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In our latest true crime playlist, we highlight 10 songs about cult leader Jim Jones and his followers at Jonestown. 

Cult is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious.” Throughout history, there have been a number of cults.  The connotation of the aforementioned definition is negative.  Furthermore, the organizations characterized as cults are also seen negatively. If you think you’re in a no-so-good-thing-called-a-cult, perhaps you should read this article.  A big reason for a negative view of cults is the aftermath, many of which have resulted in death.  No cult resulted in more loss of life than The People’s Temple – Jonestown – led by the infamous Jim Jones. 

Jim Jones perfectly exemplifies the phrase “false prophet.” Ultimately, he led his “flock” to their deaths. That death was a mass suicide thanks to chiefly to cyanide-laced punch. Perhaps it’s his persuasiveness and devilish actions and influence that also often finds him labeled as not only a cult leader, but also a mass murderer.  This playlist of 10 songs centers around Jones, the infamous cult he led, and most sadly, the unfortunate aftermath.  Here are 10 songs about cult leader Jim Jones & Jonestown. 

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1. Accept, “Koolaid”

Rise of Chaos •Nuclear Blast • 2017

The youngest record on this playlist actually hails from a veteran heavy metal band, Accept.  The German metal collective have been around since the 70s. “Koolaid” arrived in 2017, appearing on Rise of Chaos. This particular record focuses on the horrid happenings at The People’s Temple in Jonestown, the infamous cult led by Jim Jones.  Here, vocalist Mike Tornillo takes on the character of an ex-member to portray the horrors.

“Running through the jungle
Way back in '78
Here's the story of the people's temple
And my great escape
Communing with a madman
The promise of utopia
White nights, suicide drills
Shades of things to come.”

The infamous mass suicide comes to head on the pre-chorus, which is varied throughout, but fundamentally the same.

“He [Jim Jones] said
We’re gonna mix it up
Add the cyanide
Then we’ll drink it up
You’re gonna feel so fine.”

Tornillo and Accept discourage partaking of this communion, while in the same token, seem to be making an argument about church and religion in general.  It certainly isn’t the first instance of skepticism.  In the case of Jim Jones and Jonestown, they definitely have a point.

“Don’t drink the Koolaid
Don’t taste the holy water
Don’t drink the Koolaid
No matter what the preacher says.”

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2. The Brian Jonestown Massacre, “Ballad of Jim Jones”

Thank God for Mental Illness • A. • 1996

While “Koolaid” by Accept arrived in 2017, “Ballad of Jim Jones,” performed by The Brian Jonestown Massacre, arrives 21 years earlier.  The Brian Jonestown Massacre are a psychedelic, folk band.  Here, only the last verse of this ballad pertains to our horrid antagonist.

“I prayed to Buddha, to Allah, and Jim
I turned to Jesus and stayed there with him 
I fell in deep but I learned how to swim
Now there’s no one who’s cleaner than me or than him.”

Safe to say, praying to Jim didn’t work out too well for Anton Newcombe.  Depending how you interpret the lyrics, Newcombe seems to be a Christian, but also has the ability to discern falsehoods, false prophets, etc.

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3. Church of Misery, “Reverend”

Early Works Compilation • Emetic • 2011

On “Reverend,” Church of Misery speaks as the voice of the insane, delusional cult leader Jim Jones. The record begins with spoken word excerpts that ultimately finds the parishioners addressing Jones as if he were God himself.  In regards to singing, there are few lyrics.  The featured lyrics ultimately focus on the demise of the people of Jonestown for no reason whatsoever.

“You die, don’t ask me way
Temple is the place where dead Angeles lies
Don’t pray for your tomorrow
Suicide is the way to escape from your pain
I’m your farther and lead you to death.”

 

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4. Deicide, “Carnage in the Temple of the Damned”

Deicide • Roadrunner • 1990

 

“Sacramental ceremony / People’s temple of the holy / Sepulchre for salvation / Suicidal confirmation.” “Carnage in the Temple of the Damned” opens with the audio excerpts of Jim Jones commanding his flock to commit suicide. It’s a chilling start to a dark, unsettling joint by American death metal band, Deicide.  Naturally, “Carnage in the Temple of the Damned” features ample religious references, coupled with utterly hellish vocals, gritty guitars, and sense of being damned for merely listening to the carnage.

“Forgive me father for I have sinned
You will never sin again!”

“When we meet again it will be the promised land
Death is in command to the victims of the plan.”

“Carnage of the dead
Mass cremations of the blessed
Sermonizing fatal end
In the temple of the damned.”

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5. Manowar, “Guyana (Cult of the Damned)”

Sign of the Hammer • Virgin • 1984

On “Guyana (Cult of the Damned),” New York heavy metal band Manowar speaks from the perspective of the dead cult members, following the “revolutionary suicide.”

Eric Adams sings:

“Thank you for the Kool aid Reverend Jim
We're glad to leave behind their world of sin
Our lifeless bodies fall on holy ground
Rotting flesh a sacrificial mound
Were you our God or a man in a play who took our applause and forced us to stay?
Now all together we lived as we died on your command
By your side
Guyana in the Cult of The Damned
Give us your word for the grand final stand.”

Essentially, the members of The People’s Temple were willing to follow Jim Jones to death.  Adams, speaking as a victim, questions Jones’ motives.  Obviously, historically, we know Jones was clearly a false prophet.  Adams and Manowar expand upon the feelings cult members had towards Jones as well as what went down.

“In the Cult of The Damned we all worked the land, too afraid to look up
We all feared his hand
Hurry my children
There isn't much time
But we'll meet again on the other side
Be good to the children and old people
First hand them a drink
They're dying of thirst.”

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6. Concrete Blonde, “Jonestown”

Mexican Moon • Capitol • 1993

“Jonestown,” a tune by former alternative rock band Concrete Blonde, commences with Jim Jones preaching a rousing sermon, riling up his congregation.  This sets the tone for what Johnette Napolitano and company have in store.

Napolitano sings:

“They're looking for Jesus
They're looking for more
Just what are they looking up here to me for
They're looking for someone
They're looking for Christ
They're looking for some human sacrifice
It looks like Jonestown again
It looks like Jonestown
It looks like Jonestown again
It looks like Jonestown.”

Concrete Blonde definitely speaks about the power of persuasion.  The members of Jonestown were the “low” members of society, hence, they were looking for something, someone that served as voice for them.  Unfortunately, Jim Jones was a cult leader, not a legit prophet or man of the cloth.  The People’s Temple or a movement patterned after it – any cult – isn’t a viable pathway.

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7. Polkadot Cadaver, “Last Call in Jonestown”

Last Call in Jonestown • Razor to Wrist • 2013

Like Concrete Blonde on “Jonestown,” Polkadot Cadaver speaks on the dangers of the power of persuasion on “Last Call in Jonestown.”

“Sunday mantras repeated together
Predict second coming's, I forecast the weather
Snakes never bite us, gathered we sing
God is our shepherd, the glory, the king
I'm knocking on your hearts door, let me inside
Follow me now, let me be your guide
Gather now children and welcome the dead
And silence the beast inside of your head.”

It’s hard to believe that Jim Jones was able to lead so many people on the insane trip that was The People’s Temple.  But, as Polkadot Cadaver and everyone else appearing on this playlist show, that’s exactly what the “shepherd” did.

“Last Call! Last Call! Last Call in Jonestown
Bottoms up, Swallow the hemlock
Drink from the cup!”

“Save us now father from what we've become
Bring us together now as one
Guide us to paradise to Jesus the son
Save us now father from what we've become.”

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8. The Acacia Strain, “Jonestown”

Wormwood • Prosthetic • 2010 

Metal collective The Acacia Strain have a knack for using dark, twisted people as inspiration for their music.  The band already graced a previous playlist, Chilling Songs About Serial Killers, Take 4, covering the utterly despicable, Satanist serial killer Richard Ramirez (“Ramirez”).  Here, they for cult leader/mass suicide proponent Jim Jones with “Jonestown,” taken from the same album as “Ramirez” (Wormwood). 

“Born low, no lives
Wasting your days, waiting to die
I wouldn't mind if you never woke up again
Goodbye my friend
No hopes, no dreams
Breaking away from reality
Today is the day you see the consequence
Where you never wake up again.”

The Acacia Strain speak on the horrid reality of Jonestown with the mass suicide, or better yet, the “revolutionary suicide.” Sane individuals realize that it was absolutely insane. Jim Jones definitely wasn’t sane, and one has to question how weak-minded those so easily persuaded by Jones were.

“I was born a monster
We will die the same
No one can live forever
I will become a household name.”

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9. The Vapors, “Jimmie Jones”

Turning Japanese – Best of The Vapors • Parlophone • 1996 

Somehow, The Vapors make incredibly dark subject matter sound bright and exuberant – now that’s scary.  “Do you wanna feel small? / Do you wanna fight back? / Do you wanna new soul to stop your heart attack / Do you wanna take a walk / Then come into the garden with me?” Again, the persuasiveness of Jim Jones or any cult is what’s frightening.  In that regard, the inviting, fun nature of “Jimmie Jones” makes perfect sense.

The band continues:

“They tell me Jimmie's seen a sign
Says he understands everything
They tell me Jimmie's got a line
To the man from the ministry
...He's got a mission in life
A thousand lives to lead
Do you wanna take his hand and come into the garden with me?”

Eventually, even the optimistic Vapors have a change of tone – at least lyrically.  While “Jimmie Jones” maintains its major key and bright sound, the doubt and darkness creep in.

“There’s a rumor going ‘round
That the garden’s not the place to be
And little Jimmie’s in the dark between the devil and the deep blue see.”

“So, we've all gotta change clothes
And we've all gotta change sides
We gotta love you
Leave you miles behind
But if you wanna talk a walk
Then come into the garden with me.”

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10. Heathen, “Hypnotized”

Victims of Deception • Roadrunner • 1991

Ah, one final gem about JJ. “Hypnotized,” courtesy of Heathen, opens with Jones speaking to the members of Jonestown. Heathen takes the ‘bad religion’ aspect of Jonestown and Jones and runs with it.

“Masses form into religion to fulfill their lives
Seeking answers in the bible, hear their helpless cries
Mindlessly, no thought, they follow false prophets of the flesh
Depend on the spirit of the One to grant their every wish.”

Notice, “Hypnotized” isn’t named after Jim Jones, The People’s Temple, or Jonestown. That’s because it seems that the band, like Accept on “Koolaid,” are making a bigger message about religion in general.  Basically, the assertion is that it’s poppycock.

“It's not too late to change your fate
You must control your own mind
You're the only one that can release you
It's yourself you've got to find.”

“Fools give money to the church to earn their place with God
In our eyes it's contradiction and religious fraud
Hypnotized by what they say
Your mind is under their control
Hypnotized you will obey
Your fate will soon be called.”

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Photo Credits: Nancy Wong, Nuclear Blast, A., Emetic, Roadrunner, Virgin, Capitol, Razor to Wrist, Prosthetic, Parlophone

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