10 Haunting Songs: Terrifying Stories Behind the Music

Music has a unique way of telling stories, painting pictures with melodies and words. Sometimes, those stories are lighthearted and fun. But other times, they delve into the shadows, exploring themes of tragedy, violence, and deep sorrow. Join us as we uncover ten songs that carry truly terrifying and troubling narratives, often rooted in real-life events.

10 “Possession” – Sarah McLachlan

“And I would be the one to hold you down,
Kiss you so hard, I’ll take your breath away,
And after, I’d wipe away the tears,
Just close your eyes dear”

These unsettling lyrics take on a darker meaning when you learn their origin. Sarah McLachlan wrote “Possession” inspired by the actual letters she received from a stalker over three years. This individual sent numerous disturbing fan letters, some containing veiled threats. He believed McLachlan was “betrothed” to him and that he’d stop at nothing to fulfill their supposed destiny.

When the stalker, Uwe Vandrei, discovered his words were used in the song, he attempted to sue McLachlan. However, the case never reached court as Vandrei tragically took his own life before it could proceed.

9 “The Murder of the Lawson Family” – Carolina Buddies

“They say he killed his wife at first,
and the little ones did cry
Please papa, papa, won’t you spare our lives?
For it is so hard to die”

This folk song recounts a horrifying true event. Just before Christmas in 1929, Charlie Lawson, a 43-year-old tobacco farmer, took his wife and seven children to town for new clothes and a family portrait. This seemingly happy occasion was a chilling prelude to tragedy.

On Christmas Day, Lawson brutally murdered his wife and six of their children at their home in Germanton, North Carolina. His eldest son, Arthur, was spared only because Lawson had sent him on an errand. After the massacre, Lawson fled to the woods and killed himself. The Carolina Buddies released their song in 1930, setting the disturbing tale to surprisingly folksy music, creating a truly unsettling listening experience.

8 “Nebraska” – Bruce Springsteen

“I saw her standing on her front lawn,
just twirling her baton
Me and her went for a ride, sir,
and ten innocent people died”

Bruce Springsteen’s haunting song “Nebraska” is sung from the perspective of Charles Starkweather, a 19-year-old who, alongside his 14-year-old girlfriend Caril Ann Fugate, embarked on a killing spree in 1958. Before meeting Fugate, Starkweather had already committed murder. Together, they killed ten more people across Nebraska over an eight-day period.

Springsteen was inspired to write the song after watching the 1973 film Badlands, which fictionalized the events. The image of a girl twirling a baton, similar to a scene in the movie, particularly struck him. He then researched the actual murders, leading to the creation of this chilling track, the title song of his 1982 album.

7 “Knoxville Girl” – The Louvin Brothers

“I met a little girl in Knoxville, a town we all know well
And every Sunday evening, out in her home, I’d dwell
We went to take an evening walk about a mile from town
I picked a stick up off the ground and knocked that fair girl down”

The Louvin Brothers’ 1956 recording of “Knoxville Girl” sounds like a typical 1950s country ballad if you’re not paying close attention to the lyrics. However, the words tell a shockingly violent story. The song is an American version of older British ballads like “The Wexford Girl” or “The Oxford Girl.”

It narrates the tale of a man named Willie who meets and dates a girl from Knoxville. During what seems like a romantic evening walk, Willie inexplicably picks up a stick and brutally beats the girl to death. He then drags her body by her hair and disposes of it in a nearby river. The contrast between the upbeat music and the horrific story is deeply unsettling.

6 “Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor” – Eels

“Laying on the bathroom floor
Kitty licks my cheek once more
And I
I could try
But waking up is harder when you wanna die”

In just over two minutes, “Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor” by Eels paints a devastating picture of despair and heartbreak. Mark Oliver Everett, the band’s founder and singer/songwriter, penned these lyrics after a deeply personal tragedy. His sister, Elizabeth, had made her first attempt to end her life.

Everett was alerted by her boyfriend and rushed to find her unconscious on the bathroom floor. Though she was revived at the hospital, Elizabeth battled severe depression and made several more attempts. Tragically, she succeeded in 1996 while Everett was on tour. His life was marked by further loss, including discovering his father’s body after a heart attack, his mother’s death from cancer, and losing a cousin in the 9/11 attacks.

5 “Kim” – Eminem

“Sit up front! (We can’t just leave Hailie alone! What if she wakes up?)
We’ll be right back; well, I will: you’ll be in the trunk!”

Eminem’s 2000 track “Kim” is a raw and disturbing six-minute fictional outburst. The song begins with Eminem rapping about his daughter, Hailie, before shifting into a furious tirade against his then-wife, Kim. Throughout the song, Eminem portrays volatile mood swings, at one point sounding almost hysterical. The narrative depicts Eminem, Kim, and Hailie in a car, with the rapper hurling abuse at his wife, even impersonating her voice in response to his own aggressions.

The song culminates in a secluded field where he fantasizes about strangling Kim and placing her body in the car’s trunk. While a fictional account, the song starkly illustrates the turbulent relationship between Marshall Mathers and Kim, and reflects the grim reality of domestic violence situations that occur worldwide.

4 “Daddy” – Korn

“Mother, please forgive me
I just had to get out all my pain and suffering
Now that I am done
Remember I will always love you
I’m your son”

Korn’s song “Daddy” is a deeply unsettling and emotionally raw track. Lead singer Jonathan Davis reportedly wrote the lyrics about a childhood friend who was molested, and whose claims were not believed by adults. The song features a harrowing breakdown from Davis at the end, making it one of the band’s most controversial and emotionally charged pieces.

Due to the intensely personal nature of the lyrics, many fans initially believed Davis was singing about being abused by his own father, with his mother disbelieving him. Davis has since clarified in various interviews that the song was inspired by a childhood incident involving his babysitter, who has since passed away, and the frustration of not being believed by his parents at the time.

3 “Youth of the Nation” – P.O.D.

“Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would’ve known
‘Cause I didn’t kiss my mama goodbye”

The song “Youth of the Nation” by Christian metal band P.O.D. was born from a tragic event. On March 5, 2001, the band was heading to a recording session in California when they were caught in a traffic jam. They soon learned the cause: a school shooting at Santana High School, where 15-year-old Charles Andrew Williams had killed two students and injured thirteen others.

Deeply affected by this event, the band channeled their emotions into their music, creating “Youth of the Nation.” The song narrates the stories of three different teenagers caught in tragic circumstances, reflecting not only the Santana High incident but also drawing inspiration from other youth tragedies like the 1999 Columbine school shooting.

2 “Suffer Little Children” – The Smiths

“Over the moor, take me to the moor
Dig a shallow grave
And I’ll lay me down”

Morrissey, frontman of The Smiths, was close in age to the victims of the infamous Moors Murders perpetrated by Myra Hindley and Ian Brady in the 1960s. When he and Johnny Marr formed The Smiths in 1982, “Suffer Little Children” was among the first songs they wrote together. Released in 1984, the song chillingly names three of the five children murdered by the pair.

The song is undeniably haunting and sparked controversy upon its release. Some victims’ families reportedly objected to the children being named, and some fans were upset by the single’s sleeve art, which they felt resembled Myra Hindley. Morrissey later stated that the song was intended as a tribute to the victims, and its title was drawn from the Book of Matthew 19:14.

1 “Hero of War” – Rise Against

“He said, Son, have you seen the world?
Well, what would you say if I said that you could?
Just carry this gun, you’ll even get paid,
I said that sounds pretty good.”

Tim McIlrath, vocalist for the punk rock band Rise Against, wrote both the music and lyrics for “Hero of War.” The song tells the story of a young man convinced to enlist in the army by a recruiter’s promises of adventure and seeing the world. It begins with the allure of service and patriotism.

However, the soldier’s initial illusions are soon shattered by the brutal realities of combat. A pivotal moment occurs when he kills a woman carrying a white flag, leading to profound disillusionment with the war and the concept of patriotism. McIlrath explained that the lyrics were inspired by the experiences of soldiers worldwide. He emphasized that the song aims to highlight the insufficient support for veterans who return from combat physically and mentally scarred.

These songs serve as powerful reminders of music’s ability to explore the darkest corners of human experience. They stay with us, not just for their melodies, but for the unsettling truths they convey.