Writing lyrics can be murder. Literally. Bands have been known to fearlessly tackle controversial subjects in their song lyrics, and one of those subjects is murderers. Maybe its because some murderers have been glamorized to the point of being superstars; maybe its due to a morbid fascination with the twisted workings of a murders mind; maybe its to shed light on the senselessness of their crimes. In any case, here are a few bands who wrote lyrics to really killer songs:
I Dont Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats
When 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer went on a shooting spree at a San Diego elementary school, she killed two people and wounded eight children and a police officer. Asked why she committed the crime, she merely replied, I dont like Mondays. This livens up the day. Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof, shocked by Spencers crime and her lack of remorse, wrote the music and lyrics to I Dont Like Mondays. Those lyrics include, Daddy doesnt understand it/He always said she was good as gold/And he can see no reasons/Cos there are no reasons/What reasons do you need to be shown?
Bloodbath in Paradise by Ozzy Osbourne
The lyrics of Ozzy Osbournes Bloodbath in Paradise are about the brutal Tate/LaBianca murders committed by Charles Manson and his followers in 1969. The song contains the lyrics, Theres blood on the walls/And Charlie and the family made house calls. A controversial song, its lyrics were later said to be about the Vietnam war in the 2002 remaster booklet.
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen, always a great storyteller, continued that trend with the lyrics of Nebraska. Those lyrics tell the tale of 19-year-old Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, who went on a murderous rampage that left 10 dead in 1958. After seeing a poster for the 1973 movie, Badlands, Springsteen was inspired by Starkweathers story, and wrote the music and lyrics for Nebraska. A sample of those lyrics: From the town of Lincoln, Nebraska, with a sawed-off .410 on my lap/Through the badlands of Wyoming, I killed everything in my path/I can't say that I'm sorry for the things that we done/At least for a while, sir, me and her we had us some fun.
Nothing to Gein by Mudvayne
Not only are the lyrics about serial killer Ed Gein, but the band uses his name as a flippant play on words in the songs title. Now thats rock and roll irreverence at its best (or worst, depending upon your sense of humor). Gein only committed two murders, but would raid local graveyards at night, digging up corpses, and using their skin for clothing, masks and upholstery. These lyrics graphically illustrate his escapades: Mutilate and sew my new clothes for masquerading/Aprons of flesh, corpse scalped hair, with skin upon my face. Drummer Matt McDonaugh said this about the lyrics: Ed Gein reminds us that we live in a very mysterious, ever-changing...universe.
And songs and their lyrics continue to remind us of that, as well. The macabre wiring of serial killers minds is a source of revulsionand strange fascinationto the public, as well as the people who write songs and lyrics. And the people who write those songs and lyrics will always be attempting to slay us with their tunes!
I Dont Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats
When 16-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer went on a shooting spree at a San Diego elementary school, she killed two people and wounded eight children and a police officer. Asked why she committed the crime, she merely replied, I dont like Mondays. This livens up the day. Boomtown Rats singer Bob Geldof, shocked by Spencers crime and her lack of remorse, wrote the music and lyrics to I Dont Like Mondays. Those lyrics include, Daddy doesnt understand it/He always said she was good as gold/And he can see no reasons/Cos there are no reasons/What reasons do you need to be shown?
Bloodbath in Paradise by Ozzy Osbourne
The lyrics of Ozzy Osbournes Bloodbath in Paradise are about the brutal Tate/LaBianca murders committed by Charles Manson and his followers in 1969. The song contains the lyrics, Theres blood on the walls/And Charlie and the family made house calls. A controversial song, its lyrics were later said to be about the Vietnam war in the 2002 remaster booklet.
Nebraska by Bruce Springsteen
Springsteen, always a great storyteller, continued that trend with the lyrics of Nebraska. Those lyrics tell the tale of 19-year-old Charles Starkweather and his 14-year-old girlfriend, who went on a murderous rampage that left 10 dead in 1958. After seeing a poster for the 1973 movie, Badlands, Springsteen was inspired by Starkweathers story, and wrote the music and lyrics for Nebraska. A sample of those lyrics: From the town of Lincoln, Nebraska, with a sawed-off .410 on my lap/Through the badlands of Wyoming, I killed everything in my path/I can't say that I'm sorry for the things that we done/At least for a while, sir, me and her we had us some fun.
Nothing to Gein by Mudvayne
Not only are the lyrics about serial killer Ed Gein, but the band uses his name as a flippant play on words in the songs title. Now thats rock and roll irreverence at its best (or worst, depending upon your sense of humor). Gein only committed two murders, but would raid local graveyards at night, digging up corpses, and using their skin for clothing, masks and upholstery. These lyrics graphically illustrate his escapades: Mutilate and sew my new clothes for masquerading/Aprons of flesh, corpse scalped hair, with skin upon my face. Drummer Matt McDonaugh said this about the lyrics: Ed Gein reminds us that we live in a very mysterious, ever-changing...universe.
And songs and their lyrics continue to remind us of that, as well. The macabre wiring of serial killers minds is a source of revulsionand strange fascinationto the public, as well as the people who write songs and lyrics. And the people who write those songs and lyrics will always be attempting to slay us with their tunes!
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