12 SONGS WRITTEN ABOUT OR INSPIRED BY TED BUNDY explores one of the most repugnant human beings to grace planet earth.

“I got wiring loose inside my head.” Porcupine Tree perfectly described the deranged nature of serial killers on the quote excerpted from “Blackest Eyes” (more on that later).  Ted Bundy definitely had some wiring loose in his head, connected to at least 36 murders, likely more.  He famous, but the more accurate characterization is infamous.  It’s safe to say Mr. Bundy was one of the very worst humans to grace planet earth, which has its fair share of horrible people.  But being infamous earns you plenty of fame, bad or otherwise, including songs written and inspired by his horrific crimes and murders.  Here are 12 songs written about or inspired by Ted Bundy.

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1. Jane’s Addiction, “Ted, Just Admit It”

Nothing’s Shocking • Warner Bros • 1988

“Sex is violent.” In the hands of Ted Bundy, definitely. “Ted, Just Admit It…” is the lengthiest song off Nothing’s Shocking, the iconic sophomore album by hard rock/metal band Jane’s Addiction. Interestingly, the album’s titular lyric appears throughout the course of the record.  Perry Farrell is on autopilot to say the least.

“Camera got them images
Camera got them all
Nothing’s shocking…
Showed me everybody
Naked and disfigured
Nothing’s shocking
And then he came
Now sister’s
Not a virgin anymore
Her sex is violent…”

Adding fuel to the fire is Jane’s Addiction in the prime, delivering a biting, malicious backdrop, not to mention incorporating Ted Bundy’s vocals into the mix.

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2. Eminem, “Stay Wide Awake”

Relapse • Aftermath • 2009

Who is better equipped to capture the pure evil of a serial killer than Marshall Mathers, better known as Eminem? He is no stranger to referencing serial killers with his 2009 album Relapse featuring a couple of songs with such references (“Must Be the Ganja” and “Stay Wide Awake”).  Focusing on “Stay Wide Awake,” Ted Bundy seems to minimally be an inspiration.

“I see my target, put my car in park
And approach a tender
Young girl by the name of Brenda
And I pretend to befriend her
… You’re the kind of girl that I’d
Assault and rape, then figure
Why not try to make your pussy wider
Fuck you with an umbrella
Then open it up while the shit’s inside ya
I’m the kind of guy that’s mild
But I might flip and get a little bit wilder…”

Phew! Later on, he asserts, “Escaping me, no dice, you see / I might just be Ted Bundy / Or Satan, gee, what a sight to see…” Also, he mentions the Son of Sam as well.  

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3. Aborted, “Meticulous Invagination”

Goremageddon, The Saw and the Carnage Done • Listenable • 2012

“My name is Ted, indifferent to laws I strangle and maim women /… Incapable, defined is the hatred that lead to this carnage.” Aborted does an excellent job of capturing the horrific acts of Ted Bundy. That excellent characterization should be taken contextually, as “Meticulous Invagination” is equally disturbing AF. A dark, twisted trip from the start, Aborted don’t sugarcoat anything.  In other words, this is one graphic listen to the nth degree.  While it’s hard to decipher the lyrics sans lyrics, with the lyrics, the horror is even more frightening and disgusting.

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4. Tyler, the Creator, “Blow”

Bastard • 2009

“I just got one request, stop breathing.” Oh geez… Bastard was the world’s first introduction to Tyler, the Creator back in 2009.  This is his debut, though most would consider Goblin to be his proper, official debut album (2011).  Regardless, there’s a clear-cut, Ted Bundy inspired song, “Blow.”

How do we know this – it came from the “horse’s mouth” in an interview with The Guardian in 2015:

“I wrote ‘Blow’ when I was reading about different people in American history.  One of the people happened to be [the serial killer] Ted Bundy, and I wrote a song from his point of view.”

Expectedly, “Blow” is a trip. From the jump, Tyler, the Creator is twisted.

“If this was a game, I already know that I would come out winner
And I’m not bragging, I’mma be in her
But this bitch really think that I’m ‘bout to buy her dinner
My steak good, I got a good cut like Splinter
… Lure her with expensive dinners and a nice bracelet
Leave the bitch breathless, what the bitch don’t know is
I’m a motherfuckin’ sellout and a rapist…”

It only gets worse, as Tyler takes it to the next level with the rape references and the pleasure derived at the expense of his victims.  Yes, it’s inspired about one of the worst serial killers in history, but still, makes you wonder what’s going on in a young Tyler, the Creator’s own mind.

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5. T.I., “Ball” (Ft. Lil Wayne)

Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head • Atlantic • 2012

“Ball” (Trouble Man: Heavy is the Head) only references Ted Bundy, as opposed to embodying him or making a tone poem about his horrific nature.  Lil Wayne, as opposed to lead artist T.I., takes the honors of mentioning the infamous serial killer in one line.

“I’m killin’ these hoes like that nigga Ted Bundy.”

As usual, the context that Lil Wayne uses this is off.  If you look a couple of lines ahead of the key lyric, Lil Wayne is referencing sex itself, as opposed to rape – at least one can only hope.

“Bitch, shake it like a dog, hop like a frog, ride it like a horse
I throw that dick like darts
Drink all muddy, flag all bloody
I’m killin’ these hoes like that nigga Ted Bundy.”

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6. Porcupine Tree, “Blackest Eyes”

In Absentia • Lava • 2002

“Blackest Eyes” serves as the opener for In Absentia, the 2002 album by alternative rock band Porcupine Tree. “Blackest Eyes” is written about serial killers and their horrific actions.  Even with some general characteristics, the song keys in on Ted Bundy.

“A walk in the woods and I will try
Something under the trees that made you cry
It’s so erotic when your makeup runs.”

Steven Wilson and company don’t stop there. He moves on from the woods to the van.

“A few minutes with me inside my van
Should be so beautiful if we can
I’m feeling something taking over me.”

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7. Animal Alpha, “Bundy”

Pheromones • Racing Junior • 2005

Norwegian band Animal Alpha is no more. Before disbanding, they dropped two studio albums, including debut effort, Pheromones.  One particular song stands out from Pheromones – “Bundy.” Examining “Bundy,” it seems to be inspired in a number of ways by Ted Bundy.  That said, “Bundy” doesn’t play favorably to the serial killer in the least.  Furthermore, except for a reference to “bringing Bundys,” Ted doesn’t play an explicit role.

So, if this is inspired by Ted Bundy to some extent, but isn’t explicitly about him, what exactly is “Bundy” about? Revenge.  Taken from the perspective of a victim who’s been abused at some point, she’s going to take action, faking the pain he inflicts upon her.  Ultimately, she’s planning something hellish, evidenced on the second verse in particular:

“When doors are locked, I’m gonna get you
You are not safe any place, anywhere
I’m bringing Bundys, have they met you?
I’m telling stories, saying what you’re gonna do.”

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8. Church of Misery, “I, Motherfucker (Ted Bundy)”

The Second Coming • Rise Above Relics • 2011

Japanese metal band Church of Misery have appeared on a couple of The Musical Hype serial killer-related playlists, including An Eerie Soundtrack to Jeffrey Dahmer and Chilling Songs About Serial Killers, Take 1, where the subject was infamous cult leader Jim Jones. Here, on “I, Motherfucker (Ted Bundy),” they turn their attention to Mr. Bundy, in all his hellishness.  Fittingly, the explicitly titled cut commences in unsettling fashion, featuring a news clip and a distorted wall of guitar. Once the song picks up, the lyrics are pretty much indecipherable, but it doesn’t matter.  This fits the monstrous Ted Bundy ‘to a T.’

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9. Mr. Morbid & Melph, “Ted Bundy”

Close to the End • Akkie • 2014

Aside from his many sins, something Ted Bundy was often noted for was his looks.  To be so twisted, he was handsome.  That’s about the only thing beautiful about him.  In the case of “Tedy Bundy,” presented by Mr. Morbid and Melph, the only thing that’s beautiful about the song is the production.  Why? The lyrics are twisted, as expected from a song clearly inspired by such a heartless monster.  Nonetheless, Mr. Morbid has a superb flow, perfectly capturing the evil in his rhymes.

“I must have been about 10 when the obsession began
Having dreams of tying up women and strangling them
Like death is my friend, I try to suppress it
But every time I’m rejected, my rage turns into a violent aggression.”

It only gets worse.

“Now I’m cold stabbing people, all my thoughts getting evil
I’m lost best believe that I will force and deceive you
Leave you tortured with needles, fuck your corpse if I need to
Call me Ted Bundy, all my thoughts are illegal.”

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10. Macabre, “The Ted Bundy Song”

Sinister Slaughter / Behind the Walls of Sleep • Nuclear Blast • 2000

Macabre is a death metal band, born in the 80s.  Like Church of Misery, Macabre also appears on An Eerie Soundtrack to Jeffrey Dahmer, twice (“Apartment 213” and “Freeze Dried Man”). Also like Church of Misery, Macabre appears on A Most Gruesome Soundtrack to John Wayne Gacy (“Gacy’s Lot”).  On “The Ted Bundy Song,” the band keeps it ‘matter of fact.’

“Lure them into his car, then they wouldn’t see tomorrow
He killed Monday through Sunday, his name was Ted Bundy
He murdered young girls and left them in the woods
He would get them in his car, they wouldn’t go far
He would hit them on the head, with an object until they were dead
Murdered young girls in serval states, from jail two times he escaped
Until the end he denied his crimes, he was convicted, then he fried…”

What more is there to say? They nail it on the head.  The passion in which they do so – the angst just provides the cherry on top. Rock on!

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11. Blitzkid, “Mr. Gore”

Apparitional • People Like You •2007

On “Mr. Gore,” West Virginia punk band Blitzkid does something different than most songs that are inspired by serial killers – it’s set in a major key. Besides being in the “happy” key, the song itself sounds happy, only amplified by its quick tempo and punk energy.  Nonetheless, the lyrics are dark, yet the vocals are bursting with exuberance.  The oxymoronic nature of this punk joint is part of its charm.

Among the best lyrics:

“They call me Mr. Gore
Mr. Gore
The Most handsome man to date
Strapped to the electric chair
Nothing left to do but smile and wave
They shaved off all my perfect hair
For all my charms I can’t disarm that, fella pullin’ on the switch
2,000 volts and now I’m toast
Dead at best, a brokenhearted wreck
So sick.”

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12. Allusondrugs, “Ted, What’s the Porn Like in Heaven”

Allusondrugs • Clue • 2014

Allusondrugs – what a band name.  But, we’re not here to discuss the UK band itself.  This is all about Ted Bundy.  On their self-titled EP, Allusondrugs do Bundy justice.  With raucous, energetic, and intentionally pitchy vocals, Bundy’s excuses for his actions are put on blast.

“We spoke to God
Jesus loves you
But we need a story to sell
Just blame it all on your porn Ted
Upstairs hiding in a Christian home.”

“Ted, What’s the Porn Like in Heaven” feels like the companion piece to the aforementioned “Ted, Just Admit It.” While Jane’s Addiction focused on cameras with evidence, Allusondrugs focus on the BS excuse given by Bundy.

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Photo Credits: Akkie, Atlantic, Clue, Donn Dughi / State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory Lava, Listenable, Nuclear Blast, People Like You, Racing Junior, Rise Above Relics, Shady, Tyler the Creator, Warner Bros.

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