# What songs are "sinister" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 3, 2005, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658 "2005-10-03T23:01:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![dotchan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9d8465/32.png) [@dotchan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dotchan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/21 "2005-10-04T03:56:15Z")
System of a Down’s “Arials” (sp?) creeps me out. (But not that song about tapeworms whose title I can’t remember off the top of my head. That one’s funny. :D) ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/22 "2005-10-04T04:31:28Z")
“Every Breath You Take” by The Police and “Father Figure” by George Michael are two immensely popular songs with really creepy undertones. Many people don’t seem to notice this, however. “Riders on the Storm” by the Doors has been mentioned. But a lot of stuff by the Doors would also qualify (e.g., “The End”). So would a good chuck of David Bowie’s discography (e.g., “The Man Who Sold the World” and “Golden Years”). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/23 "2005-10-04T04:35:41Z")
> [@NDP](#): > > “Every Breath You Take” by The Police and “Father Figure” by George Michael are two immensely popular songs with really creepy undertones. Many people don’t seem to notice this, however. Any time you mention “Every Breath You Take” in conversation, someone _will_ say that it’s about stalking. Everyone knows that now. “I Will Always Love You” or “You Are My Sunshine,” on the other hand… ---
**Author:** ![LadySybil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c89c15/32.png) [@LadySybil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LadySybil)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/24 "2005-10-04T04:36:15Z")
Ohio Players- _Love Rollercoaster_ if only due to the urban legend stuck to it. Cher- _Dark Lady_ And _Stan the Fan_ by Eminem really creeps me out. ---
**Author:** ![Sublight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/439d5e/32.png) [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/25 "2005-10-04T05:17:04Z")
Warren Zevon’s _Model Citizen_ _Down in the basement, I got a Craftsman lathe. Show it to the children, when they misbehave._ _Basket Case_ also fits, as do a number of his other songs. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/26 "2005-10-04T05:21:57Z")
A lot of Angelo Badalamenti’s (sp?) work, especially his stuff with David Lynch. ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/27 "2005-10-04T05:29:10Z")
> [@bluecanary](#): > > The mention of “The Thing” by Phil Harris in another thread reminded me–that song’s pretty sinister. I’m just amazed to see a reference to Phil Harris at all! A Jack Benny fan perhaps? The “thing” certainly didn’t do Phil any favors – damned him to hell, as I recall. The overture to “Jesus Christ Superstar” certainly sounds sinister. And, looked at in a certain light, the song “Young Girl” could be sung by a tortured poedophile: _Young girl, get out of my mind…my love for you is way out of line… better run girl!!..you’re much too young, girl!_ ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/28 "2005-10-04T05:35:36Z")
Tool has a pile of creepy songs, both music and lyrics. Elvis Costello, Spooky Girlfriend Garbage, Vow, #1 Crush Velvet Acid Christ, Slut Golden Palominos, most of their stuff K.D. Lang, So it Shall Be, while I think its about trust in a relationship its damn creepy in the lyric department if you dont take it that way. Pearl Jam, Dirty Frank Coil, Tainted Love (cover) Guns and Roses, Used to Love Her. well its a fun little campfire tune MC 900foot Jesus, Killer inside me The Turtles, Happy Together. holy creepy lyrics Batman! Daisy Chainsaw, anything and everything…ok its only one album ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/29 "2005-10-04T05:40:03Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > The Turtles, Happy Together. holy creepy lyrics Batman! Wha? Okay, “I think about you day and night” and stuff, but I can’t think of anything in that song that isn’t standard romantic corniness. Aside from “how is the weather,” that is. ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/30 "2005-10-04T05:48:21Z")
**Don’t Fear the Reaper** , of course. One of the all-time most sinister songs with such a lovely sentiment: don’t be afraid of death, let’s kill ourselves (baby). **Maxwell’s Silver Hammer** is my runner up. And really, why select one or two of Elvis Costello’s songs? You can just toss the bulk of his discography onto the sinster and/or creepy pile. (Of course I love him - I’m not criticizing). ---
**Author:** ![Amaranta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Amaranta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amaranta)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/31 "2005-10-04T06:08:54Z")
“I Put a Spell on You”, Screamin’ Jay (something-something). I dunno, my mum was watching some PBS-type show on TV when I was young, and there was a pic of this guy and the song playing. Creeped me right out, gave me nightmares in fact. And I’d managed to almost forget about it, but that recent Levi’s commercial with the stalking department store mannequin didn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/32 "2005-10-04T06:47:04Z")
> [@amaranta](#): > > “I Put a Spell on You”, Screamin’ Jay (something-something). Hawkins. Even with the noises at the end, which are kind of silly, I think that’s one of the greatest and most over-the-top songs ever. I always thought The Beatles’ “I Want You/She’s So Heavy” was totally schizophrenic and eerie. The “She’s So Heavy” part was the first song to really scare me, with that drudging, thick bassline and the kind of seasick, repetitive arpeggios… that thing scared me the first time I heard it, and I was standing outside on a sunny day! ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/33 "2005-10-04T07:45:34Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Wha? Okay, “I think about you day and night” and stuff, but I can’t think of anything in that song that isn’t standard romantic corniness. Aside from “how is the weather,” that is. the song is pure stalker stuff, hes not talking to her and she has no idea how he feels, “Imagine me and you I do” ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/34 "2005-10-04T07:46:35Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > the song is pure stalker stuff, hes not talking to her and she has no idea how he feels, > > “Imagine me and you I do” that was supposed to have more, as in the very first line sets up the song as a fantasy, if you listen close or google lyrics you will see what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/35 "2005-10-04T07:56:34Z")
Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby from O Brother Where Art Thou? Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm by the Crash Test Dummies. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/36 "2005-10-04T12:29:54Z")
> [@Witch](#): > > Midnight Rambler by The Stones. Indeed - as well as “Stray Cat Blues.” Seduction of a 15 year old! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/53a042/32.png) [@RancidYakButterTeaParty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RancidYakButterTeaParty)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/37 "2005-10-04T13:28:28Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#): > > “The Sinister Minister,” by Bela Fleck and the Flecktones. You know you beat me to it. A great sinister song. ---
**Author:** ![parthenokinesis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/cc9497/32.png) [@parthenokinesis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/parthenokinesis)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/38 "2005-10-04T13:36:39Z")
> [@cornflakes](#): > > How about **Bauhaus** ’s entire discography? And don’t forget “March of the Sinister Ducks” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/39 "2005-10-04T13:37:38Z")
The first song that popped into my head was _Nemesis_ by Shriekback. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658/40 "2005-10-04T13:43:13Z")
I’d second the Cave and Waits of course, but they usually temper the sinister with humour. Lou Reed’s Berlin album is my pick of the pops - that song ‘Taking the Children Away’ in particular… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-songs-are-sinister/324658.md?page=3)