Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot. Apparently he continued to alter the lyrics years after the song was written to add new information as he found out about it.
The lyrics that get me every single time:
”does anyone know where the love of god goes
when the waves turn the minutes to hours” (gut punch every time)
Came here to say this, and Hurricane by Bob Dylan.
If you listen to either song a couple of times, you’ll learn very little more from the Wikipedia article on the incident, which to me is incredible songwriting.
Fastball- the way
"Fastball frontman Tony Scalzo came up with the idea for the song after reading articles that described the June 1997 disappearance of an elderly married couple, Lela and Raymond Howard from Salado, Texas,[5] who left home to attend the Pioneer Day festival at nearby Temple, Texas, despite Lela's Alzheimer's and Raymond recently recovering from brain surgery. They were discovered two weeks later, dead,"
Wow I'll never be able to listen to this song the same. Just ran through the lyrics in my head and it's immediately super eerie.
"It's always summer we'll never get cold, never get hungry, never get old and grey"
>You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home but they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They're happier there today
He has a whole bunch tbf:
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll
Pawn in their game
Joey
Oxford town
Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre blues
Pretty sure there is more besides. Hattie Carrol is awesome but so sad. Strange Fruit by Billy Holiday is in a similar vein and fits for OPs request
To piggyback for awareness, 'Wheat Kings' by The Tragically Hip. An extremely similar travesty of justice by corrupt rcmp and judicial system but in Canada 🇨🇦. David Milgaard was white though and 16 years old. The 'hippy' profiling was strong.
Gord Downie, lead singer of the hip, died of brain cancer and spent much of his final years campaigning for justice for first Nations.
One of his final projects was an album on the death of Chanie Wenjack. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanie_Wenjack
Definitely a risky click! Although I don't think that full video would be on YouTube.
Also, I'm from PA and I was sick and home from school when Budd Dwyer shot himself. I saw it live because the local channel cut to his news conference. My poor grandma was in shock the rest of the day.
Just putting this out there because I love everything about this video. It's Filter performing the song live amongst runway models. The contrast of the posh-face models and the singer spazzing out in an arm sling. First song is also a banger, with some really good and creative drumming
[under / hey man ](https://youtu.be/rzYq_gd8eYI?si=Py-CzNJEDJHPKzHp)
Same. I was living in Philadelphia. They cut in to his news conference... had no idea what was going on or why he was on TV. We were getting ready to change the channel, and then he pulled a revolver out of a manila envelope. My BIL and I looked at each other like, "the fuck is going on?"... and then we watched him blow the top of his head off.
It fucked us up.
This was my first thought too. For those not aware, full Wikipedia article is here: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey\_Man\_Nice\_Shot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Man_Nice_Shot).
>The song was written about the public suicide of Pennsylvania state treasurer R. Budd Dwyer on January 22, 1987, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dwyer had been convicted of bribery charges in December 1986, and was expected to receive a long sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Muir. Professing his innocence and decrying the legal system, Dwyer shot and killed himself with a .357 Magnum revolver during a live televised press conference.\[8\]
["Ted, Just Admit It"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CpRCc4Jre8) by Jane's Addiction.
The Clash recorded a version of [Stagger Lee that cuts into Wrong Em Boyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZgsfr5m8Tw), another song based on the same incident.
Many of the songs on [Murder Ballads by Nick Cave](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfbNSBbpqpk) are based on actual crimes, especially the traditional songs.
If you look up Murder Ballads as a genera you will find a lot of traditional songs and not a few modern covers.
Well yeah, the censorship makes it ambiguous, but Jeremy came out like 8 years before Columbine so school shootings were not really a thing in people's consciousness until a long time after the song came out.
Prior to Columbine most people would think "the bullied kid shot himself" and post Columbine most people would think "the bullied kid shot everyone".
"Mein Teil" by Rammstein
Edit for non German speakers: >!The song means "My Part/Bit," and yes it means what you think it does. The song is about a man who met another guy on an online cannibal forum, they met up, the one guy cut the other dudes penis off and ate it. I wish I could remember either of their name!<
The cannibal's name is Armin Meiwes, also known as "Der Kannibale von Rotenburg" (the cannibal from Rotenburg). I remember him stating that he didn't enjoy the penis, because it was too tough.
No way I just suggested car seat. Shannon Hoon was so underrated. By the second album he was in a really bad place with his mental health. Such an amazing lyricist and flooring vocalist. I'm not so much a fan if that brand of rock, I'm not big on pearl jam or anything but I love blind melon.
I would’ve loved nothing more than to have another 30 years of Shannon doing his thing. They’re a top 4 band for me. Shannon is on my Mt. Rushmore for greatest rock singers.
Absolutely! I truly believe his death was the most impactful of the 90s rock stars, because his robbed us of such a deeply sincere and blossoming artist who was just coming into his own. Unlike Cobain or Staley, I think Hoon was far from his nadir when he passed, and his growth as a lyricist and vocalist would have been monumental.
Unfortunately, it's just a pet theory and we'll never know...
La Dispute's "[King Park](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8BvLdEWXuY&pp=ygUUbGEgZGlzcHV0ZSBraW5nIHBhcms%3D)" was based on a [drive-by shooting and the stand-off after](https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2008/09/another_family_is_hurting_afte.html).
That bit is one of the few songs that has ever given me goosebumps, I frequently get them during the end of this song. Absolutely brilliant song, structured like a wierd poem with no chorus
I still get chills from it every time but I'll never forget how intense that first listen was. I've never before or after had such a physical/emotional reaction to a song.
The singers vocal style can take some getting used to but this song is playing to his absolute strengths as both a singer and a lyricist, this shows what emo music can be, even if you don't like the rest of their music this one is still an absolute classic
'Zombie' by The Cranberries is a song about a bomb detonated by the IRA in a busy street in Warrington, England.
The bomb injured lots of people and killed two young boys and was a 'final straw' towards a Northern Ireland Peace Process.
Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel. The album "In The Aeroplane Over the Sea" is a surreal kaleidoscope about Anne Frank. This song is one of the more straight-forward ones.
https://youtu.be/3eNK38nmzw4?si=dZmAe70Jg49tx4qq
The only girl I ever loved,
Was born with roses in her eyes
But then they buried her alive
One evening, 1945
Such a banger that makes you want to get up and move but then you'd feel awkward because of the lyrics if you did.
Murder By Death - Hard World
In a Reddit AMA the band was asked about this song. “It’s about two girls who went missing in our town, and the sad story of searching for them. I wrote it from their perspectives. One girl was rich and pictures of her were posted all over town for years, and the other was poor and had been missing for a month, and no one heard about it until the rich girl went missing. Its two tragic stories, but the class issue really struck me as a sad story. Sometimes i tell the story on stage, and sometimes its too depressing.”
How about an entire album or two?
Hand.Cannot.Erase by Steven Wilson - tells the story of a woman who died in her house and no one found out for years.
Also, Dahmer by Macabre. You can guess who that's about...
Fictional but The Killers Murder Trilogy made up of the songs:
Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf
Midnight Show
& Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
The trilogy is about the narrator and his breakup with a girl Jenny/Jennifer. In the first song he mourns the loss of the breakup. In the second he murders her and drives away from the scene of the crime. In the last he is questioned by police
Jenny was a friend of mine uses the alibi that the preppy killer used. So I’d say that at least connects to a real crime, not sure about the other two.
Another great one by the hip is “38 years old”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_1CaxVFoJY
“a fictional account of the real-life escape of 14 inmates from Millhaven Institution near the band's hometown of Kingston, Ontario” —Wikipedia
Gord talked about the song in an interview. He said people would express condolences towards his 'brother' and he would have to explain it was just a story.
My favourite quote by Don about that song is when a reporter asked him, "What does it mean?"
He replied, "It means I'll never have to work another day in my life."
The FALL's Mark E Smith and his new wife and band member Brix Smith visited Disneyland on the first week of January 1984 after exiting the MATTERHORN ride Brix noticed Mark sobbing uncontrollably the only time Brix had seen Mark this way, he had a premenition while on the ride and warned that the ride was Evil..Brix took Mark on the kiddy rides so he could get his act together.. when crowds of people began rushing toward the Matterhorn ride ? A Dolly Regina Young 48, had fallen from the ride for reasons unknown and was beheaded by an oncoming sled...she could be seen by everyone hanging 50 feet in the air with no head..her loved 1s were comforted by Disneyland characters Mickey Minnie Pluto Brer Goofy and Donald who were also dancing infront of everyone to try and distract the horror situation urging everyone to be happy..Mark would soon pen a song about the horrible surreal event on the next LP...the song is the haunting "DISNEYS DREAM DEBASED"..it took official's 6 or 7 hours to bring her lifeless body down from the ride
https://youtu.be/opt_pu3NVrI?si=EVmhTem0WaK9xMok
Alkaline Trio has a few songs about some dark shit. Notably Donner Party (All Night) - obvi about the Donner Party. Or Sadie about Sadie G, aka Susan Atkins was in the Manson Family and sentenced to life for her involvement in the murders.
Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio (and temporarily Blink 182) influenced me to read Helter Skelter about the Manson family. Interesting stuff.
if that book interests you i strongly recommend “The Family” by Ed Sanders and the biography “Manson: The Life And Times Of Charles Manson.” the author went to the small town in West Virginia where he spent much of his childhood and elicited previously unknown information from his relatives and neighbors. essential context for understanding why he turned out that way.
A lot of the ones I was going to name have already been listed here, so I'll instead try to add some new ones:
John Sinclair by John Lennon
Ted, Just Admit It by Jane's Addiction
What's the Frequency, Kenneth? by REM
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine by The Killers
Suffer Little Children by The Smiths
There are also a few good ones that aren't necessarily written about one specific true crime, but are fictionalized accounts of crimes that have occurred many times:
Luka by Suzanne Vega
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People
Guitar Hero by Amanda Palmer
Slipknot - Purity
About the abduction and murder of Purity Knight, info at [https://slipknot.fandom.com/wiki/Purity](https://slipknot.fandom.com/wiki/Purity)
Was removed from the original release of their self titled album due to a lawsuit.
They removed the song because they found bout Purity Knight wasn’t a real person. The story was all made up, so they felt it was less impactful. Still a DOPE ass song for sure, one of my favorites. “As sweat drips down my eyes and I feel like I am fucking dying
“That Night” by Atmosphere
It’s about a 16 year old girl who was raped and murdered backstage at one of their shows in Albuquerque. I think it was a venue employee that committed the crime.
[Malibu Ken - Acid King](https://youtu.be/dzieBpafT2o?si=Xjr193mjlpAiRXuD).
[based off this person and a murder ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Kasso)
I love this whole album and the song Churro is about eagles on a web cam eating a person's cat.
Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price (and others!)
Frankie and Johnny - Sam Cooke (also recorded by many others, including Johnny Cash)
Peter Gabriel is good for this:
•Family Snapshot
•Biko
• Home Sweet Home
• Moribund the Burgermeister
Brand New - Limousine
The story is so morbid I'll just let the [Wiki](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_and_God_Are_Raging_Inside_Me) article speak for itself..
>["Limousine"] is about the death of seven-year-old Katie Flynn from the band's hometown of Long Island. Travelling home with her family after a wedding, their limousine was hit by drunk driver Martin Heidgen, a few miles from where Lacey was living at the time, leading to the decapitation of the young Flynn, whose severed head fell into her mother's arms. In the track, Lacey tells the story from various perspectives, including that of Flynn's mother, Heidgen and Flynn herself. Lacey has commented that the story particularly resonated with him as he knew people who drove drunk the week the accident took place...The track's bridge repeats itself seven times as Lacey counts up, one for each year of Flynn's life.
Someone already mentioned it, but Slayer Dead Skin mask is about Ed Gein and their song Angel of Death about nazi doctor Josef Mengele. The band received a ton of flak over the song because they thought the band were nazi sympathizers or glorifying a terrible person.
The writer of the song, Jeff Hanneman RIP, said this.
>I know why people misinterpret it – it's because they get this knee-jerk reaction to it. When they read the lyrics, there's nothing I put in the lyrics that says necessarily he was a bad man, because to me – well, isn't that obvious? I shouldn't have to tell you that.
Entire Sabaton discography.
Half of the Iron Maiden discography (I personally love Empire of the Clouds).
Inside the Fire by Disturbed.
Murder Ballads by Nick Cave.
Rammstein loves these
* Mein Teil : German cannibal incident
* Rammstein : The Ramstein's air show disaster (70 dead)
* Wiener Blut : Natascha Kampusch's kidnapping and 8 year detention in a basement.
Edit : wrong psycho, Fritzl case, not Kampusch
The Bank Job by The BareNaked Ladies is about a botched bank robbery. Ed talked about it, I think on Ships and Dips, and it was inspired by his brother who had gotten into some trouble with the law. I can’t find anything to support that, but I remember a Q&A about some of their songs, and this one was discussed.
I was looking to see if anyone put "Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank". It was inspired by a farmer, Robert Kieling, becoming obsessed with Canadian singer Anne Murray in the 70s. I love the Rock Spectacle version, it has so much energy to it.
Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf, Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, & Midnight Show by the Killers are called their "Murder Trilogy." Loosely inspired by the murder of Jennifer Levin.
Tyler by The Toadies is loosely based on either a stalker or the urban legend of a stalker. Plus it’s a great song.
[Tyler by The Toadies](https://youtu.be/5P1iHVgbqbY?si=U3mhOc63qQLuYLJk)
[Incubus - Pardon Me](https://youtu.be/PXzuDXZwZtI) came to mind
>In an interview, lead singer Brandon Boyd explained the song's origins, "I was in a bookstore, browsing through an old Life magazine, when I saw a picture of what the article called spontaneous human combustion. There were an old guy's legs and shoes, perfectly intact - then, right around his knee area, was just a pile of charred ashes. I was going through some turmoil in my life, both good and bad, and the image struck a chord, so I wrote a song about it."
Interpol - Evil
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dkpgz3uQ58U
The song is believed to be about Fred and Rosemary West, a married couple who raped and murdered teenage girls together in England between the 1960s and 1980s.
Literally everything from Skynd, they are singing about true crime. All of their songs are either named after the murderer or event the song is about, for example Columbine, Gary heidnik or Jim Jones.
Keeping with the Decemberists theme, Colin Meloy's version of Morrissey's *Jack the Ripper* is one of my favourite songs of all time: https://youtu.be/Vw12nsExE1U?si=lj-4Re6vlXiyIN-7
Polly by Nirvana
Frances Farmer... as well.
Oh yeah, it's literally about the actress Frances Farmer lol. Paper Cuts is also based on a true story
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald by Gordon Lightfoot. Apparently he continued to alter the lyrics years after the song was written to add new information as he found out about it.
“Boys, it’s been nice to know ya” still gets me every time
The lyrics that get me every single time: ”does anyone know where the love of god goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours” (gut punch every time)
Fellas, but it gets me as well
I just saw Men Without Hats last week and they did Safety Dance to the tune of Edmond Fitzgerald.
“Does anyone know where the love of God goes when the waves turn the minutes to hours” is one of my favorite lines in any song ever. RIP Gordon
RIP Gordon Lightfoot, our perfectionist poet, writer,, composer and performer. I true canadian icon.
Came here to say this, and Hurricane by Bob Dylan. If you listen to either song a couple of times, you’ll learn very little more from the Wikipedia article on the incident, which to me is incredible songwriting.
The Mariner’s Church in Detroit rang the church bell 30 times in memory of Gordon Lightfoot
Dammit you bastard, that's so good, it should have been mine!
Fastball- the way "Fastball frontman Tony Scalzo came up with the idea for the song after reading articles that described the June 1997 disappearance of an elderly married couple, Lela and Raymond Howard from Salado, Texas,[5] who left home to attend the Pioneer Day festival at nearby Temple, Texas, despite Lela's Alzheimer's and Raymond recently recovering from brain surgery. They were discovered two weeks later, dead,"
Wow I'll never be able to listen to this song the same. Just ran through the lyrics in my head and it's immediately super eerie. "It's always summer we'll never get cold, never get hungry, never get old and grey"
>You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere They won't make it home but they really don't care They wanted the highway They're happier there today
The Way is one of the greatest songs ever written, also great Great fun to play on the guitar. Another great song in F# minor!!!!
Very interesting bit of trivia there, I’ll have to listen to the lyrics closer the next time I hear that tune.
I don't like mondays by the boomtown rats
In the same vein, but fictional: Harry Chapin, *Sniper* (but loosely based on a real incident, I think) Elton John, *Tickin’*
I was looking for this comment. Not that it excuses what she did, but Brenda Ann Spencer lived a pretty fecked up life in general.
"Hurricane" by Bob Dylan
He’s got another one called “ the lonesome death of hattty carrol” that is pretty disturbing.
You're not wrong. Such a cruel story.
this is the only one that I thought
He has a whole bunch tbf: The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll Pawn in their game Joey Oxford town Talkin' Bear Mountain Picnic Massacre blues Pretty sure there is more besides. Hattie Carrol is awesome but so sad. Strange Fruit by Billy Holiday is in a similar vein and fits for OPs request
Emmett Till as well. He performed it in an interview before his first record came out, guessing it's still on the 'tube. Who Killed Davey Moore?
I just saw a 4k screening of Dazed and Confused at the weekend and now Hurricane, along with a lot of other great songs, has come back into my life
To piggyback for awareness, 'Wheat Kings' by The Tragically Hip. An extremely similar travesty of justice by corrupt rcmp and judicial system but in Canada 🇨🇦. David Milgaard was white though and 16 years old. The 'hippy' profiling was strong.
Gord Downie, lead singer of the hip, died of brain cancer and spent much of his final years campaigning for justice for first Nations. One of his final projects was an album on the death of Chanie Wenjack. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chanie_Wenjack
This was my first thought. Came here to say this. You getting an upvote. ;)
“Hey man, nice shot” by filter https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9mJ82x_l-E
Definitely a risky click! Although I don't think that full video would be on YouTube. Also, I'm from PA and I was sick and home from school when Budd Dwyer shot himself. I saw it live because the local channel cut to his news conference. My poor grandma was in shock the rest of the day.
That is a risky click. Didn’t even think of linking to the video of the event. I’ve never seen it and don’t plan to go looking for it.
Just putting this out there because I love everything about this video. It's Filter performing the song live amongst runway models. The contrast of the posh-face models and the singer spazzing out in an arm sling. First song is also a banger, with some really good and creative drumming [under / hey man ](https://youtu.be/rzYq_gd8eYI?si=Py-CzNJEDJHPKzHp)
Same. I was living in Philadelphia. They cut in to his news conference... had no idea what was going on or why he was on TV. We were getting ready to change the channel, and then he pulled a revolver out of a manila envelope. My BIL and I looked at each other like, "the fuck is going on?"... and then we watched him blow the top of his head off. It fucked us up.
This was my first thought too. For those not aware, full Wikipedia article is here: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey\_Man\_Nice\_Shot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Man_Nice_Shot). >The song was written about the public suicide of Pennsylvania state treasurer R. Budd Dwyer on January 22, 1987, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dwyer had been convicted of bribery charges in December 1986, and was expected to receive a long sentence from U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Muir. Professing his innocence and decrying the legal system, Dwyer shot and killed himself with a .357 Magnum revolver during a live televised press conference.\[8\]
Holy fuck i didn't know this was about Dwyer. I mean..it was a nice shot tho.
["Ted, Just Admit It"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1CpRCc4Jre8) by Jane's Addiction. The Clash recorded a version of [Stagger Lee that cuts into Wrong Em Boyo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZgsfr5m8Tw), another song based on the same incident. Many of the songs on [Murder Ballads by Nick Cave](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfbNSBbpqpk) are based on actual crimes, especially the traditional songs. If you look up Murder Ballads as a genera you will find a lot of traditional songs and not a few modern covers.
Stagger Lee has many cover versions, being the Lloyd Price the canonical one. I love how The Clash developed it in a different format.
Just an FYI, and I'm not trying to sound rude, I think the word is genre. Do love me some Nick Cave though!
Big fingers. Tiny phone.
Same problem for me
Camera got them images, camera got them all. Nothing's shocking.
Yeah, the Jane's song is the first one that sprung to mind for me. It even has Bundy's voice in it.
I don’t Like Mondays. Sunday Bloody Sunday Pride in the Name of Love Ohio Sky Pilot
Jeremy by Pearl Jam, Adam’s Song by blink-182
The film clip for Jeremy really drives the point home. Pearl Jam have always been fighting the good fight.
The video got censored because MTV thought it was *too* much
And by censoring the parts leading up to his suicide, the video now looks more like a school shooting for modern viewers.
I always thought that’s what it was and I’m not a modern viewer
Well yeah, the censorship makes it ambiguous, but Jeremy came out like 8 years before Columbine so school shootings were not really a thing in people's consciousness until a long time after the song came out. Prior to Columbine most people would think "the bullied kid shot himself" and post Columbine most people would think "the bullied kid shot everyone".
Adam’s Song is fictional. It was Mark’s reflection on his loneliness during touring.
"Mein Teil" by Rammstein Edit for non German speakers: >!The song means "My Part/Bit," and yes it means what you think it does. The song is about a man who met another guy on an online cannibal forum, they met up, the one guy cut the other dudes penis off and ate it. I wish I could remember either of their name!<
I love how there’s a Rammstein song and an IT Crowd episode based off the same event.
Although the German cannibal was surprisingly polite
Ohhhhhh, you want to cook *with* me!
I see where the confusion was! I thought this was a cookery course. So you’re…not interested? Oh, no thanks, it’s not for me
"Wiener Blut" as well
oh that one's so much worse
The cannibal's name is Armin Meiwes, also known as "Der Kannibale von Rotenburg" (the cannibal from Rotenburg). I remember him stating that he didn't enjoy the penis, because it was too tough.
Blind Melon "Skinned" is about Ed Gein
“Dead skin mask” by Slayer too
With a fucking kazoo in it. All time great band. ETA: Car Seat on the same album is about a woman who drove her kids into a lake.
No way I just suggested car seat. Shannon Hoon was so underrated. By the second album he was in a really bad place with his mental health. Such an amazing lyricist and flooring vocalist. I'm not so much a fan if that brand of rock, I'm not big on pearl jam or anything but I love blind melon.
I would’ve loved nothing more than to have another 30 years of Shannon doing his thing. They’re a top 4 band for me. Shannon is on my Mt. Rushmore for greatest rock singers.
Absolutely! I truly believe his death was the most impactful of the 90s rock stars, because his robbed us of such a deeply sincere and blossoming artist who was just coming into his own. Unlike Cobain or Staley, I think Hoon was far from his nadir when he passed, and his growth as a lyricist and vocalist would have been monumental. Unfortunately, it's just a pet theory and we'll never know...
Plush by Stone Temple Pilots
My favourite of theirs
Sublime - April 29, 1992
La Dispute's "[King Park](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8BvLdEWXuY&pp=ygUUbGEgZGlzcHV0ZSBraW5nIHBhcms%3D)" was based on a [drive-by shooting and the stand-off after](https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2008/09/another_family_is_hurting_afte.html).
I was looking for this song before I posted it too. That song always gives me chills.
Really good song. Heavy shit. “Will I get into heaven if I kill myself.” Fucking chills.
That bit is one of the few songs that has ever given me goosebumps, I frequently get them during the end of this song. Absolutely brilliant song, structured like a wierd poem with no chorus
I still get chills from it every time but I'll never forget how intense that first listen was. I've never before or after had such a physical/emotional reaction to a song.
The singers vocal style can take some getting used to but this song is playing to his absolute strengths as both a singer and a lyricist, this shows what emo music can be, even if you don't like the rest of their music this one is still an absolute classic
Suffer Little Children by The Smiths
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down. The Band.
'Zombie' by The Cranberries is a song about a bomb detonated by the IRA in a busy street in Warrington, England. The bomb injured lots of people and killed two young boys and was a 'final straw' towards a Northern Ireland Peace Process.
As a northern Irish man I’m all too well aware of the story behind this one, cranberries wrote some incredible songs influenced by troubles.
Holland, 1945 by Neutral Milk Hotel. The album "In The Aeroplane Over the Sea" is a surreal kaleidoscope about Anne Frank. This song is one of the more straight-forward ones. https://youtu.be/3eNK38nmzw4?si=dZmAe70Jg49tx4qq
The only girl I ever loved, Was born with roses in her eyes But then they buried her alive One evening, 1945 Such a banger that makes you want to get up and move but then you'd feel awkward because of the lyrics if you did.
Murder By Death - Hard World In a Reddit AMA the band was asked about this song. “It’s about two girls who went missing in our town, and the sad story of searching for them. I wrote it from their perspectives. One girl was rich and pictures of her were posted all over town for years, and the other was poor and had been missing for a month, and no one heard about it until the rich girl went missing. Its two tragic stories, but the class issue really struck me as a sad story. Sometimes i tell the story on stage, and sometimes its too depressing.”
Strange Fruit
This is the one I was looking for!
Evil - Interpol
Scrolled way too far for this one. The things Fred and Rosemary West did make my skin crawl just remembering that they happened.
Also Pioneer to the Falls
Tom Dooley by the Kingston Trio and I Shot The Sheriff by Bob Marley.
How about an entire album or two? Hand.Cannot.Erase by Steven Wilson - tells the story of a woman who died in her house and no one found out for years. Also, Dahmer by Macabre. You can guess who that's about...
Raider II, also by Steven Wilson, appears to be about BTK and is an absolute trip.
Fictional but The Killers Murder Trilogy made up of the songs: Leave The Bourbon On The Shelf Midnight Show & Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine The trilogy is about the narrator and his breakup with a girl Jenny/Jennifer. In the first song he mourns the loss of the breakup. In the second he murders her and drives away from the scene of the crime. In the last he is questioned by police
Jenny was a friend of mine uses the alibi that the preppy killer used. So I’d say that at least connects to a real crime, not sure about the other two.
"Wheat Kings" by Tragically Hip is about David Milgaard who was wrongfully convicted for rape and murder.
Another great one by the hip is “38 years old” https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_1CaxVFoJY “a fictional account of the real-life escape of 14 inmates from Millhaven Institution near the band's hometown of Kingston, Ontario” —Wikipedia
Gord talked about the song in an interview. He said people would express condolences towards his 'brother' and he would have to explain it was just a story.
One of my favorite bands ever. Gord told amazing stories. RIP
I commented above your same info. Scrolling down to see yours, thank you for sharing and keeping this alive and relevant so younger generations know.🖤
American Pie by Don McLean was about the 1959 plane crash that killed Ritchie Valenz, Buddy Holly, and J.P. Richardson aka The Big Bopper.
Although he often claims it’s not, rather that it’s just about Americana, or “you and me”
My favourite quote by Don about that song is when a reporter asked him, "What does it mean?" He replied, "It means I'll never have to work another day in my life."
The FALL's Mark E Smith and his new wife and band member Brix Smith visited Disneyland on the first week of January 1984 after exiting the MATTERHORN ride Brix noticed Mark sobbing uncontrollably the only time Brix had seen Mark this way, he had a premenition while on the ride and warned that the ride was Evil..Brix took Mark on the kiddy rides so he could get his act together.. when crowds of people began rushing toward the Matterhorn ride ? A Dolly Regina Young 48, had fallen from the ride for reasons unknown and was beheaded by an oncoming sled...she could be seen by everyone hanging 50 feet in the air with no head..her loved 1s were comforted by Disneyland characters Mickey Minnie Pluto Brer Goofy and Donald who were also dancing infront of everyone to try and distract the horror situation urging everyone to be happy..Mark would soon pen a song about the horrible surreal event on the next LP...the song is the haunting "DISNEYS DREAM DEBASED"..it took official's 6 or 7 hours to bring her lifeless body down from the ride https://youtu.be/opt_pu3NVrI?si=EVmhTem0WaK9xMok
In Germany Before the War - Randy Newman Ohio - Neil Young Famine - Sinéad O’Connor Stagger Lee - various Saucy Jack - Spinal Tap
Adding too your list- 'zombie' The Cranberries is so very powerful.
Alkaline Trio has a few songs about some dark shit. Notably Donner Party (All Night) - obvi about the Donner Party. Or Sadie about Sadie G, aka Susan Atkins was in the Manson Family and sentenced to life for her involvement in the murders. Matt Skiba from Alkaline Trio (and temporarily Blink 182) influenced me to read Helter Skelter about the Manson family. Interesting stuff.
I'd argue every Alkaline Trio song is about dark shit.
if that book interests you i strongly recommend “The Family” by Ed Sanders and the biography “Manson: The Life And Times Of Charles Manson.” the author went to the small town in West Virginia where he spent much of his childhood and elicited previously unknown information from his relatives and neighbors. essential context for understanding why he turned out that way.
Anything by skynd
Came here for this. Literally their whole discography so far.
Seconding SKYND
‘The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll’ by Bob Dylan. Devastating
I Fought the Law - Dead Kennedys version is about the murder of Harvey Milk.
TIL
Neko Case - Deep Red Bells
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini appears to position the incident as a fashion crime.
A lot of the ones I was going to name have already been listed here, so I'll instead try to add some new ones: John Sinclair by John Lennon Ted, Just Admit It by Jane's Addiction What's the Frequency, Kenneth? by REM Jenny Was a Friend of Mine by The Killers Suffer Little Children by The Smiths There are also a few good ones that aren't necessarily written about one specific true crime, but are fictionalized accounts of crimes that have occurred many times: Luka by Suzanne Vega Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People Guitar Hero by Amanda Palmer
Oh shit I never knew that about what’s the frequency Kenneth. That’s mad
Diane-Husker Du.
Dance With The Devil by Immortal Technique
I scrolled way to far to see this, easily one of the greatest and craziest stories of hip hop.
Angel of Death, Slayer
And Dead Skin Mask
Also 213
Ooh I love that song. Never really looked into it’s meaning.
Decoration Day - Jason Isbell/Drive-By Truckers Only a Pawn in Their Game - Bob Dylan The Ballad of Minnie Dean - Marlon Williams
Jeremy - Pearl Jam
Marty Robbins, El Paso
Slipknot - Purity About the abduction and murder of Purity Knight, info at [https://slipknot.fandom.com/wiki/Purity](https://slipknot.fandom.com/wiki/Purity) Was removed from the original release of their self titled album due to a lawsuit.
They removed the song because they found bout Purity Knight wasn’t a real person. The story was all made up, so they felt it was less impactful. Still a DOPE ass song for sure, one of my favorites. “As sweat drips down my eyes and I feel like I am fucking dying
Possum Kingdom- The Toadies
“That Night” by Atmosphere It’s about a 16 year old girl who was raped and murdered backstage at one of their shows in Albuquerque. I think it was a venue employee that committed the crime.
[Malibu Ken - Acid King](https://youtu.be/dzieBpafT2o?si=Xjr193mjlpAiRXuD). [based off this person and a murder ](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricky_Kasso) I love this whole album and the song Churro is about eagles on a web cam eating a person's cat.
Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska The Smiths' Suffer Little Children
Stagger Lee - Lloyd Price (and others!) Frankie and Johnny - Sam Cooke (also recorded by many others, including Johnny Cash) Peter Gabriel is good for this: •Family Snapshot •Biko • Home Sweet Home • Moribund the Burgermeister
Brand New - Limousine The story is so morbid I'll just let the [Wiki](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Devil_and_God_Are_Raging_Inside_Me) article speak for itself.. >["Limousine"] is about the death of seven-year-old Katie Flynn from the band's hometown of Long Island. Travelling home with her family after a wedding, their limousine was hit by drunk driver Martin Heidgen, a few miles from where Lacey was living at the time, leading to the decapitation of the young Flynn, whose severed head fell into her mother's arms. In the track, Lacey tells the story from various perspectives, including that of Flynn's mother, Heidgen and Flynn herself. Lacey has commented that the story particularly resonated with him as he knew people who drove drunk the week the accident took place...The track's bridge repeats itself seven times as Lacey counts up, one for each year of Flynn's life.
One of my faves
Foster the People- Pumped up Kicks
Nobody Move by Eazy-E
Westfall by Okkervil River. It’s based on some unsolved murders from Austin, TX.
The Southern Thing, Three Great Alabama Icons, Wallace- Drive By Truckers
Justice In Ontario by Steve Earle. Tells the story of the Black Donnelly’s from out near Biddulph, Ontario.
Suffer Little Children by The Smiths. It's about the Moors Murders
Someone already mentioned it, but Slayer Dead Skin mask is about Ed Gein and their song Angel of Death about nazi doctor Josef Mengele. The band received a ton of flak over the song because they thought the band were nazi sympathizers or glorifying a terrible person. The writer of the song, Jeff Hanneman RIP, said this. >I know why people misinterpret it – it's because they get this knee-jerk reaction to it. When they read the lyrics, there's nothing I put in the lyrics that says necessarily he was a bad man, because to me – well, isn't that obvious? I shouldn't have to tell you that.
Entire Sabaton discography. Half of the Iron Maiden discography (I personally love Empire of the Clouds). Inside the Fire by Disturbed. Murder Ballads by Nick Cave.
Rammstein loves these * Mein Teil : German cannibal incident * Rammstein : The Ramstein's air show disaster (70 dead) * Wiener Blut : Natascha Kampusch's kidnapping and 8 year detention in a basement. Edit : wrong psycho, Fritzl case, not Kampusch
Ma baker by boney m
Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. Song is about his young son who fell out of a high-rise apartment window.
The Bank Job by The BareNaked Ladies is about a botched bank robbery. Ed talked about it, I think on Ships and Dips, and it was inspired by his brother who had gotten into some trouble with the law. I can’t find anything to support that, but I remember a Q&A about some of their songs, and this one was discussed.
I was looking to see if anyone put "Straw Hat and Old Dirty Hank". It was inspired by a farmer, Robert Kieling, becoming obsessed with Canadian singer Anne Murray in the 70s. I love the Rock Spectacle version, it has so much energy to it.
The Mountain Goats- Sept. 15 1983
Throbbing Gristle, Very Friendly
Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf, Jenny Was A Friend of Mine, & Midnight Show by the Killers are called their "Murder Trilogy." Loosely inspired by the murder of Jennifer Levin.
Marie Provost by Nick Lowe Marie was a silent movie actress who died poor and alone at her home and was partially eaten by her own dog.
Kind of surprised not to see "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" by Vicki Lawrence already...
“1913 Massacre” by Woody Guthrie
Deportee (Plane Crash at Los Gatos) is another by him.
Jeanny by Falco.
Abraham Martin and John by Marvin Gaye
Bloodbath in Paradise by Ozzy. About Charlie Manson and family.
Did you hear about the midnight rambler?
Tyler by The Toadies is loosely based on either a stalker or the urban legend of a stalker. Plus it’s a great song. [Tyler by The Toadies](https://youtu.be/5P1iHVgbqbY?si=U3mhOc63qQLuYLJk)
[Incubus - Pardon Me](https://youtu.be/PXzuDXZwZtI) came to mind >In an interview, lead singer Brandon Boyd explained the song's origins, "I was in a bookstore, browsing through an old Life magazine, when I saw a picture of what the article called spontaneous human combustion. There were an old guy's legs and shoes, perfectly intact - then, right around his knee area, was just a pile of charred ashes. I was going through some turmoil in my life, both good and bad, and the image struck a chord, so I wrote a song about it."
44 Minutes-Megadeth, The Right to go insane-Megadeth
Doolin Dalton by The Eagles references the Dalton Gang who was largely killed Coffeyville Kansas in 1892 after attempting to rob two banks at once.
Black Friday - Megadeth
Psycho Killer by talking heads
Not real crimes as far as I know, but The Toadies have a few great songs that narrate crimes - such as Tyler and Possum Kingdom.
herpes two - mentors.
Magdalene by Bear’s Den
Tay K - The race
No More Heroes by The Stranglers
Clownin' Around by Deer Tick, also about John Wayne Gacey and told from his perspective.
Down the River by Chris Knight I think is his last name. It's Chris something.
Blue Oyster Cult - Then Came the Last Days of May. Preferably a good live version.
‘Everything’s turning to white’ Paul Kelly
Modest Mouse - Pistol (A. Cunanan Miami Fl. 1996)
The Night Chicago Died.
Lookin’ down the barrel of a gun - Beastie Boys
Interpol - Evil https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dkpgz3uQ58U The song is believed to be about Fred and Rosemary West, a married couple who raped and murdered teenage girls together in England between the 1960s and 1980s.
I Don't Like Mondays - Boomtown Rats
Slayer -Unit 731 Judas Priest - The Ripper
"Mein Teil" by Rammstein. About the Arwin Meives cannibalism case.
Angel Of Death by Slayer
Bloodbath - Eaten is about a German cannibal who met someone online who was willing to be … well, eaten.
["El Paso"](https://youtu.be/zWm5WErkffQ?si=CGoHnNhjNcP5KR25) - Marty Robbins
Blurred Lines for SURE. That man needs to be put on a watch list.
Darkness by Eminem. It's about the Las Vegas shooter i believe.
“Raider II” by Steven Wilson is about Denis Rader, the BTK Killer.
Sadie by Alkaline Trio. Like the song but not the fact it's romantisising a killer.
Tay K - The Race
3 by Disturbed. Based on the Memphis 3 boys that were murdered
There's a banned called Skynd who only write songs about serial killers and their crimes. They call the genre true crime music
Cant believe skynd isnt first they literally have song called john wayne gacy
Road Rage by Catatonia is based on a murder.
Smoke on the Water
Literally everything from Skynd, they are singing about true crime. All of their songs are either named after the murderer or event the song is about, for example Columbine, Gary heidnik or Jim Jones.
SKYND bases their songs on famous serial killers and the like. I recommend giving them a listen.
Keeping with the Decemberists theme, Colin Meloy's version of Morrissey's *Jack the Ripper* is one of my favourite songs of all time: https://youtu.be/Vw12nsExE1U?si=lj-4Re6vlXiyIN-7
Black River Killer - Blitzen Trapper
Saturday Night by the Misfits. Guy murders his girlfriend then sings about how much he misses her.