Top 10 Songs About Murder

songwriters frequent many wells and

songwriters frequent many wells and sometimes they just happen to contain a

sometimes they just happen to contain a

sometimes they just happen to contain a body welcome to watchmojo.com and today

body welcome to watchmojo.com and today

body welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the

we’ll be counting down our picks for the

we’ll be counting down our picks for the top ten songs about murder

top ten songs about murder

top ten songs about murder Oh

for this list with chosen songs ranked

for this list with chosen songs ranked by acclaim and notoriety

by acclaim and notoriety

by acclaim and notoriety each one has reference a murder in a

each one has reference a murder in a

each one has reference a murder in a specific way no allusions to a crime or

specific way no allusions to a crime or

specific way no allusions to a crime or big ramblings from a lunatic like the

big ramblings from a lunatic like the

big ramblings from a lunatic like the one found in the Talking Heads psycho

one found in the Talking Heads psycho

one found in the Talking Heads psycho killer

killer

killer miss Kazue we’re also featuring songs

miss Kazue we’re also featuring songs

miss Kazue we’re also featuring songs that have a somewhat malicious tone

that have a somewhat malicious tone

that have a somewhat malicious tone unlike the Beatles paradoxically upbeat

unlike the Beatles paradoxically upbeat

unlike the Beatles paradoxically upbeat Maxwell’s silver hammer but as she’s

Maxwell’s silver hammer but as she’s

Maxwell’s silver hammer but as she’s getting comes on number ten murder was

getting comes on number ten murder was

getting comes on number ten murder was the case Snoop Doggy Dogg has been the

the case Snoop Doggy Dogg has been the

the case Snoop Doggy Dogg has been the sky my mind stores tripping but gia

sky my mind stores tripping but gia

sky my mind stores tripping but gia drops my eyes the dog father weaves

drops my eyes the dog father weaves

drops my eyes the dog father weaves quite an uncharacteristic tale in this

quite an uncharacteristic tale in this

quite an uncharacteristic tale in this song after getting gunned down in a

song after getting gunned down in a

song after getting gunned down in a drive-by Snoop reveals his final

drive-by Snoop reveals his final

drive-by Snoop reveals his final thoughts as life escapes his body

thoughts as life escapes his body

thoughts as life escapes his body Freedman dan must retain miss deal gone

Freedman dan must retain miss deal gone

Freedman dan must retain miss deal gone I’m Wanda Katie save me I can’t doubt my

I’m Wanda Katie save me I can’t doubt my

I’m Wanda Katie save me I can’t doubt my boo boos bad to have my baby he thinks

boo boos bad to have my baby he thinks

boo boos bad to have my baby he thinks of his pregnant wife then God and then

of his pregnant wife then God and then

of his pregnant wife then God and then hears a voice that is thought to be the

hears a voice that is thought to be the

hears a voice that is thought to be the devil before closing his eyes Snoop

devil before closing his eyes Snoop

devil before closing his eyes Snoop wakes up from a coma but is soon sent to

wakes up from a coma but is soon sent to

wakes up from a coma but is soon sent to prison for a presumed revenge murder

I’m on my way that she no Roman owned

I’m on my way that she no Roman owned the great Roche it ends with the

the great Roche it ends with the

the great Roche it ends with the description of his incarcerated homey

description of his incarcerated homey

description of his incarcerated homey getting a pencil in his neck before the

getting a pencil in his neck before the

getting a pencil in his neck before the song flatlines thanks my little homie

song flatlines thanks my little homie

song flatlines thanks my little homie baby please if a pencil when this neck

baby please if a pencil when this neck

baby please if a pencil when this neck any probably won’t wait just c22 I’ll

any probably won’t wait just c22 I’ll

any probably won’t wait just c22 I’ll put that on my mom my whole bride for

put that on my mom my whole bride for

put that on my mom my whole bride for you baby full

number nine Delilah

number nine Delilah Tom Jones on the night better passed by

Tom Jones on the night better passed by

Tom Jones on the night better passed by who this 60s classic tells the story of

who this 60s classic tells the story of

who this 60s classic tells the story of a man who discovers his lover in bed

a man who discovers his lover in bed

a man who discovers his lover in bed with another man a day when that man

with another man a day when that man

with another man a day when that man drove away I was late wielding a knife

drove away I was late wielding a knife

drove away I was late wielding a knife he knocks on her door and she answers

he knocks on her door and she answers

he knocks on her door and she answers with a sadistic laugh that’s enough to

with a sadistic laugh that’s enough to

with a sadistic laugh that’s enough to drive the man to murder as he plunges

drive the man to murder as he plunges

drive the man to murder as he plunges the knife into her until she dies

Tom Jones belts out the thoughts of the

Tom Jones belts out the thoughts of the man in the chorus as he cries despairs

man in the chorus as he cries despairs

man in the chorus as he cries despairs the act and asks for forgiveness it is

the act and asks for forgiveness it is

the act and asks for forgiveness it is too late of course Delilah is dead and

too late of course Delilah is dead and

too late of course Delilah is dead and the police are coming but the music and

the police are coming but the music and

the police are coming but the music and the vocals are still beautiful

number eight pumped up kicks’

number eight pumped up kicks’ foster the people it may take a few

foster the people it may take a few

foster the people it may take a few lessons to get past that catchy bassline

lessons to get past that catchy bassline

lessons to get past that catchy bassline but this is a surprisingly dark tune

but this is a surprisingly dark tune

but this is a surprisingly dark tune told from the perspective of a school

told from the perspective of a school

told from the perspective of a school shooter pumped up kicks’ became a giant

shooter pumped up kicks’ became a giant

shooter pumped up kicks’ became a giant hit in spite of its subject matter

dealing with bullying gun control and

dealing with bullying gun control and mental illness Pumped Up Kicks paints a

mental illness Pumped Up Kicks paints a

mental illness Pumped Up Kicks paints a vivid portrait of the horrific violence

vivid portrait of the horrific violence

vivid portrait of the horrific violence that has become common within North

that has become common within North

that has become common within North American schools the shooter in question

American schools the shooter in question

American schools the shooter in question with his aversion to Pumped Up Kicks or

with his aversion to Pumped Up Kicks or

with his aversion to Pumped Up Kicks or fashionable shoes for the layman is

fashionable shoes for the layman is

fashionable shoes for the layman is described as killing classmates before

described as killing classmates before

described as killing classmates before turning the gun on his father

number seven Murder Inc dr. Dre

number seven Murder Inc dr. Dre featuring hitman and Miss ROC murder can

featuring hitman and Miss ROC murder can

featuring hitman and Miss ROC murder can be a gritty fact of life in the ghetto

be a gritty fact of life in the ghetto

be a gritty fact of life in the ghetto and as such has long been a staple of

and as such has long been a staple of

and as such has long been a staple of gangster rap Murder Inc is a perfect

gangster rap Murder Inc is a perfect

gangster rap Murder Inc is a perfect example of this as dr. Dre many years

example of this as dr. Dre many years

example of this as dr. Dre many years removed from his days in dangerous

removed from his days in dangerous

removed from his days in dangerous Compton California still evokes the

Compton California still evokes the

Compton California still evokes the mindset of the streets featured on his

mindset of the streets featured on his

mindset of the streets featured on his 2001 solo album the song tells of a few

2001 solo album the song tells of a few

2001 solo album the song tells of a few instances where murder was committed

instances where murder was committed

instances where murder was committed each with a clear purpose whether it be

each with a clear purpose whether it be

each with a clear purpose whether it be for money drugs or revenge it’s all in

for money drugs or revenge it’s all in

for money drugs or revenge it’s all in the game as Omar would say Oh in the

the game as Omar would say Oh in the

the game as Omar would say Oh in the game yo number 6 Bohemian Rhapsody Queen

while the song touches on many different

while the song touches on many different topics and is more an epic narrative

topics and is more an epic narrative

topics and is more an epic narrative rather than a single theme to expose the

rather than a single theme to expose the

rather than a single theme to expose the central theme is about murder

just killed a man

just killed a man I gotta get my tree good night mama just

I gotta get my tree good night mama just

I gotta get my tree good night mama just killed a man says the unknown narrator

killed a man says the unknown narrator

killed a man says the unknown narrator who leaves it ambiguous as to who the

who leaves it ambiguous as to who the

who leaves it ambiguous as to who the killer and the victim are

there’s as many interpretations as there

there’s as many interpretations as there are segways in the song with some

are segways in the song with some

are segways in the song with some believing that the lyrics are purely

believing that the lyrics are purely

believing that the lyrics are purely allegorical that they reference Freddie

allegorical that they reference Freddie

allegorical that they reference Freddie Mercury’s personal traumas and others

Mercury’s personal traumas and others

Mercury’s personal traumas and others have noted its similarities to dust ax

have noted its similarities to dust ax

have noted its similarities to dust ax keys novel crime and punishment

all we know is that it’s a compositional

all we know is that it’s a compositional wonder number five Folsom Prison Blues

wonder number five Folsom Prison Blues

wonder number five Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash

Folsom Prison Blues is country’s darkest

Folsom Prison Blues is country’s darkest anthem an ode to a prisoner a

anthem an ode to a prisoner a

anthem an ode to a prisoner a cold-blooded killer who shot a man in

cold-blooded killer who shot a man in

cold-blooded killer who shot a man in Reno just to watch him die the darkest

Reno just to watch him die the darkest

Reno just to watch him die the darkest motive for murder Johnny Cash could

motive for murder Johnny Cash could

motive for murder Johnny Cash could think of shot a man in Reno just to

think of shot a man in Reno just to

think of shot a man in Reno just to watch him

watch him

watch him perfectly parsed and a masterpiece and

perfectly parsed and a masterpiece and

perfectly parsed and a masterpiece and brevity Cash’s lyrics evoke a picture of

brevity Cash’s lyrics evoke a picture of

brevity Cash’s lyrics evoke a picture of a regretful man whose destiny lives in

a regretful man whose destiny lives in

a regretful man whose destiny lives in Folsom Prison and the man’s untouchable

Folsom Prison and the man’s untouchable

Folsom Prison and the man’s untouchable freedom in the form of a train that

freedom in the form of a train that

freedom in the form of a train that whistles outside the walls well is they

whistles outside the walls well is they

whistles outside the walls well is they freed me

freed me

freed me roll trails my

roll trails my

roll trails my this is among caches most famous songs

this is among caches most famous songs

this is among caches most famous songs both its original recorded version and

both its original recorded version and

both its original recorded version and it’s legendary live version the latter

it’s legendary live version the latter

it’s legendary live version the latter of which was recorded in Folsom Prison

of which was recorded in Folsom Prison

of which was recorded in Folsom Prison itself

number four Stan

number four Stan Eminem featuring Dido swim hello – what

Eminem featuring Dido swim hello – what

Eminem featuring Dido swim hello – what you still ain’t calling I left my cell

you still ain’t calling I left my cell

you still ain’t calling I left my cell my pager and my home phone at the bottom

my pager and my home phone at the bottom

my pager and my home phone at the bottom Eminem’s mind is a rather dark place if

Eminem’s mind is a rather dark place if

Eminem’s mind is a rather dark place if his lyrics are anything to go by one of

his lyrics are anything to go by one of

his lyrics are anything to go by one of the familiar themes is murder which is

the familiar themes is murder which is

the familiar themes is murder which is featured prominently in the highly

featured prominently in the highly

featured prominently in the highly controversial Kim Eminem’s hit track off

controversial Kim Eminem’s hit track off

controversial Kim Eminem’s hit track off the same album titled Stan explores the

the same album titled Stan explores the

the same album titled Stan explores the themes further through a dialogue

themes further through a dialogue

themes further through a dialogue between the wrapper and a crazed fan who

between the wrapper and a crazed fan who

between the wrapper and a crazed fan who after writing to Eminem and receiving no

after writing to Eminem and receiving no

after writing to Eminem and receiving no response has a breakdown resulting in

response has a breakdown resulting in

response has a breakdown resulting in the deaths of his girlfriend and their

the deaths of his girlfriend and their

the deaths of his girlfriend and their unborn child I’m almost at the fringe

unborn child I’m almost at the fringe

unborn child I’m almost at the fringe now oh I forgot my phone

the song is quite emotional and thanks

the song is quite emotional and thanks to Dido’s background vocals packs a

to Dido’s background vocals packs a

to Dido’s background vocals packs a uniquely poignant punch

uniquely poignant punch

uniquely poignant punch Thunder with drunk drove his car or a

Thunder with drunk drove his car or a

Thunder with drunk drove his car or a bridge

and in the car I found a chain but it is

and in the car I found a chain but it is safe we would soon come to think about

safe we would soon come to think about

safe we would soon come to think about it his name was Sue number three I shot

it his name was Sue number three I shot

it his name was Sue number three I shot the sheriff Bob Marley Bob Marley was a

the sheriff Bob Marley Bob Marley was a

the sheriff Bob Marley Bob Marley was a strong advocate for peace and justice

strong advocate for peace and justice

strong advocate for peace and justice themes that can be found in the majority

themes that can be found in the majority

themes that can be found in the majority of his work

I shot the sheriff maybe the most

I shot the sheriff maybe the most representative of those beliefs as it

representative of those beliefs as it

representative of those beliefs as it details a seemingly just man killing an

details a seemingly just man killing an

details a seemingly just man killing an unjust sheriff but being falsely accused

unjust sheriff but being falsely accused

unjust sheriff but being falsely accused of slaying the deputy Marley paints

of slaying the deputy Marley paints

of slaying the deputy Marley paints quite the ethical problem in the song

quite the ethical problem in the song

quite the ethical problem in the song though it may not appear that way on the

though it may not appear that way on the

though it may not appear that way on the surface the man admits to murdering the

surface the man admits to murdering the

surface the man admits to murdering the sheriff as he believes it was his right

sheriff as he believes it was his right

sheriff as he believes it was his right to do so but he denies killing the

to do so but he denies killing the

to do so but he denies killing the deputy as that would be barbaric in his

deputy as that would be barbaric in his

deputy as that would be barbaric in his eyes

number two Janie’s got a gun Arrowsmith

number two Janie’s got a gun Arrowsmith got a gun

got a gun Janie’s got a gun is notorious

got a gun Janie’s got a gun is notorious for its dark subject matter despite

for its dark subject matter despite

for its dark subject matter despite being a top-five billboard hit and a

being a top-five billboard hit and a

being a top-five billboard hit and a radio mainstay in the 1990s

centering around a woman who was

centering around a woman who was molested as an infant and seeks fatal

molested as an infant and seeks fatal

molested as an infant and seeks fatal revenge on her rapist father Aerosmith

revenge on her rapist father Aerosmith

revenge on her rapist father Aerosmith really jumped out of the confines of

really jumped out of the confines of

really jumped out of the confines of standard rock lyricism

some commercial backlash was feared

some commercial backlash was feared however with Steven Tyler opting to

however with Steven Tyler opting to

however with Steven Tyler opting to self-censor and remove the word raped

self-censor and remove the word raped

self-censor and remove the word raped from the lyrics while Janie does kill

from the lyrics while Janie does kill

from the lyrics while Janie does kill her father the song stops short of

her father the song stops short of

her father the song stops short of glorifying murder by making the listener

glorifying murder by making the listener

glorifying murder by making the listener understand her motivation

before we unveil our number one pick

before we unveil our number one pick here are a few honorable mentions this

here are a few honorable mentions this

here are a few honorable mentions this is

riding fast in their sleep all the 1027

riding fast in their sleep all the 1027 be number one hey Joe the Jimi Hendrix

be number one hey Joe the Jimi Hendrix

be number one hey Joe the Jimi Hendrix Experience

while not written by Jimi Hendrix and

while not written by Jimi Hendrix and recorded by a host of artists in the

recorded by a host of artists in the

recorded by a host of artists in the mid-1960s hey Joe is undeniably classic

mid-1960s hey Joe is undeniably classic

mid-1960s hey Joe is undeniably classic Jimi Hendrix where are you going with

Jimi Hendrix where are you going with

Jimi Hendrix where are you going with that gun in your hand asks the narrator

that gun in your hand asks the narrator

that gun in your hand asks the narrator leading Joe to lay out his entire plan

leading Joe to lay out his entire plan

leading Joe to lay out his entire plan motive and method of escape

this dialogue continues throughout the

this dialogue continues throughout the song both before and after the murder

song both before and after the murder

song both before and after the murder but Joe’s answers are so sober and

but Joe’s answers are so sober and

but Joe’s answers are so sober and convincing that it’s easy to understand

convincing that it’s easy to understand

convincing that it’s easy to understand his actions

while it could be grim hey Joe is

while it could be grim hey Joe is instead a mesmerizing to a lesson in

instead a mesmerizing to a lesson in

instead a mesmerizing to a lesson in lyrical and literary storytelling and

lyrical and literary storytelling and

lyrical and literary storytelling and one of rock’s greatest entities

so do you agree with our list what’s

so do you agree with our list what’s your favorite song with dark undertones

your favorite song with dark undertones

your favorite song with dark undertones better all had to

better all had to

better all had to for more macabre toptenz published daily

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