Songs About or Inspired by the Son of Sam

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SONGS ABOUT OR INSPIRED BY THE SON OF SAM explores 10 songs about or inspired by David Berkowitz aka ‘Son of Sam.’

“I was once an evil man. I truly believed that I was working for Satan and I embraced the mission.” Criminologist and author Scott A. Bonn quotes the infamous David Berkowitz (b. 1953), best known as the Son of Sam, in Psychology Today article, “Son of Sam” Serial Killer Explains Why He Was Once “Evil”. Berkowitz/Son of Sam isn’t a good man…or at least that was the case the late 1970s. Son of Sam was a New York serial killer who is currently serving a sentence of life imprisonment for his pointless murders.

According to a 2017 CBS News documentary, Son of Sam | The Killer Speaks, Berkowitz asserts, “There was a battle going on inside of me”. That’s an understatement to say the least. This playlist is comprised of 10 songs centered on Berkowitz. Featured musicians depicting Berkowitz’s hellishness are Hall & Oates, Overkill, Macabre, Dead Boys, Green Jellÿ, Church of Misery, Elliott Smith, The Electric Hellfire Club, and Shinedown.

1. Elliott Smith, “Son of Sam”

Figure 8 • SKG Music • 2000

“The couple killer, each and every time.” Singer-songwriter Elliott Smith (1969 – 2003) delivers quite the alluring song with “Son of Sam.” Sadly, Smith himself had a tragic demise, dying at the age of 34, purportedly of suicide. Alexis Petridis (The Guardian) asserts “No one could honestly claim to be surprised when they heard Elliott Smith had committed suicide… He was the “unhappiest man in the land”, a singer you didn’t so much listen to as commiserate with.”

Given the dark nature of Smith’s music and Smith himself, he is a perfect fit to cover a song based upon a serial killer. “Son of Sam” serves as the opener for his penultimate studio album, Figure 8, which was released in 2000.

“I’m not uncomfortable, feeling weird
Lonely leered, options disappear, but I know what to do
Son of Sam, son of a doctor’s touch, a nurse’s love.”

While the notorious David Berkowitz is referenced under his alias, the impression is that this song is only partially about him. A couple of lyrics, in addition to the aforementioned, stand out.

“Son of Sam, son of the shining path, the clouded mind…
I may talk in my sleep tonight ‘cause I don’t know what I am
I’m little like you, more like Son of Sam.”

The last lyrics in particular are chilling. Smith suggests that we all have some of the horrid traits of the Son of Sam.

2. Overkill, “Hello from the Gutter”

Under the Influence • Atlantic • 1988

Worship Metal editor Chris Jennings has high praise for thrash metal band Overkill.

“Any thrash fan worth their salt will have experienced a lot of Overkill in their lifetime. Generally considered one of the finest thrash bands in existence…”

In the same article, he goes on to praise the distinct voice of frontman Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth.

Overkill magnificently captures Son of Sam, naming “Hello from the Gutter” after the title of an editorial about the serial killer written by journalist Jimmy Breslin. Overkill speaks about the victims broken dreams at the hands of the demented, nonsensical murderer.

“Gutter child, sweet sixteen
Broadway stars that have never been
All those dreams and broken glass
Swept down the sewer
With the rest of the trash
Here’s a little story that we live to tell
Hello from the gutter
Hello from our little Hell.”

3. Dead Boys, “Son of Sam”

We Have Come for Your Children • Atlantic • 1978

“I am Son of Sam / I got death breathing from my hand.” Dead Boys provide us with the electrifying “Son of Sam.” According to Greg Prato (AllMusic), “Dead Boys were the first punk bands to escalate the level of violence, nihilism, and pure ugliness of punk rock to extreme new levels.” Alex Henderson, who reviewed the band’s 1981 album Night of the Living Dead Boys, describes Dead Boys as being “so combustible, so reckless, so nihilistic that you figured they couldn’t stay together for more than a few years — and sure enough, the band broke up after only two studio albums.”

Understanding such background explains why the short-lived Cleveland, Ohio collective might tackle such a dark individual like David Berkowitz. “Son of Sam,” which originally appears on 1978 album We Have Come for Your Children, commences devilishly. It references Berkowitz’s bizarre claim a demon-possessed dog (a Labrador Retriever) commanded him to murder.

“Last night in the middle of a dream
Fiery red dog eyes double beamed
Tell me directions of my soul
Poured my life inside a bullet hole
I can’t resist, I cannot fight
I’ve fallen victim to his bite
I have killed six but I’ll kill more
Sam commands my .44.”

4. Green Jelly, “Cereal Killer”

Cereal Killer Soundtrack • Volcano • 1993

“Toucan Son of Sam! / Snap! Crackle! Pop! / Toucan Son of Sam!” The more Son of Sam the merrier! Wait, that totally didn’t sound right! The heinous nature of the Son of Sam and his crimes are no joking matter. However, comedic metal-punk collective Green Jelly have some fun with the deranged serial killer on “Cereal Killer.” Great title…

“Terror in the supermarket
Shoppers are in horror
Shredded boxes in the aisles
Corpses on the floor.”

Oh brother! The puns and wordplay are absolutely ridiculous.

“Those who ran
This joy is mine
Now they’re going to pay
Super gory slaughter
Now the order of the day!
Toucan, Son of Sam!
Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids.”

5. Daryl Hall and John Oates, “Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear the Voices)”

Voices • RCA • 1980

“Look at me, I’m running / Ooh, what have I done / Oh, I must have hurt someone / It’s dark in Subway Station / …Oh, I hear the voices deep inside.” Daryl Hall and John Oates, often referred to simply as Hall & Oates, had a hit album on their hands with Voices (1980). The album’s closing song, “Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear the Voices),” supposedly “had a dark inspiration.” That inspiration was none other than David Berkowitz, The Son of Sam. According to a quote from Daryl Hall in 35 Things You Didn’t Know About Daryl Hall & John Oates’ ‘Voices’:

‘Son of Sam’ mentioned ‘Rich Girl’ was an influence on him. He got his rage up thinking about that song when he was killing people…I said, ‘Let’s write a song about a slasher or axe murderer who keeps hearing these voices in his head. Whenever he hears these doo-wop voices in his head it makes him kill people just like ‘Rich Girl’ did.’ So that’s what we wrote about.’

During the second verse of “Diddy Doo Wop (I Hear the Voices),” Hall & Oates reference The Son of Sam being a fan of their classic, “Rich Girl.” For good measure, they also reference Charles Manson. They continue on creating their own fictional slasher/ axe murderer, who enjoys “Duke of Earl.”

“Charlie liked the Beatles (ahh)
Sam, he liked Rich Girl (bitch girl)
But I'm still hung up on the Duke of Earl (duke, duke, duke of earl, duke, duke, duke of earl)
… Oh, the doo wop voices everywhere
And oh, the Duke is singing.”

6. Overkill, “I Hear Black”

I Hear Black • Atlantic • 1993

“I hear black / And have no mercy / I hear black / It has no mercy / Repeating in my head.” In an AllMusic review, Jason Anderson describes, I Hear Black, the sixth studio album by Overkill as “a slightly more dense, ambitious recording,” compared to their past work. Chris Jennings (Worship Metal), describes the album as “a dark, groove-filled excursion into…brand new territory for the band.” Specifically regarding “I Hear Black,” he asserts, “The likes of ‘I Hear Black’ … remain(s) thick slices of crusty creativity topped with the kind of monstrous riffs most bands would kill for.

Perhaps the most notable thing about the song “I Hear Black” is its content. It is yet another song by the band that references David Berkowitz. The lyrics serve as the evidence, with references to dogs being a dead giveaway. According to 13 Bizarre Facts About David Berkowitz, AKA The Son of Sam, “he was controlled by a spirit living inside his neighbor’s dog.” On the first verse, frontman Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth sings:

“Bad or a wet dream
Feeling so in-between
Gun in my pocket and
A target on my head
Right on the wrong road
He talks to me through dogs
Not sure who it is
But I know it ain't God.”

It doesn’t end with just one reference to dogs. Ellsworth continues:

“Not my fault, wasn't even there
Rest of the world, all gone insane
Can you hear the dogs barking? Can you hear the dogs speak?”

7. The Electric Hellfire Club, “Mr. 44”

Burn, Baby, Burn! (Cleopatra, 1993)

“I like girls a lot. I like pretty girls. I only shoot pretty girls.” Thus begins “Mr. 44,” the sixth song that appears on Burn, Baby Burn!, the debut album by industrial-alternative rock band, The Electric Hellfire Club. “Mr. 44” refers both Berkowitz’s weapon of choice, .44 Caliber Bulldog revolver, and his initial nickname before the definitive Son of Sam. According to the Crime Museum bio on Berkowitz, when he was arrested in 1977, Berkowitz had his gun in a paper bag.

Naturally, The Electric Hellfire Club focuses on the weapon, as well as the insane, ultimately hellish actions by Berkowitz.

“I bring you salvation from the barrel of a gun
Is she a virgin or is she a whore?
I don’t really give a damn
I’m Mr. 44
I’m a bottomless pit
With nothing in it
A void filled with unclean spirits
A hound of Hell on a long, long leash
Can you count the number of this beast.”

There’s more darkness, beyond the aforementioned.

“…Every time I pull the trigger
The devil’s work is done
Hellfire and damnation from the barrel of a gun
22 Disciples of Hell knocking at death’s door
To each his own, but make mine murder
I’m Mr. 44.”

8. Macabre, “Son of Sam”

Grim Reality • Decomposed • 2009

“You’re gonna be dead when I shoot your fuckin’ head / There’s not time to cry; it’s time to fuckin’ die.” Satirical death metal band Macabre have numerous for songs for numerous serial killers, including David Berkowitz. Imaginatively, the satire comes into play with references to the Dr. Seuss character, Sam I Am, in the classic, Green Eggs and Ham.

“I am Sam; Sam I am
I would not like green eggs and ham
I am Sam; Son of Sam
With my 44 in hand.”

Beyond having a blast with comparing, rather contrasting Dr. Seuss and an insane serial killer, the band dives into that insanity.

“My father has told me to kill you
And that’s just what I’m going to do
I have a gun and I’m insane
I’ll make your life go down the drain.”

9. Church of Misery, “Son of a Gun (David Berkowitz)”

Early Works Compilation • Emetic • reissued 2010

“Demons commanded me / To kill by this 44 / I’m on a different wave length / Than everybody else / Keep out of my way / Or you will die!” Church of Misery was born in 1995, earning the honor of being one of the first doom metal bands from Japan. The band tackles Son of Sam on “Son of a Gun (David Berkowitz),” a nine-minute record that appears on their Early Works Compilation. As referenced by the aforementioned lyrical excerpt, Church of Misery focuses on Berkowitz’s hellish mindset and of course, his gun of choice, a .44. Throughout, the references to ‘Sam’ are made from Berkowitz’s perspective.

“‘Sam,’ my father needs some blood
To preserve his youth
I love to hunt, prowling the streets
Looking for your tasty meat…
Kill for my master ‘Sam’
In this hole, lives wicked king
Breed for my master ‘Sam’
I’m a son of a gun
44 caliber killer.”

10. Shinedown, “Son of Sam”

The Sound of Madness – Deluxe Edition (Atlantic, 2008)

“God damn, I might be the Son of Sam / The only child of a holy man.” Jacksonville, Florida hard rockers Shinedown have something to say about David Berkowitz on “Son of Sam,” the 13^th cut from the deluxe version of their third studio album, The Sound of Madness. The aforementioned lyrics are excerpted from the chorus, which sums up record penned from Berkowitz’s delusional perspective.

“God damn, I might be the Son of Sam
The only child of a holy man
I stand alone for all to see
Cause they ain’t never seen a war like me
God damn, son of Sam
God damn, son of Sam.”

The verses depict the insanity of Berkowitz, clearly possessed by a demon. On the second verse, notably, frontman Brent Smith sings:

“Are you afraid your life means less?
Are you concerned you might be next?
It’s much too soon for me to tell
If you’re in heaven or in hell.”

The third and final verse is even more chilling lyrically. Smith, as Son of Sam, sings:

“Look now over your shoulder
No it’s not over
It’s just the beginning
And I will write the final ending.”

Honorable Mentions

1. Cypress Hill, “Insane in the Brain”

Black Sunday • Columbia • 1993

“To the one on the flamboyant tempa
Just toss that ham in the frying pan
Like spam, get done when I come and slam
Damn, I feel like the Son of Sam.”

2.Beastie Boys, “Looking Down the Barrel of a Gun”

Paul’s Boutique • Capitol • 1989

The entire song is filled with troubling, violent references, particularly the second verse, which references Die Hard, Son of Sam, and Clockwork Orange.

“You got your finger on the trigger like the Son of Sam I am
Like Clockwork Orange, going off on the town.”

Songs About or Inspired by the Son of Sam | Playlist 🎧

Published by the musical hype on January 23, 2018January 23, 2018