You know, it took me a few listenings to this song to understand that it said “how can I exist without you”, and not “how can I have sex without you”.
Sorry for the hijack. Someone mentioned the Toadies’ “Possum Kingdom” - yep, that’s one messed-up song. It’s a good one though…
Make up your mind
decide to walk with me
around the lake tonight by my side
I’m not gonna lie
I’ll not be a gentleman
behind the boathouse
I’ll show you my dark secret
I’m not gonna lie
I want you for my
blushing bride
my lover be my lover yeah
don’t be afraid, I don’t mean to scare you
so help me Jesus
I can promise you
you’ll stay as beautiful
with dark hair and soft skin
forever, forever
make up your mind
and I promise you
I’ll treat you well
my sweet angel
so help me Jesus
Give it up to me…
Do you wanna be my angel
so help me
do you wanna die…
I think the “so help me Jesus” refrain is particularly creepy. Sounds like something a demented stalker-killer would say.
In the celebrity stalker genre, Emma (daughter of Pete) Townshend wrote a song called “The Last Time I Saw Sadie” about someone who is insanely jealous of but obsessed with a female celebrity and has photos of her all over the wall. There has been some speculation that this song was inspired by Elastica’s Justine Frischmann, who was Emma Townshend’s roommate in boarding school. Townshend, however, says that it’s just a song about jealousy and not about anyone in particular.
I Put a Spell on You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (and Nina Simone, and Sonique, and…)
*I put a spell on you
Because you’re mine
Stop the things you do
Watch out! I ain’t lyin’
I love you, I love you, I love you anyhow
I don’t care if you don’t want me
I’m yours right now
I put a spell on you
Because you’re mine…*
Not that Jay needed to stalk women. I saw a recent TV special about him, which centred on the fact that he left behind him at least fifty-seven illegitimate children. Astounding.
*And when the day ends I’m sure she feels sorrow
The lonely guy I am, I like to watch her change
I’ve been here two days, I’ll sure be here tomorrow
I’d eat her out if she were on my dinner plate
(And I wish)
I wish she’d be more kind now
I’m out of luck 'cause the shades are pulled down
I’ve seen everything there is to be shown
I followed her all the way home
I can’t be too cool in a tree with my pants down
The air is cold and I’ve got splinters in my feet
She caught me once, but I don’t think that she cares now
Unlike before, her view is blocked by a leaf*
And while it’s not really about a stalker, “Jenny (867-5309)” always seemed a bit creepy to me. Obsessing over someone whose number you found on a bathroom wall?
That one sprung to mind as well - I think it’s supposed to be about Anne Murray?
A rather angry-sounding song - I like the Rock Spectacle (live) version better than the studio.
Lyric snips:
You signed your picture with an O and X
I bet you don’t write “love” each time you sign your cheques.
I took a hatchet to the radio I did it all for you
You could have written back,
You could have said “Thank you”
I guess you’ve got better things,
better things to do.
You say you love me, is that the truth?
Although they’ve heard the songs, my friends want living proof.
I know your address, I ring the bell
I bring you flowers and a .22 with shells.
I guess the Misfits are the ultimate ‘stalker’ band.
HORROR BUSINESS*, * IN THE DOORWAY*, LAST CARESS, MOMMY, CAN I GO OUT AND KILL TONIGHT?, and * SPINAL REMAINS* all talk about stalking / killing and those are just the ones I came up with off the top of my head. There are many more.
“Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to?
Mary, Mary, can I go too.
This one thing I will vow ya,
I’d rather die than to live without ya.”
…
“Mary, Mary, it’s not over.
Where you go, I will follow.
‘Til I win your love again
And walk beside you,
But until then.
Mary, Mary, where you goin’ to?”
Yeah I thought of “Possum Kingdom.” I guess it’s the lyrics,Do you wanna die… I love that song…I haven’t thought of it in so long though.
Also- “Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult kind of fits the description. Except the person the guy is singing about seems rather willing by the end of the song. Guess this is one of the times when things end well for the stalker.
Oh yes – Screamin’ Jay’s original version (which he co-wrote with someone else) was released in 1956.
And MM was neither the first nor the last to do a cover version; this site gives a list of some of the many artists who have done covers of the song, including Etta James, Bette Midler, Sarah Vaughan, Nick Cave, Eddie Johns, Atlantics, Johnny Angel, John Fogerty/CCR, Them, Merl Saunders, Baby Jane Dexter, Pete Townshend, C. A. Quintet, Leon Russell, Tab Benoit, Jerry Granelli, Bryan Ferry, Rationals, Manfred Mann, Cruisin’ With Rat Fink, Robben Ford, Arthur Brown, Alan Price, and the Animals (Eric Burdon). The Notorious B. I. G. also sampled “I Put A Spell On You” in “Kick In The Door”.
I suspect Hawkins did quite well financially out of that one song, although some of his other singles sold well, and he achieved fame as a novelty performer as well.
That’s irony, right? Please tell me it is.
We mustn’t overlook Peek-a-Boo by Devo.
Or Marc Cohn’s True Companion.
Baby I’ve been searching like everybody else
Can’t say nothing different about myself
Sometimes I’m an angel
And sometimes I’m cruel
And when it comes to love
I’m just another fool
Yes, I’ll climb a mountain
I’m gonna swim the sea
There ain’t no act of God girl
Could keep you safe from me
…
So don’t you dare and try to walk away
I’ve got my heart set on our wedding day
[shudder]
The hauntingly pretty but also highly creepy “So Long” by Fischer-Z, about a jilted lover whose desire for closure leads to stalking:
**When I read your letter
I couldn’t believe that you’d gone
I dialed your number
but no one answered the phone
I asked your friends to tell me
if they knew where you were
They said they thought that you were ill
I hired a detective
to try and find out where you are
He managed to trace you
he said you were living in France
A watchman saw you climb into someone else’s car
And drive off laughing in the night
Why didn’t you tell me?
Not leave me this way?
Oh, you could have told me
Not waited for so long
I tried to forget you
but I found myself walking the street
I went to the doctor
and he gave me something to sleep
I sent you telegrams
but you haven’t answered one
Your mother told me I’d best leave you alone
I hope you’re satisfied
now you’ve done this thing to me
I hope you’re pleased with what you’ve done…**
He ends the song vowing he won’t contact her in the future, but the listener gets the feeling that he won’t, nope, no way. It’s the voice of someone who will do anything to hold his ex accountable for her behavior toward him - anything. shiver
Jeanny, komm, come onSteh auf - bitte, du wirst ganz naß
Schon spät, komm - wir müssen weg hier,
raus aus dem Wald, verstehst du nicht?
Wo ist dein Schuh, du hast ihn verloren,
als ich dir den Weg zeigen mußte
Wer hat verloren? Du, dich?
Ich mich? Oder, oder wir uns?
Jeanny, quit livin’ on dreams
Jeanny, life is not what it seems
Such a lonely little girl in a cold, cold world
There’s someone, who needs you
Jeanny, quit livin’ on dreams
Jeanny, life is not what it seems
You’re lost in the night, don’t wanna struggle and fight
There’s someone, who needs you, babe
Es ist kalt, wir müssen weg hier, komm
Dein Lippenstift ist erwischt
Du hast ihn gekauft und ich habe es gesehen
Zuviel rot auf deinen Lippen und du hast gesagt:
“Mach mich nicht an”
Aber du warst durchschaut, Augen sagen mehr als Worte
Du brauchst mich doch, hmmmh?
Alle wissen, daß wir zusammen sind ab heute,
jetzt hör ich sie! Sie kommen
Sie kommen dich zu holen
Sie werden dich nicht finden
Niemand wird dich finden, du bist bei mir
Jeanny, …
Newsflash: In den letzten Monaten ist die Zahl der vermißten Personen dramatisch angestiegen. Die jüngste Veröffentlichung der lokalen Polizeibehörde berichtet von einem weiteren tragischen Fall. Es handelt sich um ein neunzehnjähriges Mädchen, das zuletzt vor vierzehn Tagen gesehen wurde. Die Polizei schließt die Möglichkeit nicht aus, daß es sich hier um ein Verbrechen handelt.