My recent Johhny Cash post had me thinking about song categories again...quite a few songs have a psychopathic character or event about a guy or gal that does something really despicable - with no apparent remorse. I'll start off with the Johnny Cash song I mentioned:
Cocaine Blues - but the author is T. J. "Red" Arnall - whose version is a lot more matter-of-fact hillbilly bluegrass - Johnny Cash sounds like a 'baddder' due to me
On the Banks of the Ohio - another guy that is hard to relate to
Nebraska - Bruce Springsteen's character in this song sounds like a guy that deserves no pity either
Who can outdo me for songs about even more despicable characters ? : ) More points if it's your own original !!! :0
Maybe Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley from my childhood? Pretty edgy to sing about at the time, though not so unknown as a crime (if he even committed it).
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The first verse in Riders On The Storm by The Doors is actually about a serial killer:
There's a killer on the road His brain is squirmin' like a toad Take a long holiday Let your children play If you give this man a ride Sweet family will die Killer on the road
The verse is from true life events. Apparently, a psychopath serial killer named Billy Cook killed six people while hitchhiking to California.
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Maybe the Blue Meanies should be considered... As really despicable psychopathic characters ? After all they represented all the music-hating bad people in the world.
Two songs, two such characters. The first writes a letter. The second, stars in a murder drama from centuries ago.
I heard "The Letter" by Don and Dewey only once, as a child rolling newspapers in the middle of the night (when the disc jockeys would play anything they liked).
I never forgot it.
Sonny Bono worked with Don and Dewey, hence this version by Caesar and Cleo (Sonny and Cher) prior to "Sonny and Cher".
It's a very short letter and a very mean letter. This is a different kind of violence than that of previous posts, but it's violence none the less.
"Barbara Allen" is thought to be the oldest English language song, predating Shakespeare by at least a century.
There are apparently thousands of versions of "Barbara Allen"; as it passed from locale to locale, verses were subtracted and added. That practice continued as the song came to America.
The Everly Brothers version is my favorite, recorded with the teenage brothers accompanied only by Don on guitar. It's from the album "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us". It's easy to imagine them singing "Barbara Allen" on their front porch.
It probably would have been my favorite version just because it's the Everlys, but I love it mostly because of the lyrics.
The final two verses of the version that made it to Kentucky elevate the song to masterpiece status.
They encompass everthing I hope for (but will never achieve) in a lyric.
Dolly Parton has a few murder ballads that are outright chilling, and of course I can't remember the names of any of them. I'm sure google would help here.
Tom Dooley Maxwell's Silver Hammer The Night The Lights went out in Georgia I Don't Like Mondays
I forget the name of this song, but the chorus goes - "I swear I left her by the river, I swear I left her safe and sound (I forget the next bit) And leave this cold Nebraska town"
“Another one bites the dust” by queen about an active shooter going to kill his ex lover. At least that’s one explanation.
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Take murder ballads outa bluegrass and shooting lovers references outa blues and there would a a lot of shorter set lists.
Bud
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Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die
Parchman Farm - Mose Allison's take on a Bukka White song First he says: Well I'm sittin' over here on Parchman Farm And I ain't never done no man no harm And later: Well I'm a gonna be here for the rest of my life And all I did was shoot my wife Technically correct, he didn't harm a man.
Who can outdo me for songs about even more despicable characters ? : ) More points if it's your own original !!! :0
Yeah...I'm not playing. I've heard WAY too many songs that make you want to un-listen to them. I'm not sure anyone would go looking them up for one; and I wouldn't want anyone looking them up for reason number two.
A quick example would be something like "Dead Skin Mask" by Slayer. It's about Ed Gein. The unsettling part is it's from Ed Gein's perspective! No thanks.
If you go into the death/dark metal genre of music, it gets weird quick. A lot about rape, molestation, murder, torture, aborted fetuses...even necrophilia, if that puts it into perspective. That's why I'm not playing. None of us needs the therapy bill that would result from playing this "off topic" game. lol
I'm actually finding this whole "Baby Shark" song to be rather evil.
I actually came here to answer this...
Originally Posted By: Keith from Oz
I forget the name of this song, but the chorus goes - "I swear I left her by the river, I swear I left her safe and sound (I forget the next bit) And leave this cold Nebraska town"
I believe that's "Hazard" from Richard Marx. He actually has many songs much better than that one IMO.
Last edited by HearToLearn; 12/28/1910:00 AM.
Chad (Hope that makes it easier)
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Introducing XPro Styles PAK 10 – Now Available for Mac Band-in-a-Box 2025 and Higher!
We've just released XPro Styles PAK 10 for Mac & Windows Band-in-a-Box version 2025 (and higher) with 100 brand new RealStyles, plus 28 RealTracks and RealDrums!
Few things are certain in life: death, taxes, and a brand spankin’ new XPro Styles PAK! In this, the 10th edition of our XPro Styles PAK series, we’ve got 100 styles coming your way! We have the classic 25 styles each from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, and rounding out this volume's wildcard slot is 25 styles in the Praise & Worship genre! A wide spanning genre, you can find everything from rock, folk, country, and more underneath its umbrella. The included 28 RealTracks and RealDrums can be used with any Band-in-a-Box® 2026 (and higher) package.
Here’s just a small sampling of what you can look forward to in XPro Styles PAK 10: Soft indie folk worship songs, bumpin’ country boogies, gospel praise breaks, hard rockin’ pop, funky disco grooves, smooth Latin jazz pop, bossa nova fusion, western swing, alternative hip-hop, cool country funk, and much more!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
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XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
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Rejoice, one and all, for Xtra Styles PAK 21 for Band-in-a-Box® is here! We’re serving up 200 brand spankin’ new styles to delight your musical taste buds! The first three courses are the classics you’ve come to know and love, including offerings from the rock & pop, jazz, and country genres, but, not to be outdone, this year’s fourth course is bro country! A wide ranging genre, you can find everything from hip-hop, uptempo outlaw country, hard hitting rock, funk, and even electronica, all with that familiar bro country flair. The dinner bell has been rung, pickup up Xtra Styles PAK 21 today!
In this PAK you’ll discover: Energetic folk rock, raucous train beats, fast country boogies, acid jazz grooves, laid-back funky jams, a bevy of breezy jazz waltzes, calm electro funk, indie synth pop, industrial synth metal, and more bro country than could possibly fit in the back of a pickup truck!
Special offers until December 31st, 2025!
All the Xtra Styles PAKs 1 - 21 are on special for only $29 each (reg $49), or get all 21 PAKs for $199 (reg $399)! Order now!
Note: The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 21 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version because they need the RealTracks from the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
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