the First, the Last" by Blue Moment: After unlocking one of the researchers' phones in True Detective: Night Country's episode 2, Peter finds a video in which the researchers celebrate and together sing Blue Moment's "You're the First, the Last."

"Wannabe" by Spice Girls: Navarro cheerfully listens to this Spice Girls track while driving her car and even sends her sister a recording of it. However, she suddenly gets distracted when her car skids on ice, and she finds her mother's necklace which reminds her of her traumatic childhood.

"I Love You Love You" by Johnny Cash: Hank hears this song in True Detective: Night Country's episode 2 while texting his fiancé. When she asks him to send her more pictures of him, he goes to his storeroom to click some and discovers that his son stole Annie's case file.

"Pass Them By" by Agnes Obel: This Agnes Obel track starts playing when Liz asks Leah to help her with Christmas decorations, but Liz pretends to sleep in her room before sneaking out of the house from her window.

"Get Down Tonight" by KC and the Sunshine Band: KC and the Sunshine Band's "Get Down Tonight" can be faintly heard in True Detective: Night Country's episode 2 when Leah makes her way to the skating rink after realizing that Peter may still be there.

Related 10 True Detective Mysteries & Questions Created By Season 4's Confirmed Matthew McConaughey Connection The reveal that Travis really is Rust's father has major implications for True Detective's story. Here are 10 major questions the revelation creates.

All Songs In True Detective: Night Country Episode 3

The Third Episode Of Night Country Features Considerably Fewer Tracks

"Sing Sing" by The Bones of J.R. Jones: One of the most pivotal scenes in True Detective: Night Country's episode 3 is when Danvers and Navarro skim through all the evidence they found inside Raymond Clark's van. As they try to find new potential leads in Raymond and Annie's photos, The Bones of J.R. Jones' "Sing Sing" plays in the background, intensifying the sense of urgency surrounding their investigation.

"Like I Do" by Georgina Birch: Danvers and Navarro's hunt for evidence leads them to a hairdresser, Suzan, who they believe was one of the few people aware of Annie and Raymond's relationship. When they enter Suzan's home, George Birch's "Like I Do" can be faintly heard as she colors a local woman's hair.

"Limbo" by Lissom, Julien Marchal & Lowswimmer: Leah's story arc in True Detective: Night Country goes through its own development when she attends a protest in episode 3. As her girlfriend leads her to a protest against the local mine and its water polluting activities, "Limbo" plays in the background, marking the inception of her rite of passage.

"I Follow Rivers" by Marika Hackman: This track plays in True Detective: Night Country's episode 3 when Navarro finds her sister out in the cold and comforts her before taking her back home and tucking her in bed.

All Songs In True Detective: Night Country Episode 4

Billie Eilish Is Once Again Utilized In Night Country Episode 4

"Experience" by Ludovico Einaudi, Daniel Hope & I Virtuosi Italiani: This track plays in the opening arc of True Detective: Night Country after Danvers rescues Jules, and Jules and Navarro thank her. It continues playing as Navarro takes Jules to a local mental health facility.

"Everybody Dies" by Billie Eilish: Billie Eilish's "Everybody Dies" can be heard in the background in True Detective: Night Country's episode 4 when Navarro's sister, Julia, walks towards the sea to take her own life. It goes on playing as Danvers' daughter, Leah, leaves home after having an argument with her mother.

"Into Dust" by Mazzy Star: This one plays in True Detective: Night Country's episode 4 when Peter's family and Leah prepare dinner for the evening, but Peter is forced to go and visit Oliver after Danvers finds some new leads in the case through Annie's video.

"Buddy's Journey" by John Cardon Debney & Hollywood Studio Symphony: "Buddy's Journey" is a song from the movie Elf, which plays when Danvers' visits Ted in episode 4.

"Ode to Elf" by Tall Blue Midget: This track can be heard when Hank watches Elf on Christmas Eve while having dinner all by himself.

"Feel First Life" by Jon Hopkins: Jon Hopkins' "Feel First Life" starts playing in True Detective: Night Country's episode 4 when Navarro hears the news of her sister's demise. It continues playing when Peter returns home late on Chistmas Eve.

"This Wild Darkness" by Moby: This one plays in the True Detective season 4 episode when Navarro tries to vent out her anger and grief towards her sister's sudden death by getting into a fight with a few local men.

All Songs In True Detective: Night Country Episode 5

Episode 5 Includes Songs By Fink And Zayde Wolf

"Auld Lang Syne" by Stefano Civetta & London Voices: This Christmas-y song plays in True Detective: Night Country's episode 5 after Hank meets Kate McKitterick, who orders him to get Otis Heiss out of their way. As Hank leaves Kate's car and wonders what he has gotten himself involved in, the somber track reflects his conflicted mind.

"Warm Shadow" by Fink: Fink's "Warm Shadow" starts playing moments after Navarro confronts Danvers when she informs her that they will have to give up on the case. Navarro tells her that she will carry Annie with her, which makes Danvers wonder what she should do as "Warm Shadow" plays in the background. The track continues playing as Navarro pours her sister's ashes in a hole in the ice that Rose digs out for her.

"Die 4 You" by Perfume Genius: This romantic track can be heard in True Detective: Night Country's episode 5 when Navarro cuddles with Eddie and finds comfort in his arms. While she is at it, Danvers visits the local cemetery and looks at the graves of all the stillborn children who passed away because of the pollution caused by the mine. This ultimately encourages Danvers to continue her investigation surrounding Annie and the researchers' murders.

"Nothing Breaks Like a Heart (triple j Like a Version)" by Clea: After Pete kills his father and realizes what he has done, this track plays in the backdrop, highlighting how terrible he feels. The song continues playing in True Detective: Night Country as Danvers hugs him and consoles him, and Navarro also arrives at the crime scene.

"Save Tonight" by Zayde Wolf: A slowed down cover of Eagle-Eye Cherry's hit 1997 song, "Save Tonight" plays over the end credits to close out True Detective: Night Country episode 5 in sorrowful style.

All Songs In True Detective: Night Country Episode 6

The Finale Of True Detective: Night Country Uses A Beatles Hit Once Again

Custom image by Yailin Chacon

"Twist And Shout" by The Beatles: The Beatles' "Twist and Shout" first played in True Detective: Night Country episode 1 when Danvers entered the Tsalal facility to investigate the disappearance of the researchers. Her reaction to the song suggested that it reminded her of a traumatic memory. Another episode later revealed that Danvers used to listen to the song with her late son, Holden, who died in a car accident. In True Detective: Night Country's finale, "Twist and Shout" can be heard again when Navarro and Danvers climb inside Tsalal through the hatch that connects it to the ice cave.

Much later in the episode, Danvers has a vision of her son and almost drowns in an attempt to interact with him. When Navarro saves her, she asks her what her son told her in her visions. Navarro reveals that he says that he "sees her." While Navarro and Danvers share this heartfelt moment, a somber and slow version of The Beatles' "Twist and Shout" faintly plays in the background.

"The Only Shrine I've Seen" by DARKSIDE: This track can be heard in True Detective: Night Country's finale when Peter cleans up his home and loads Hank and Otis' bodies into a truck. It later plays again as he drives to Rose's place, hoping that she will help him get rid of Hank's body. The song perfectly captures all the mixed emotions Peter feels as he struggles to grapple with the idea that he killed his own father and is now trying to get rid of all evidence surrounding the crime.

"Submerged" by Tanya Tagaq: When Danvers and Navarro investigate the handprints on the hatch that connects the Tsalal lab to the ice cave where Annie was murdered, they notice one print does not have two fingers. This makes them realize that the women from the crab factory, who also used to clean the lab, could be responsible for the murders. When they arrive at their home, Bee reveals that she and the other women attacked the Tsalal researchers to seek revenge for Annie's murder.

As she tells her side of the story, True Detective: Night Country features a flashback that reveals how the women had broken into Tsalal to find vengeance. As the women bust open the doors of the research facility, Tanya Tagaq's "Submerged" plays in the background, reflecting the rage the women feel against the researchers. It continues playing in True Detective: Night Country's finale as Bee and the women force the men in a container and later let them loose in the cold.

Where To Stream The True Detective: Night Country Soundtrack

The Soundtrack To True Detective Season 4 Is Available On A Variety Of Platforms

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The soundtrack to True Detective: Night Country is one of the most impressive to appear on the small screen in recent years. It features an incredibly wide variety of licensed music from many established acts, including classic hits from megastars like The Beatles, and plenty from pop sensations like The Spice Girls and modern icon Billie Eilish. As such, there are many who want to listen to the soundtrack once the show concludes, and it's luckily easy to locate.

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The True Detective: Night Country soundtrack is available to stream on Spotify thanks to an official playlist curated by HBO, as well as on a YouTube playlist courtesy of WaterTower Music. The musical score, most of which is composed by Vince Pope, is also available on Spotify, and can also be purchased on Amazon Music.