21 Best Songs About Murder & Crime

The best songs about murder and crime offer the listener a chilling insight into the mind of a murderer and the many motives they have for indiscriminately killing people. 

It’s a common theme in genres such as hip-hop and heavy metal but also something pop and country singer-songwriters have delved into. 

Continue reading as we dive into the best music covering murder in all its forms, from odes to serial killers to songs telling tales of revenge.

The 21 Best Songs About Murder & Crime

Excellent songs about murder can be found throughout music history, with classic folk songs inspiring modern-day rock and chart-topping pop music. 

We’ve covered the full spectrum of genres and selected music from some of the biggest bands and singers to cater to all music tastes. 

Without further ado, here’s our playlist of the 23 best songs about murder and crime:

21. “Smooth Criminal” – Michael Jackson 

“Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson needs little introduction; it’s one of the King of Pop’s most popular songs and an enduring classic for the ages. 

This catchy and upbeat song starts with a driving bass line and segues into Michael Jackson’s incredibly memorable vocal performance. 

One of the most famous songs from a singer notable for his contributions to the best karaoke songs ever, “Smooth Criminal,” is a true pop music masterpiece. 

20. “Water’s Edge” – Seven Mary Three 

Seven Mary Three’s song “Water’s Edge” takes us into post-grunge heavy metal music for a dark and aggressive song about murder. 

In this song, the lyrics explore the experiences of a woman on the verge of drowning after being tossed into the water by someone with murderous intentions. 

It’s a sinister and foreboding piece of music that works as a heavy metal murder ballad with muted guitar chords and a heavy chorus style. 

19. “Delilah” – Tom Jones 

By contrast, “Delilah” by Tom Jones is a murder song that comes across as altogether more cheerful music in keeping with the artist’s discography. 

“I crossed the street to her house, and she opened the door, she stood there laughing,” Tom Jones sings, “I felt the knife in my hand, and she laughed no more.” 

Released in 1968 on the iconic album The Tom Jones Fever Zone, “Delilah” is one of the most enduring pop songs frequently played to this day. 

18. “Angel of Death” – Slayer 

We return once again to the heavy metal music genre for one of Slayer’s best-known songs about murder, “Angel of Death.” 

This thrash metal song was written after reading about the horrific activities of Josef Mengele, which led to accusations the band supported fascism. 

Despite this reputation, “Angel of Death” was well received by fans and critics, with musical ingenuity that would influence many future heavy metal bands. 

17. “Suffer Little Children” – The Smiths 

A suitable companion to “How Soon Is Now?” the Smiths’ great song about paranoia is “Suffer Little Children,” released in 1984. 

In this song, the lyrics discuss the nefarious activities of northern England serial killer Myra Hindley, singing, “But fresh lilaced moorland fields cannot hide the stolid stench of death.” 

It’s a macabre piece of music with haunting lyrics about the Moors murders in Yorkshire and one of the most chilling murder songs you can listen to. 

16. “Cocaine Blues” – Johnny Cash 

There are several great Johnny Cash songs about murder worth your time, and our first pick for this playlist is the 1968 song “Cocaine Blues.” 

Johnny Cash recorded “Cocaine Blues” live at Folsom Prison, surrounded by murderers and other notorious criminals who set aside their differences to hear him play. 

The song recounts the trial of a murderer and drug dealer who pleads for mercy when he’s pronounced guilty of first-degree murder. 

15. “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” – Sufjan Stevens 

The Sufjan Stevens song “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” is centered around the life of one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. 

Gacy went on a killing spree in the 1970s and is well known for his habit of dressing up as a clown to lure his young victims into the house. 

Released in 2005 on the Sufjan Stevens album Illinois, it’s a song full of poetic lyricism and Stevens’ trademark gifted composition. 

14. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” – The Beatles 

Classic rock band the Beatles took aim at the subject of murder with their song “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” released on the album Abbey Road. 

Featuring the distinct vocals of Paul McCartney, it’s about a student who commits a string of murders and an analogy for when something goes wrong out of the blue. 

The Beatles’ success is legendary, and the band had a whopping twenty number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 charts over the years. 

13. “Church Bells” – Carrie Underwood 

Carrie Underwood sang about an abusive alcoholic who meets a wealthy man to take care of her, but things go south in the song “Church Bells.” 

The song feels like a Gothic horror story, with lyrics capturing the essence of a violent revenge murder in graphic and grizzly detail. 

While “Church Bells” didn’t perform well on the charts, it’s nevertheless a fine example of the singer-songwriting ability of Carrie Underwood. 

12. “Stan” – Eminem Ft. Dido 

A fitting companion piece to the great Eminem song about jealousy, “Revenge,” is “Stan,” which he recorded with vocals from Dido. 

Along with the sampled vocals from Dido, Eminem’s song features abrasive, rapid-fire lyrics and was released with a gritty music video in 2000. 

“Stan” is quintessential early Eminem and among the most popular tracks ever recorded by a titan of the hip-hop music scene in America. 

11. “Bohemian Rhapsody” – Queen 

Like Michael Jackson and the Beatles, Queen is a band few people are unaware of, having released a string of major hits throughout their career. 

Perhaps the most iconic Queen song of all is “Bohemian Rhapsody,” an epic stadium rock ballad that is the mainstay of any rock music fan’s collection. 

It’s not hard to see why this classic song has over one billion views on YouTube since it changed the landscape of rock music forever when it was released in 1975. 

10. “Murders in the Rue Morgue” – Iron Maiden 

Iron Maiden’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue” is another powerful thrash metal song that stands as one of the best-loved releases in the band’s discography. 

Featured on their 1981 album Killers, “Murders in the Rue Morgue” includes colorful lyrics about butchered remains lining the street following brutal murders. 

Iron Maiden wrote many songs about murder throughout their career and continue to tour around the world at major rock festivals to this day. 

9. “Pumped Up Kicks” – Foster The People 

“Pumped Up Kicks” by Foster the People was a sleeper hit, initially posted online as a free download before lighting up the American charts. 

The song came in a flash of inspiration for the singer-songwriter, which he composed and arranged himself using the digital audio workstation Logic Pro. 

Drawing on topics including the Columbine school shooting and other notable school shootings in America, it captures the danger of a young man on a rampage. 

8. “Brenda’s Got a Baby” – 2Pac 

The hip-hop genre is no stranger to guns, violence, and murder as a theme for the lyrics, as “Brenda’s Got a Baby” by 2Pac confirms. 

2Pac dives into dark and disturbing topics, such as gun violence issues, with lyrics about the depths his pregnant girlfriend will go to for money. 

It’s a stark contrast to “Dear Mama,” 2Pac’s moving song about family and one of the most notable murder songs released by a rapper.

7. “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” – Nirvana 

Nirvana’s acoustic song “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” is all the more moving given the tragic death of Kurt Cobain by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

The band performed this wonderful song at the MTV Unplugged session in New York’s Central Park, and it’s a sad lament for the disappearance of a woman. 

It’s taken from an old folk song that dates back to the early twentieth century, if not before, and was previously recorded under the title “In The Pines.”

6. “Red Headed Stranger” – Willie Nelson

Folk icon Willie Nelson recorded “Red Headed Stranger” in 1975, using it as the title track for his eighteenth studio album. 

It’s a song that many view as Nelson’s greatest achievement, with the singer at the peak of his creative powers and telling a truly haunting story. 

Described as cool, ambitious, and full of evocative lyrics, “Red Headed Stranger” was a hit on the country music charts that year and reached the number-one spot.

5. “Folsom Prison Blues” – Johnny Cash

Another incredible song from Johnny Cash about murder is “Folsom Prison Blues,” which makes a great pairing with the previously mentioned “Cocaine Blues.” 

As with his iconic song about fire, “Ring of Fire,” “Folsom Prison Blues” features the trademark deep vocals and expressive guitars Cash is best known for. 

Johnny Cash drew his inspiration for the song and the album it came from, from watching the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, released in 1951.

4. “Goodbye Earl” – The Chicks

The Chicks have perhaps done more to popularize the bluegrass genre than any other group, as the excellent country music ballad “Goodbye Earl” shows. 

It’s a song that blends black comedy with a dark underbelly, exploring themes of murder by poison and the bittersweet taste of revenge. 

One of the more memorable murder songs on this playlist, you can find it on the album Fly, released by the Chicks in 1999 to critical acclaim.

3. “Janie’s Got a Gun” – Aerosmith

Aerosmith released “Janie’s Got a Gun” on their album Pump, which combined elements of psychedelic and glam rock with traditional hard rock. 

“She had to take him down easy and put a bullet in his brain,” Steve Tyler sings in this song, “She said, “‘Cause nobody believes me, the man was such a sleaze.'” 

Aerosmith received many accolades during the peak of their fame, with several Grammy Awards wins under their belt along with many more nominations.

2. “Nebraska” – Bruce Springsteen 

Another iconic figure in the rock music scene is Bruce Springsteen, with “Nebraska” among his finer pieces of music from the early 1980s. 

It’s a moody and starkly composed work, setting the tone for the rest of the album and featuring a stirring combination of guitar and harmonica. 

Inspired by Terrence Malick’s movie masterpiece Badlands, “Nebraska” was also influenced by Bruce Springsteen’s research into the Starkweather killings.

1. “I Shot the Sheriff” – Bob Marley and the Wailers

We’re wrapping up this playlist of the best songs about murder with “I Shot the Sheriff” by reggae master Bob Marley and the Wailers. 

Written and recorded in 1973, “I Shot the Sheriff” has become an anthem of Jamaican music, with Marley’s lyrics insisting it wasn’t murder but rather self-defense. 

It’s a catchy song from the writer of some of the best songs of all time and an upbeat way to round off this frequently somber and disturbing selection of murder songs.

Summary 

We hope you’ve found this playlist of music exploring the dark and disturbing side of human nature through music informative and entertaining. 

These classic and contemporary songs about murder have stood the test of time and can hold their own against the best music ever produced. 

It’s a topic that will no doubt continue to inspire musicians and artists in the years to come, with more great rock, hip-hop, and country songs destined to emerge. 

What’s the best song about murder, in your opinion? Leave a comment below.