Yellowjackets Season 3 Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Yellowjackets season 3.

The Yellowjackets season 3 soundtrack plays an important role in continuing to develop the show’s past and present-day timelines. Yellowjackets season 3’s story picks up in the aftermath of the cabin being burnt down in the wilderness and Natalie Scatorccio (Juliette Lewis) being accidentally killed by Misty Quigley (Christina Ricci). Without the cabin, the teenage survivors have to adapt and find a new way to survive in the wilderness. As the present-day survivors deal with the fallout from Natalie’s death, a new threat emerges, and is stalking Shauna Sadecki (Melanie Lynskey).

Yellowjackets season 2’s ending also saw teenage Natalie (Sophie Thatcher) becoming the group’s new leader, Coach Ben Scott (Steven Krueger) leaving the group, and present-day Lottie Matthews (Simone Kessell) being institutionalized and losing the community she built. Season 3 explores the ramifications of these developments in both of Yellowjackets‘ timelines. The soundtrack is a key piece of this exploration, and with the past timeline taking place in the 1990s, many of the songs are fittingly from that decade.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 1 Songs

“It Girl”

“Maxwell Murders” by Rancid: Episode 1 initially tries to make the audience think that Mari Ibarra (Alexa Barajas) is being hunted for the purpose of being eaten by the other girls. However, it quickly becomes clear that the hunt is not about cannibalism, and is part of a game called Capture the Bone. When teenage Misty (Samantha Hanratty) runs and helps her team win, “Maxwell Murders” by Rancid plays, and is a sign that there is still darkness among the girls despite their seemingly improved circumstances.

“Morning Has Broken” by Cat Stevens: After losing the cabin, the teenagers have now built new shelters and an entire community. There is no longer any need to eat each other, as they have gathered ducks, who are primarily looked after by Akilah (Nia Sondaya), and the warmer weather makes it possible to successfully hunt again. “Morning Has Broken” by Cat Stevens can be heard as the season 3 premiere showcases the new home and lifestyle the girls have created for themselves.

“I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany: In the present day, Taissa Turner (Tawny Cypress) and Van Palmer (Lauren Ambrose) momentarily go back to being mischievous teenagers as they continue to rekindle their relationship. They decide to leave an upscale restaurant without paying, and while being pursued by a waiter, they joyfully run and laugh as “I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany plays. The song abruptly cuts off when the waiter is almost hit by a bus, and he collapses and has a fatal heart attack.

“Glycerine” by Bush: Taissa and Van do not see what happened to the waiter and are filled with glee after their impulsive and thrilling decision to run away without paying. As they kiss, “Glycerine” by Bush kicks in. With the song’s lyrics being about the complexities of a romantic relationship, it is a fitting song to play in this Taissa and Van scene, given their history and the Man with No Eyes briefly appearing as well.

“Cherry Bomb” by Runaways: While continuing to struggle with the grief and self-loathing she feels after accidentally killing Natalie, Misty goes to a bar. “Cherry Bomb” by Runaways can be heard playing in the background of the bar after she arrives. The song is then amplified as Misty drinks numerous shots and unsuccessfully tries to drown her feelings in alcohol. “Cherry Bomb” works as a metaphor for how Misty is feeling, especially when she begins to antagonize and threaten the other bar patrons as she struggles to cope with her inner turmoil.

“I Will Survive” by Cake: Episode 1 ends with Mari falling into a pit, hurting herself, and crying out for help. Her call is not heard by any of her fellow teenage survivors, but by Coach Scott, who has been surviving on his own in the wilderness. As a terrified Mari looks up at him, and Coach Scott looks down at her, “I Will Survive” by Cake plays, and it continues into the episode’s end credits, leaving the question of what Coach Scott and Mari will each now have to do to survive.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 2 Songs

“Dislocation”

“Virtual Insanity” by Jamiroquai: As seen from Van’s video rental store in season 2, she still loves 1990s popular culture. This makes it no surprise that when singing karaoke at home, she sings “Virtual Insanity” by Jamiroquai, a song that was released in 1996. Prior to stepping on a drinking glass and cutting her foot, the scene feels lighthearted and another indicator of Van and Taissa living their best lives together, with neither of them aware yet of the waiter’s death.

“Rebel Girl” by Bikini Girl: Episode 2 ends with a twist as teenage Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) and Melissa (Jenna Burgess) kiss while present-day Shauna tries to figure out the identity of her stalker. As a song that subverts the patterns of heterosexual pop music, it makes sense to play “Rebel Girl” by Bikini Girl as Shauna’s attraction to women is revealed. Shauna’s relationship with Melissa will be integral in the past timeline, and potentially in the present as well as Yellowjackets season 3 continues.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 3 Songs

“Them’s The Brakes”

“I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred: Yellowjackets season 3, episode 3 opens with “I’m Too Sexy” by Right Said Fred. The upbeat music is juxtaposed with the captive Mari singing to the tune of the song and modifying the words to say she is too sexy to be trapped in this cave. With Mari and Coach Ben talking about their difficulties coming to terms with their current realities, the juxtaposition is aligned with their struggles in this episode.

“Nookie” by Limp Bizkit: The meaning of the title “Them’s the Brakes” becomes clear when Shauna is driving, and she finds herself unable to control the brakes in her car. “Nookie” by Limp Bizkit plays as Shauna struggles to regain control of the car and attempts to stop it before she or Misty are killed. Shauna blames Misty for cutting the brakes and makes several other accusatory and unkind comments, which finally gets Misty to see that Shauna does not value her and does not see her as a friend.

“Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Cass Elliot: Episode 3 sees Lottie and Shauna’s daughter, Callie Sadecki (Sarah Desjardins), continuing to become closer. This leads to them cooking dinner in the kitchen of the Sadecki home while they dance, laugh, and sing along to “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Cass Elliot. A song about fearlessness and carving one’s own path is an appropriate choice for the unique relationship Lottie and Callie are forging, even though Shauna does not approve.

“Cold” by The Cure: After saving teenage Shauna, Van (Liv Hewson), and Akilah from poisonous gas, Coach Ben is cornered by Natalie and the other survivors. “Cold” by The Cure plays as the Yellowjackets episode ends and during the credits as Coach Scott’s fate now lies in the hands of the girls that he left behind. They believe that he was responsible for burning down the cabin, which he insisted to Mari that he did not do, and was not aware of it until she told him about what happened.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 4 Songs

“12 Angry Girls and 1 Drunk Travis”

“Fresh Blood” by Eels: With Taissa thinking that someone else needs to be sacrificed to the wilderness to keep Van alive, they put a Queen of Hearts card on the sidewalk, and the individual who picks up the card becomes their sacrifice. Since they are searching for fresh blood to sacrifice, “Fresh Blood” by the Eels is the perfect song to play during this scene as a way to find their victim.

“The Sign” by Ace Of Base: When Shauna is doing volunteer work at the facility where Misty works, Misty puts her on tapioca duty. Misty is still mad at Shauna for what she said to her in episode 3 and thinks preparing the tapioca will annoy her. Much to Misty’s chagrin, she finds that Shauna is enjoying the work and happily listening to “The Sign” by Ace Of Base.

“Linger” by the Cranberries: After they decide not to go through with sacrificing the man who picked up the Queen of Hearts card, Taissa takes a more wholesome approach to her relationship with Van. She takes Van to buy her a soft pretzel in Manhattan and arranges a carriage ride through Central Park, which are both things that teenage Van said she wanted to do with Taissa years ago. “Linger” by the Cranberries can be heard during a scene that is sweet, but that has a worrisome undertone given how Van’s hand shakes.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 5 Songs

“Did Tai Do That?”

“Rid of Me” by PJ Harvey: At the end of this Yellowjackets episode, Shauna has Melissa stab Coach Ben’s remaining foot. This ensures that he will not be able to escape and that he can be the “bridge” that will lead them home, as Akilah saw in her vision. It is during this scene that “Rid of Me” by PJ Harvey plays, and it continues into the end credits. As Coach Scott’s torment continues, the girls are not ready to get rid of him yet, which makes this particular song choice work. One of the lyrics even is “I’ll tie your legs.”

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 6 Songs

“Thanksgiving (Canada)”

“Queen of Hearts” by Juice Newton: When Shauna returns home at the beginning of the episode, “Queen of Hearts” by Juice Newton briefly plays. This is the same song as the ringtone of the phone seemingly left by her stalker in episode 2. The song is used as a way to show how the stalker is weighing on Shauna’s mind, even more so after Lottie’s death. When Shauna steps inside her house and sees her husband, Jeff Sadecki (Warren Kole), the song cuts off.

“Be There” by Lower: Natalie reaches her breaking point with Coach Ben’s suffering. As “Be There” by Lower plays, she goes to kill Coach Ben to put him out of his misery. On the way there, she is temporarily stopped by Travis Martinez (Kevin Alves), but he supports giving Coach Ben a merciful end and stands guard. Coach Ben is grateful to finally be killed and to no longer have to suffer after being tormented and forced to live against his will for so long.

“Bae Nosy” by LohArano: In one of Yellowjackets‘ most shocking moments yet, the episode ends with the teenage survivors encountering new characters in the wilderness. One of them, a man, says hello, and then becomes alarmed when he sees Coach Ben’s severed head. “Bae Nosy” by LohArano plays during the credits after this reveal, which is poised to change the show, given that these are the first people the teens have come across in the wilderness.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 7 Songs

“Croak”

“Fly” by Sugar Ray: The beginning of “Croak” shows what happened to Edwin (Nelson Franklin), Hannah (Ashley Sutton), and Kodiak (Joel McHale) in the three days before they encounter the teenage survivors. During one of these days, they are stuck in their tent due to the rain. As they smoke weed and fool around, “Fly” by Sugar Ray plays, but the fun abruptly ends when Hannah and Kodiak break the phone that is their lifeline back to civilization.

“Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” by Tammy Wynette: Shauna, Misty, Taissa, and Van go on a road trip to Richmond, Virginia to confront Hannah’s daughter. During the trip, “Your Good Girl’s Gonna Go Bad” by Tammy Wynette can be heard, and it continues to play after the group pulls into a gas station. While there, Taissa and Van have a tense disagreement about whether people need to die to keep Van alive. Taissa believes these sacrifices are the reason for Van’s improved health, but Van is adamantly opposed to these murders.

“Blood B*tch” by Cocteau Twins: At the end of this Yellowjackets episode, Shauna is parked near the house of Hannah’s daughter, and Shauna has her old knife in her possession. “Blood B*tch” by Cocteau Twins adds to the ominous nature of the scene. Shauna is poised to kill Hannah’s daughter in the ongoing efforts to conceal the truth of what really happened in the wilderness.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 8 Songs

“A Normal, Boring Life”

“Alright” by Supergrass: “Alright” by Supergrass plays while Hannah and Kodiak bury Edwin and Mari keeps an eye on them. During this, Mari imagines that she is holding a blue Slurpee in her hand. Meanwhile, Misty imagines she is on the toilet and has toilet paper, and Van imagines she is on a bed with soft sheets, blankets, and pillows. Now that leaving the wilderness and going home feels like a feasible reality, they are all imagining the luxuries they will have in their lives again.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis: When Jeff and Callie agree that they don’t think anyone is actually after them, they decide to leave the hotel where they have been staying as per Shauna’s wishes. This decision is greeted with “Wonderwall” by Oasis, which continues to play as the episode transitions back to the 1990s timeline, where the teenage survivors are packing up and feeling optimistic since they believe they are on their way to being rescued.

“Dig Me Out” by Sleater-Kinney: When Shauna rips off a piece of the adult Melissa’s (Hilary Swank) arm and commands her to eat it, “Dig Me Out” by Sleater-Kinney plays, and it continues into the credits. With the song being about repression, heartbreak, and survival, it is a dark, but fitting choice to include while Shauna unleashes the rage and feral nature that she has been repressing, leading to a deeply twisted ending between her and Melissa in this Yellowjackets episode.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 9 Songs

“How the Story Ends”

“YSFP” by Red Ribbon: Callie and Jeff continue to bond in unexpected ways. When Jeff sees her preparing to smoke marijuana, he does not chastise her, and instead instructs her how to do it better, which leads to the father and daughter smoking together. “YSFP” by Red Ribbon is playing in Callie’s bedroom when Jeff walks in. The song is an acronym for “You’re so f***ing pretty,” which feels on-brand for the kind of song that Callie would be listening to.

“Creep” by Stone Temple Pilots: The episode transitions to other storylines while Callie and Jeff are smoking together, but when the episode returns to them, “Creep” by Stone Temple Pilots is playing. With the song being about the feeling of alienation, it is appropriate that Jeff opens up about the lonely experience of being married to someone like Shauna, which is a heartbreaking, albeit understandable, sentiment that he has not fully expressed before.

“Dear One” by Pisces: The teenage survivors are split into two camps, with one group wanting to go home, and the other wanting to stay in the wilderness. The episode shows what the various groups are doing at night, including Melissa saying, “F*** Shauna,” as she joins the group that wants to leave the wilderness. It is during this nighttime montage that “Dear One” by Pisces plays, which works for this scene, given that the song is about the duality of choices.

Related

Why Shauna, Lottie & Tai Refuse To Go With Nat & The Others In Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 8

New characters in the wilderness have made rescue feel viable for the first time in Yellowjackets, but not all characters want to pursue this route.

“Hold On” by Wilson Phillips: After picking Misty up in a helicopter, Walter Tattersall (Elijah Wood) takes Misty back to his home. While bringing her a chocolate martini, “Hold On” by Wilson Phillips can be heard playing in the background. The song choice is a small detail in a scene whose focus is on Misty doubting whether Shauna actually killed Lottie. Misty also sees something on Walter’s phone that shocks her and that causes her to vacate the premises before Walter returns with chocolate shavings for the martini.

“Exit Music (for a Film)” by Radiohead: Van is unable to go through with killing Melissa, even though this sacrifice might allow her to survive her cancer for a little longer. Melissa has no qualms about killing Van, though, as she stabs Van with a knife and fatally wounds her. The song “Exit Music (for a Film)” by Radiohead accompanies Van into the afterlife as she has a vision of herself on a plane, talks to her younger self, and watches Taissa cry over her body. This particular song makes the scene even more devastating than it already is.

“Glycerine” by Bush: The song choice in the credits of this Yellowjackets episode brings the season full-circle. The same song is played in episode 1 when Taissa and Van kiss after running away from the fancy restaurant without paying. Much like the couple in the song, Taissa and Van had a complex and often difficult relationship, but as the younger Van explains in the vision, this is not how the full story ends.

Yellowjackets Season 3, Episode 10 Songs

“Full Circle”

“Sleepwalking”: “Sleepwalking” plays twice during the Yellowjackets season 3 finale. It first plays at the beginning of the episode as Lottie has a vision of the Antler Queen, Natalie’s tent is inspected, and there is a flashback to what happened after Natalie discovered that Misty has had the black box transponder this entire time. The song returns later in the episode when a flashback reveals that Callie killed Lottie.

“The Mystery of Love” by Marianne Faithfull: As Taissa prepares to bury Van, the song “Mystery of Love” by Marianne Faithfull plays. This includes a montage showing memories of the teenage and adult versions of Taissa and Van together. The song continues as Taissa tells Van that she is going to remember everything about her and then proceeds to cut out and eat her heart. As a song about the complexities of love and trying to fix the mistakes in a relationship, it is perfectly incorporated into this scene.

“Raining Blood” by Slayer: When Taissa and Misty meet toward the end of the episode, and discuss how Shauna is the problem, Walter angrily watches them from his car. “Raining Blood” by Slayer is playing on his car radio, with the thrash metal song encapsulating the anger he feels. From his perspective, he has continually tried to help Misty and show that the other Yellowjackets do not care about her. Nevertheless, Misty has once again gone back to the Yellowjackets instead of him.

“Livin’ on the Edge” by Aerosmith: With the fixed satellite phone in her possession, Natalie climbs to a higher point, and attempts to communicate with the outside world. “Livin on the Edge” by Aerosmith plays during this scene, which ends with Natalie successfully making contact, as an unidentified man responds in the episode’s final moments. This is the final song of Yellowjackets season 3.

Yellowjackets

7/10

Release Date

November 14, 2021

Network

Showtime, Paramount+ with Showtime

Showrunner

Ashley Lyle, Bart Nickerson, Jonathan Lisco