Murder, whether real or fictional, makes excellent raw material for country songs. You have conflict, a good guy versus a bad guy (or gal), an explosive confrontation, and hopefully some kind of justice meted out. For generations, country music songwriters and singers have availed themselves of the potential for great songs based on homicide. Some of those songs are downright creepy. We picked out four of the most classically eerie ones about murder and mayhem that deserve a listen - with the lights on!
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'Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On' by Tom T. Hall
Known as The Storyteller, Hall crafted songs for a gaggle of renowned country music stars like Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, George Jones, and Waylon Jennings, just to name a few. One chilling one that Hall wrote and sang was "Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On." Per American Songwriter, "Another chorus-less song is 'Turn It On, Turn It On, Turn It On.' That one's about a man who went on a killing spree in Tom T.'s hometown of Olive Hill, Kentucky. True story. But it's really about the roots of motivation, and Tom T. refuses to pass judgment, even on a murderer."
Reading the lyrics of this song gave me goosebumps. It's about a cold-blooded murderer who shoots anyone he doesn't like with no remorse at all. He is utterly calculating and unprincipled. The title of the song comes from his request that the electric chair he will meet his maker in be activated. Gory.
'Blood Red And Goin' Down' by Tanya Tucker
This 1973 song written by Curly Putman about a husband and father who kills his cheating wife and her lover seems kind of out of character for Tanya Tucker. A man takes his 10-year-old daughter with him on his very personal murder spree. The youngster is bewildered and scared as her daddy hunts her mom and her boyfriend down. When he finds his prey, he "left them both / Soakin' up the sawdust on the floor...." Is this creepy or what? From Tucker's album, What's Your Mama's Name, it got to number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
'Long Black Veil' by Johnny Cash
This 1959 song written by Danny Dill and Marijohn Wilkin was performed by the legendary Lefty Frizzell. A host of singers have covered it, from Mick Jagger to Joan Baez. But to many, the stunning version of the song by Johnny Cash has resonated even more powerfully through the years. Per American Songwriter, The Man in Black truly claimed it as his. He performed it on his landmark 1968 Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison album and on his TV show with a youthful up-and-comer named Joni Mitchell.
A man is accused of a murder he is not guilty of. Yet he cannot reveal his whereabouts when the crime was committed because he was with his best friend's wife. A staunch code of honor holds him back. He submits to being hung rather than hurt his pal and besmirch his lover's reputation.
Per the outlet, "Long Black Veil" would stay in Cash's live repertoire for many years. He clearly loved it; it was one of 100 essential country songs he deemed as essential in a list he presented to his daughter Rosanne in 1973."
'Independence Day' by Martina McBride
This 1993 song has just a little to do with the Fourth of July. It's actually about the lethal liberation of a woman from her hard-drinking, abusive husband when, in desperation, she sets their home on fire while her young daughter is at the local July 4th festivities. Mightily and persuasively sung as only Martina McBride can do it, this tune packs a potent though unsettling message.
