I’m trying to compile a list (I do this a lot, by the way. Categorize music by themes, etc.). Songs where the singer is murdering the listener, or confessing to the listener about killing someone else.
For example:
“Via Chicago” by Wilco. “I dreamed about killing you again last night, and it felt alright to me.”
“Underwater Love” by Faith No More. “Liquid seeps into your lungs but your eyes look so serene.”
“You’re All I Need” by Motley Crue. “But killing you helped me keep you home.”
“Country Death Song” by Violent Femmes. “I through my child into a bottomless pit.”
I’m sure there’s a whole subculture of “death metal” dedicated to this very topic.
In the duet “Henry Lee” by Nick Cave and P.J. Harvey, she’s singing about seducing and murdering him. In fact, Nick Cave has an entire album called Murder Ballads, devoted to this very subject.
Whatever it is, it’s not actual death metal, which (IME) very rarely addresses such subjects. The name comes from an old Possessed song, “Death Metal”, which, while it certainly employs violent imagery, doesn’t match what you seem to have in mind. In fact, I’m having a hard time thinking of examples.
The last four songs on “Raise Your Fist And Yell” by Alice Cooper.
It starts off with “Time To Kill” where he talks about being in jail and how he’s run out of patience and only has time to kill. Next comes “Chop Chop Chop”. Our boy is on the streets and happily killing his ex, Gail. Again and again and again…
At any rate, they all look like her. The next song is dedicated to Gail, herself. She’s been, um, disposed of. It’s way over the top =- all horror movie organ music and creepy lyrics. “The bugs serve time in her skeletal jail” - yech!
The last song is the creepiest, even though it’s a fast rocker. “Roses On White Lace.” The “roses” would, of course, be drops of blood. Verycreepy lyrics.
I took your evil skin away
It’s all cut and dried
and
I saw you last night
And carefully took your hand
With these smears on my face
I knew that you’d understand…
In the penultimate scene of Don Giovanni, the protagonist is dragged into Hell while he and a statue sing my favorite bit of the opera. Not sure if that counts as being killed, but it’s pretty close.
The refrain to Elvis Costello’s “Alison” goes, My aim is true.
Disturbed’s “The Game” ends so:
The little bitch she went and she told A LIE
And now she will never tell another A LIE
the little bitch she went and told A LIE
NEVER FUCKING LIE TO ME!
On a related note, “Gloomy Sunday”, though not actually about killing or suicide, is said to be so depressing that it prompted a whole bunch of people off themselves. Cite.
“Well no one here is getting out alive
This time I’ve really lost my mind and I don’t care
So close your eyes
And kiss yourself goodbye
And think about the times you spent and what they’ve meant
To me it’s nothing”
Voices: “Someone is gonna die when you listen to me / Let the living die”
Down With The Sickness: There’s a bit in the middle where the singer is going off on his abusive mother, ending with, “Get ready to DIE!”
Conflict: “Enemy, enemy, I must eliminate my enemy”
I also like a cheesy heavy metal band called Manowar. Almost all of their songs are about combat and battle, so there is a lot of violent bloodshed being described in their songs. An example, from the song Hatred:
I taste your blood as it showers from my blade
I eat your heart - from evil it was made…
I crush your bones, I kill your face
I rip your flesh, I end the chase
You meet with terror, you draw the ace
I rule the world and the rats that race
Hey Hey Hey I’m guilty and you’re guilty too
Hey Hey Hey Hey
One and one and one makes three
One and one why don’t you see
I’m killing you, you’re killing me
Yeah, I was gonna say “Alison” by Elvis Costello, but I got beaten to the punch. I’ll toss in a couple of my favorites: “Diane” by Husker Du (first verse: “Hey little girl, do you need a ride?/I’ve got room in my wagon, why don’t you hop inside/We could cruise down Robert Street all night long/But I think I’ll just rape you and kill you instead”). And “A Good Idea” by Sugar, about a guy drowning his girlfriend in the river.