cyberjudge Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Heard the song "Wake Up Call" by Maroon 5 on my way home from work today, and it made me think about other songs written from the perspective of someone who confesses to a killing in the lyrics. Ones I came up with off the top of my head are: Wake Up Call-Maroon 5 The Night the Lights Went Down in Georgia-Vicki Lawrence Dark Lady-Cher I Shot the Sheriff-Eric Clapton Bohemian Rhapsody-Queen Coward of the County-Kenny Rogers and one based on a real life killing: I Don't Like Mondays-Boomtown Rats Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 "Where The Wild Roses Grow" - Nick Cave & Kylie Minogue "Delilah" - Tom Jones "The Cops Are Coming" - The Outcasts That's 3 straight off the top of my head. There must be quite a few more... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 (edited) that's a coincidence I was just listening to The Adverts: Gary Gilmore's Eyes I'm lying in a hospital, I'm pinned against the bed. A stethoscope upon my heart, A hand against my head. They're peeling off the bandages. I'm wincing in the light. The nurse is looking anxious, And she's quivering in fright... I'm looking through Gary Gilmore's eyes. looking through Gary Gilmore's eyes. looking through Gary Gilmore's eyes. Edited March 14, 2008 by Guest typo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 (edited) A bit more necrophilious than the above, but Skinned by Blind Melon was inspired by Ed Gein and is sung from his perspective (or that of someone like him). Edited March 14, 2008 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 B-f, I'm surprised you didn't mention Psycho -- Beasts of Bourbon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Well, I thought of those first three in about 20 seconds. I'm sure if I had had another 30 seconds at it, I probably would have come up with "Psycho" and "Gary Gilmore's Eyes". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 I Don't Like Mondays-Boomtown Rats that song's not really from the killer's perspective, but that's probably just my nitpicking self (nobody's gonna go to school today / she's gonna make them stay at home) and if that's okay with you then this one will be too: Jeremy ~ Pearl Jam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluesky Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Psycho Killer-The Talking Heads Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind-fitter Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 (edited) "Leeds United" by Luke Haines, is not actually about the football club I support: they are used as a cipher for the grimness of the 1970s, when serial killer Peter Sutcliffe (aka "The Yorkshire Ripper") stalked the streets. This song, released as a single and featuring on the "Off My Rocker At The Art School Bop" album, imagines Sutcliffe as its narrator. It changes from 1st person(sing.)to 3rd person, then to 1st person plural in the course of the narrative. But then again, Sutcliffe did claim paranoid schizophrenia as his defence in court. Listen to it here: second track down The lyrics "When I get home my wife will kill me She's so house proud, so don't tread dirt into the carpet Stop for a pint in Chapeltown Lights turn to red and then they go out And for the price of five pounds It's what the seventies were about Baby Leeds United, Leeds United From Wakefield to the Ridings To the ground at Elland Road At Leeds United they're chanting vengeance, it's a 13-0 defeat on the front page of the Post A last minute substitution but we didn't have the talent I was beaten, we were gutted, I was as sick as a parrot Leeds United Leeds United Every Saturday night at the Teddy Boys' disco It's good to be young, leave the wife at home now Propping up the bar, World Of Sport, then fixing the car You're on a mission from God: It's what the weekend's all about It's good to be young now Leeds United Leeds United Mark II Ford Cortina, Vauxhall Viva, Ford Corsair On the terraces of Leeds United One voice is silent, he's the man with jet black hair And come to bed eyes, that's what he had It's just another wet Saturday afternoon with the lads Leeds United (times 4) Little monsters run and roam Little blighters in the carpet They're hidden in the walls In the attic and in the cupboards And in the house of Lords The chamber of horrors at Madame Tussauds Out with the old we've got to make room for them all Now the chorus Leeds United Leeds United There but for the grace of God we go Leeds United Leeds United Bad season after season at Elland Road Leeds United Leeds United No leads for the West Yorkshire police In Victorian Leeds concrete Leeds There's a killer on the terraces better call in Doris Stokes The devil came to Yorkshire in the silver Jubilee It could be Kendo Nagasaki Jimmy Savile or the Queen Leeds United (times 4) The North, the North Where we do what we want The North the North Where we do what we like The North, the North Where we do what we want The North the North Where we do what we like Edited March 15, 2008 by Guest Add link to listening opportunity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skybluesky Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town is from the view point of a potential killer~ If I could I'd get my gun and put her in the ground Also A Boy Named Sue~ My Name is Sue, how do you do, now you're going to die Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Seeker Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Folsom Prison Blues by Johnny Cash is another one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvish Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Used to Love Her ~ GnR I remember the misogyny controversy back in the day; thought it was silly and loved (love) the song. It's obviously tongue in cheek Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cyberjudge Posted March 15, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 The song is mostly written in the third person; but the title/chorus is a direct quote from the killer herself after she was apprehended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 Alice Cooper from "Welcome To My Nightmare" - "Steven":"The Awakening". Creeeeeeeeeeeeepy....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted March 15, 2008 Report Share Posted March 15, 2008 John Wayne Gacy- Sufjan Stevens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otokichi Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 "Sniper" by Harry Chapin takes us into the fevered mind of University of Texas killer, Charles Whitman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted March 16, 2008 Report Share Posted March 16, 2008 "The Hand of Fate" - The Rolling Stones The hand of fate is on me now It pick me up and knock me down I'm on the run, I'm prison bound The hand of fate is heavy now I killed a man, I'm highway bound The wheel of fortune keeps turning round Turning round, turning round I should have known it was a one horse town My sweet girl was once his wife He had papers the judge had signed The wind blew hard, it was stormy night He shot me once, but I shot him twice The hand of fate is on me now It pick me up and it kicked me right down Kicked me right down Kicked me right down I had to save her life Yeah, I gunned him twice Yeah, and I watched him die, watch out boy Yeah, I watched him die He was a barroom man, the violent kind He had no love for that gal of mine Then one day in a drinking bout He swore he'd throw me right of town The hand of fate is on me now I shot that man I put him underground I put him underground Yes I did I'm on the run, I hear the hounds My luck is up, my chips are down So goodbye baby, so long now Wish me luck, I'm going to need it child The hand of fate is on me now Yeah it's too late Too late baby, too late now The hand of fate is on me now The hand of fate is heavy now It pick you up and knock you down Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBrown Posted March 17, 2008 Report Share Posted March 17, 2008 (edited) *The Doors - Riders on the Storm* (Jim Morrison is the hitchhiker) "Theres a killer on the road His brain is squirmin like a toad Take a long holiday Let your children play If ya give this man a ride Sweet memory will die Killer on the road, yeah" *Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues* "But I shot a man in Reno, Just to watch him die" *Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe* "Hey Joe, where you goin' with that gun in your hand Hey Joe, I said where you goin' with that gun in your hand I'm going down to shoot my old lady You know, I've caught her messin' around with another man I'm going down to shoot my old lady You know, I've caught her messin' around with another man And that ain't too cool Hey Joe, I've heard you shot your woman down, shot her down, now I said I've heard you shot your old lady down, You shot her down to the ground Yes I did, I shot her You know, I caught her messin' round, messin' round town Yes I did, I shot her You know, I caught my old lady messin' around town And I gave her the gun I SHOT HER! Hey Joe, alright Shoot her one more time, baby Hey Joe, said now Where you gonna run to now? Where you gonna run to? Hey Joe, I said where you gonna run to now? Where you, where you gonna go? Well, dig it I'm goin' way down south, Way down to Mexico way Alright! I'm goin' way down south, Way down where I can be free Ain't no one gonna find me Ain't no hangman gonna, He ain't gonna put a rope around me You better believe it right now I gotta go now Hey Joe, you better run on down Good by everybody Hey Joe, uhh Run on down" *Johhny Cash - Cocaine Blues* "Early one mornin' while makin' the rounds I took a shot of cocaine and I shot my woman down I went right home and I went to bed I stuck that lovin' .44 beneath my head Got up next mornin' and I grabbed that gun Took a shot of cocaine and away I run Made a good run but I ran too slow They overtook me down in Juarez, Mexico Late in the hot joints takin' the pills In walked the sheriff from Jericho Hill He said Willy Lee your name is not Jack Brown You're the dirty heck that shot your woman down Said yes, oh yes my name is Willy Lee If you've got the warrant just a-read it to me Shot her down because she made me sore I thought I was her daddy but she had five more When I was arrested I was dressed in black They put me on a train and they took me back Had no friend for to go my bail They slapped my dried up carcass in that county jail Early next mornin' bout a half past nine I spied the sheriff coming down the line Ah, and he coughed as he cleared his throat He said come on you dirty heck into that district court Into the courtroom my trial began Where I was handled by twelve honest men Just before the jury started out I saw the little judge commence to look about In about five minutes in walked the man Holding the verdict in his right hand The verdict read murder in the first degree I hollered Lawdy Lawdy, have a mercy on me The judge he smiled as he picked up his pen 99 years in the Folsom pen 99 years underneath that ground I can't forget the day I shot that bad bitch down Come on you've gotta listen unto me Lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be" Edited March 17, 2008 by Guest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 Running Gun Blues Words and music by David Bowie I count the corpses on my left, I find I'm not so tidy So I better get away, better make it today I've cut twenty-three down since Friday But I can't control it, my face is drawn My instinct still emotes it I slash them cold, I kill them dead I broke the gooks, I cracked their heads I'll bomb them out from under the beds But now I've got the running gun blues It seems the peacefuls stopped the war Left generals squashed and stifled But I'll slip out again tonight Cause they haven't taken back my rifle For I promote oblivion And I'll plug a few civilians I'll slash them cold, I'll kill them dead I'll break them gooks, I'll crack their heads I'll slice them till they're running red But now I've got the running gun blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daslied Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 "I Hung My Head" - Sting/Johnny Cash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumboXL Posted March 18, 2008 Report Share Posted March 18, 2008 The most impressive song describing a murder from the killer's view is Delia's gone, by the great Johnny Cash. I find this his most morbid contribution to music! "Delia's Gone" Delia, oh, Delia Delia all my life If I hadn't have shot poor Delia I'd have had her for my wife Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone I went up to Memphis And I met Delia there Found her in her parlor And I tied to her chair Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone She was low down and trifling And she was cold and mean Kind of evil make me want to Grab my sub machine Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone First time I shot her I shot her in the side Hard to watch her suffer But with the second shot she died Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone But jailer, oh, jailer Jailer, I can't sleep 'Cause all around my bedside I hear the patter of Delia's feet Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone So if you woman's devilish You can let her run Or you can bring her down and do her Like Delia got done Delia's gone, one more round Delia's gone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Udo Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 Imagine a bunch of high schoolers rubbing zippers to such a song. F'rinstance, Motley Crue's All I Need The blade of my knife Faced away from your heart Those last few nights It turned and sliced you apart This love that I tell Now feels lonely as hell From this padded prison cell So many times I said You'd only be mine I gave my blood and my tears And loved you cyanide When you took my lips I took your breath Sometimes loves better off dead You're all I need, make you only mine I love you so I set you free I had to take your life You're all I need, you're all I need And I loved you but you didnt love me Laid out cold Now were both alone But killing you helped me keep you home I guess it was bad Cause love can be sad But we finally make the news Tied up smiling I thought you were happy Never opened your eyes I thought you were napping I got so much to learn About love in this world But we finally made the news You're all I need, make you only mine I loved you so, so I put you to sleep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farin Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 hey Udo! Welcome to Songfacts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumboXL Posted February 28, 2012 Report Share Posted February 28, 2012 "My Name is Sue, how do you do, now you're going to die" In the lyrics, they did some talking after this proclamation, son and father. There was a an intention to kill, but in the song it wasn't fulfilled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Levis Posted March 1, 2012 Report Share Posted March 1, 2012 All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run better run faster than my bullet All the other kids with the pumped up kicks you'd better run better run outrun my gun. I'm no Foster the People fan, but pretty strange how a song so dark got so popular, hey? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now