

Following the death of cult leader, murderer, and pop cultural icon Charles Manson, we examine 8 chilling songs about, influenced, or referencing him.


Infamous cult leader and mass murderer Charles Manson died on Sunday, November 19, 2017. Manson had been incarcerated for five decades, escaping a sentence that originally called or the death penalty. Since influencing his followers, The Family, to commit utterly brutal murders in 1969, including actress Sharon Tate, his influence within pop culture has run rampant. Manson has made a name for himself…albeit negative to the nth degree. Hmm, interesting how his “dash” is defined…
1. System of a Down, “ATWA”
Album: Toxicity, 2001
Sony Music Entertainment
ATWA itself is an acronym for air, trees, water, and animals. It’s an “ecological mandate” that Manson promoted. It’s a fitting title for the song, which centers around the mindset and feelings of the ‘misunderstood’ cult leader – at least from his perspective. The aforementioned lyrics, as well as the chorus give a clear portrait of how he felt.
“You don’t care about how I feel
I don’t feel there anymore.”
2. Ozzy Osbourne, “Bloodbath in Paradise”
Album: No Rest for the Wicked, 1988
Epic
“Can you hear them in the darkness
Helter skelter, spiral madness Bloodbath in paradise
But there’s nowhere you can run to baby
Bloodbath in paradise
Forever sleep in paradise.”
Osbourne sensationally paints a damning portrait of his eccentricity and ultimately, the loss of life for his respective victims.
“You’re coming home
There’s blood on the walls
When Charlie and the family make house calls
If you’re alone
Then watch what you do
Because Charlie and the family might get you.”
Yeah, this is definitely NOT Charlie and the Chocolate Family. As aforementioned, Osbourne brilliantly references Helter Skelter, Manson’s apocalyptic race war theory, etc.
“And California is turning red
No sign of life or the keepers of doom
In Charlie and the keeper’s scarlet room.”
3. Lana Del Rey, “Freak”
Album: Honeymoon, 2015
Interscope
“Baby, if you wanna leave, come to California
Be a freak like me, too
Screw your anonymity, loving me is all you need
To feel like I do
We could slow dance to rock music, kiss while we do it
Talk ‘til we both turn blue
Baby, if you wanna leave, come to California
Be a freak like me, too.”
It should be noted that the song itself isn’t specific to Charles Manson. However, the music video, featuring Father John Misty, brings in a cultish element. Coupled with the lyrics – particularly the “slow dance to rock music” – there’s the sense that Misty plays a Manson-inspired character. Del Rey gets some Jim Jones influence in as well, specifically the infamous “Kool aid.”
4. White Zombie, “Real Solution No. 9”
Album: Astro Creep 2000: Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions…, 1995
Geffen
Such hints include the opening sample, with key lines such as “‘I’m already dead’” and “‘burn an X in your head.’” On the first verse, Zombie paints a picture of the brutality and madness:
“Who will survive and what will be left of them? / Apocalyptic dreams see the ordinary madness.”
Apocalyptic is the key word, possibly related to Manson’s apocalyptic Helter Skelter theory.
5. Rob Zombie, “Devil’s Hole Girls and the Big Revolution”
Album: Hellbilly Deluxe 2, 2010
Roadrunner
Even more accurately, it’s Rob Zombie, Charles Manson enthusiast, again. On his album Hellbilly Deluxe 2, Zombie references Manson ability to control on the colorfully-titled “Devil’s Hole Girls and the Big Revolution.” According to NPR, …Manson was a Master Manipulator, Even as a Child.
Besides the mind control, it’s clear that Manson and the infamous Family commune is on his mind because of location.
“Devil’s hole, the girls are one / Burning in the desert sun.”
Desert sun? Could that be Death Valley?
6. Deicide, “Lunatic of God’s Creation”
Album: Deicide, 1990
Roadrunner
“Servants of death, enchanter of pain / From the land of no return, you’ll kill again / Smear the blood on the naked corpse / Manson.”
Definitely hellish. The Hadean nature of Manson and company continues on the second verse, equally aggressive.
“There is darkness in his eyes / And you won’t see it, before you die / Feel the knife of the Lord Divine’s Creation.”
7. Neil Young, “Revolution Blues”
Album: On the Beach, 1974
Reprise
There are number of other troubling lyrics.
“So, you be good to me and I’ll be good to you / And in this land of conditions / I’m not above suspicion / I won’t attack you but I won’t back you.”
“Well I’m afraid that he’s gone / It was such a drag to hear him whining all night long.”
8. Church of Misery, “Spahn Ranch (Charles Manson)”
Album: Early Works Compilation, 2011
Emetic
“Demolition for new creation / Peace, love, and terror / Pigs must be killed, my children.”
It’s accompanied by the dark, devastating music of Japanese metal band Church of Misery. This playlist is just one of many that the band has appeared on covering the deviants of society.
“Now is the time for revolution / Are you prepared for destruction? / Now is the time to creepy crawl / Helter Skelter is comin’ down fast! / Rise! Death to pigs! Helter Skelter!”
Photo Credits: Sony Music Entertainment, Epic, Interscope, Geffen, Roadrunner, Reprise, Emetic
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