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.
Killer, killer
Killer lives in silent dreams
Of genocide philosophy rebirth
Killer, killer
Killer lies in frightened eyes
Obsessed with words that terrorize the earth
Killer hides inside of the dead
Killer walks in fear of his own
Killer judges all that is said
Killer doesn't see what is shown
Killer is dying within
Killer is taking the soul from the man
Killer is stalking again
Killer is breaking the heart of his plan
Pray for the killer
Pray for his son
Pray for the killer
Pray for his day to be done
Killer's face is ominous
Killer's heart is black
Killer's mind is on the loose
Killer will attack
Killer can't communicate
Killer can't investigate
Killer will interrogate
Killer will annihilate
Killers run like insects to destroy the battle cry
Killers use their influence to animate the sky
Killer's high anxiety becomes obsessed with therapy
Killer's insecurity paints the wall with purity
Killers aren't diverted from their mission to destroy
Assigned to the demoralized
The course of dreamers hypnotized
Killer's promiscuity infects his false security
When forced to use his intellect
To trace the path of righteousness
Killers build their ladders to the sky
To stand in judgment over high
Across the galaxy of fear
That brings the criminal to tears
Stare into the killer's eyes
Stare into the killer's eyes
Stare into his eyes
Stare beyond his lies
Is it time for the end
For the wounds to be mend
And the servant to bleed from within
Is there truth in his words
Proof of return
Has the killer surrendered to sin
Has the killer betrayed
Has the killer enslaved
Has he stolen the eyes from his son
In the wake of the trial
In the hands of denial
Lies the killer and all that is one
Pray for the killer
Pray for this son
Pray for the killer
Pray for his day to be done
Killer lives in silent dreams
Of genocide philosophy rebirth
Killer, killer
Killer lies in frightened eyes
Obsessed with words that terrorize the earth
Killer hides inside of the dead
Killer walks in fear of his own
Killer judges all that is said
Killer doesn't see what is shown
Killer is dying within
Killer is taking the soul from the man
Killer is stalking again
Killer is breaking the heart of his plan
Pray for the killer
Pray for his son
Pray for the killer
Pray for his day to be done
Killer's face is ominous
Killer's heart is black
Killer's mind is on the loose
Killer will attack
Killer can't communicate
Killer can't investigate
Killer will interrogate
Killer will annihilate
Killers run like insects to destroy the battle cry
Killers use their influence to animate the sky
Killer's high anxiety becomes obsessed with therapy
Killer's insecurity paints the wall with purity
Killers aren't diverted from their mission to destroy
Assigned to the demoralized
The course of dreamers hypnotized
Killer's promiscuity infects his false security
When forced to use his intellect
To trace the path of righteousness
Killers build their ladders to the sky
To stand in judgment over high
Across the galaxy of fear
That brings the criminal to tears
Stare into the killer's eyes
Stare into the killer's eyes
Stare into his eyes
Stare beyond his lies
Is it time for the end
For the wounds to be mend
And the servant to bleed from within
Is there truth in his words
Proof of return
Has the killer surrendered to sin
Has the killer betrayed
Has the killer enslaved
Has he stolen the eyes from his son
In the wake of the trial
In the hands of denial
Lies the killer and all that is one
Pray for the killer
Pray for this son
Pray for the killer
Pray for his day to be done
Lyrics submitted by RevelationTravis
Killer Lyrics as written by Henry Olusegun Adeola Samuel Adam Paul Tinley
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.