Death by Lightning soundtrack guide: A complete list of the music in the latest Netflix drama

Death by Lightning brings history to life, and honestly, the music just hits different.

The Netflix limited series, produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, blends old-school politics with a pulse that feels totally modern, all thanks to a killer soundtrack.

If you’ve been wondering what songs play through the rise and fall of President James Garfield’s story, we’ve got you covered. Here’s every track that shapes the tone of Death by Lightning and why the sound matters just as much as the story.

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The show that made history feel like now

The new Netflix 4-part mini-series doesn’t play out like your usual political drama, but it’s full of strange beauty. The show, created by Mike Makowsky and directed by Matt Ross, dives into the wild true story of U.S. President James Garfield and his assassin, Charles Guiteau.

Michael Shannon plays Garfield, a man trying to change a broken system, while Matthew Macfadyen steps into the shoes of Guiteau, the man obsessed with him.

Based on Candice Millard’s book Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President, the series reimagines American history with detail and modern relevance.

Makowsky even told Netflix’s Tudum,

“It’s been the thrill of a lifetime seeing this crack team come together to bring James Garfield and his cohort back from the annals of long-forgotten history.”

He added that what makes the show so timely is its theme of corruption and power. He explained:

“The idea of civil service reform and cleaning up the grift in our government - this is something Garfield very much stood for...”

The title itself comes from one of Garfield’s own quotes:

“Assassination can be no more guarded against than death by lightning.”

Chills, right?

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The Death by Lightning soundtrack that makes every scene electric

Every scene in Death by Lightning carries that mix of 1800s politics and pure emotion, and the soundtrack is what keeps it alive. Here’s the complete list:

Songs featured in the series:

1. Everyday People - Sly & The Family Stone
2. Do They Hang Too Low? - Oscar Brand
3. You Rascal You - Hanni El Khatib
4. Weep No More (from the Netflix Limited Series "Death by Lightning") - Hanni El Khatib

Each of these tracks captures a different mood, whether it be rebellion, sorrow, irony, or even hope. Hanni El Khatib’s Weep No More in particular adds a raw emotional layer that fits Garfield’s journey perfectly.

Original score by Ramin Djawadi:

The score, composed by the legendary Ramin Djawadi, also lifts the show to a whole other level. Known for Game of Thrones and Westworld, Djawadi’s work here is cinematic and human. The full list of his instrumentals includes:

1. Prove My Worth
2. The Man From Ohio
3. Daily Theocrat
4. Meeting the President
5. The Story of a Hero
6. It’s a Deadlock
7. A Big Game
8. Show Me a Better Man
9. A Sound Investment
10. You Will Have No Voice
11. A Flair of Hope
12. Broken Promises
13. Torpedo and the Whale
14. History Will Remember Us
15. A Question of Order
16. Friends in Politics
17. A President for the People
18. The Letter
19. Give Voice to the Common Man
20. A Special Purpose
21. Democracy Calls
22. Stop the Vote
23. I Believe in Change
24. A Place in History
25. A True American Hero
26. Death by Lightning

Each track feels like a heartbeat under Garfield’s story, which could sometimes be steady and sometimes even breaking. It’s not just random background instrumental music; it’s very much part of the storytelling.

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Death by Lightning proves that a great story deserves an equally unforgettable soundtrack. From Hanni El Khatib’s soulful vocals to Ramin Djawadi’s sweeping score, the music breathes life into history, turning a 19th-century tragedy into something that feels brand new.

Whether you came for the drama or the politics, you’ll stay for the sound because every note, every scale, and every chord seems to tell its own story.

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