The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Bobby's got a gun that he keeps beneath his pillow
Out on the street your chances are zero
Take a look around you (come on now)
It ain't too complicated
You're messin' with Murder Incorporated
Now you check over your shoulder everywhere that you go (oh yeah)
Walkin' down the street there's eyes in every shadow (oh yeah)
You better take a look around you (come on now)
That equipment you got's so outdated (come on now)
You can't compete with Murder Incorporated
Everywhere you look now, Murder Incorporated
So you keep a little secret down deep inside your dresser drawer
For dealing with the heat you're feelin' out on the killin' floor
No matter where you step you feel you're never out of danger
So the comfort that you keep's a gold-plated snub-nose thirty-two
I heard that you
You got a job downtown, man, that leaves your head cold (oh yeah)
Everywhere you look life ain't got no soul (oh yeah)
That apartment you live in feels like it's just a place to hide
When you're walkin' down the street you won't meet no one eye to eye
Now, the cops reported you as just another homicide
But I can tell that you were just frustrated
From living with Murder Incorporated
(Murder) Incorporated
Everywhere you look now, Murder Incorporated
Come on now, baby
Murder Incorporated
Everywhere you turn, it's Murder Incorporated
Come on now, darling
Out on the street your chances are zero
Take a look around you (come on now)
It ain't too complicated
You're messin' with Murder Incorporated
Now you check over your shoulder everywhere that you go (oh yeah)
Walkin' down the street there's eyes in every shadow (oh yeah)
You better take a look around you (come on now)
That equipment you got's so outdated (come on now)
You can't compete with Murder Incorporated
Everywhere you look now, Murder Incorporated
So you keep a little secret down deep inside your dresser drawer
For dealing with the heat you're feelin' out on the killin' floor
No matter where you step you feel you're never out of danger
So the comfort that you keep's a gold-plated snub-nose thirty-two
I heard that you
You got a job downtown, man, that leaves your head cold (oh yeah)
Everywhere you look life ain't got no soul (oh yeah)
That apartment you live in feels like it's just a place to hide
When you're walkin' down the street you won't meet no one eye to eye
Now, the cops reported you as just another homicide
But I can tell that you were just frustrated
From living with Murder Incorporated
(Murder) Incorporated
Everywhere you look now, Murder Incorporated
Come on now, baby
Murder Incorporated
Everywhere you turn, it's Murder Incorporated
Come on now, darling
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Everywhere you look there's eyes in every shadow
Guys, this song is in no way about gun control legislation or police states or anything like that. Murder Incorporated was the name for a contract killing organization started in the 1930's by Albert Anastasia. It was basically the enforcement arm for the New York Mafia. Bruce grew up in Jersey in the 60's and 70's. Back then and there, the Mafia was more in charge than the government. This song is about what it is like to live under the mob's heel, to run afoul of them, to run, get bumped off, and then have the police not prosecute the case to hard because they're under the Mafia's pay. Bruce never knew the high-level, glamorous side of crime you see in gangster movies, but he was a master at portraying the misery of living in fear of it.
I think you're right in your interpretation, but I think the lines "Now the cops reported you as just an another homicide / But I can tell that you were just frustrated / From living with Murder Incorporated" imply a suicide by someone who didn't want to live in fear, waiting for the mob to get to them.
Wow, I can't believe I'm the first to comment about this great song. Basically, I think that Bruce is singing about a person, or people, who lead a life of crime, and where it gets them (in the case of this song, the person in question ends up dead).
I don't think he is talking about just one person. I believe Bruce is talking in generalities about how today, violence is so normal in our society. We don't really pay attention to it too much anymore. In the song, he constantly reminds us that it is everywhere... "Now you check over your shoulder everywhere that you go...Walkin' down the street there's eyes in every shadow...Everywhere you look life's ain't got no soul...The cops reported you as just another homicide"
"Murder Incorporated" makes murder look like an everyday business. It occurs SO often that it is, unfortunately, part of our everyday routine. The only lyrics that I think are weak are the first two lines. The rhyme with pillow and zero and the second line just seem corny and obvious. We know the Boss is better than that.....other than that, Bruce gets his point across with a great rock n' roll song once again!
i think it is about a person who could be possibly be marked by a gang or the mob and he is always checking his shoulder before he goes anywhere because he fears for his life. the gun he has is outdated compaired to "murder incorporated", the people out to get him, and eventually, they catch up to him and he is found dead by the cops
I always thought this song was about the gun/security/protection companies and how they convince ppul they need guns/security but the addition of all these protective devices actually has made the world a more dangerous place by fostering a general distrust of others and the increased ease of aquiring these same firearms.
Great tune! This corporation doesn't have to report to the IRS.
Murder Incorporated was the name given to a gang of hitmen in the 1930's. They were supposedly responsible for a ton of unsolved murders.
"Got a job downtown man that leaves your head cold Everywhere you look life's ain't got no soul"
I think this song is about corporate drones and people with dead end jobs like so many of us...
i think