In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Something's happening, don't speak too soon
I told the boss off and made my move
Got nowhere to go
Son of Sam, son of the shining path, the clouded mind
The couple killer, each and every time
I'm not uncomfortable feeling weird
Lonely leered, options disappeared
But I know what to do
Son of Sam, son of a doctor's touch, a nurse's love
Acting under orders from above
King for a day
Son of Sam, son of the shining path, the clouded mind
The couple killer, running out of time
Shiva opens her arms now
To make sure I don't get too far
I may talk in my sleep tonight 'cause I don't know what I am
I'm a little like you, more like son of Sam
I told the boss off and made my move
Got nowhere to go
Son of Sam, son of the shining path, the clouded mind
The couple killer, each and every time
I'm not uncomfortable feeling weird
Lonely leered, options disappeared
But I know what to do
Son of Sam, son of a doctor's touch, a nurse's love
Acting under orders from above
King for a day
Son of Sam, son of the shining path, the clouded mind
The couple killer, running out of time
Shiva opens her arms now
To make sure I don't get too far
I may talk in my sleep tonight 'cause I don't know what I am
I'm a little like you, more like son of Sam
Lyrics submitted by EnjOy IncUbus
Son of Sam Lyrics as written by Steven Paul Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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its not about the son of sam killer, or relationships. its neither. its about discovery and enlightenment.
shiva is the destroyer.
when the world reaches the point where it is turned into a hell, shiva comes to destroy everything, as sort of a savior in a sense, before we become too evil. shiva destroys everything so it can begin again fresh.
the person in the song is describing his philisophical enlightenment, he believes himself to be the destroyer, so he is going about doing what he thinks his job is. the son of sam reference is doubt. he fears his cause may be in vain, and that he is just insane (a-la son of sam killer)
in the end he is going to sleep, forever, as shiva opens his arms up to him, because he fears he is indeed just like the son of sam killer, so rather than live with it, he decides to kill himself.
I can't help but think this song is about David Berkowitz (Son of Sam.) This guy ran around killing women in the 70's.
"couple killer each and every time" "acting under orders from above" "the clouded mind"
all references to Berkowitz
Berkowitz claimed demons controlled him and a talking dog told him to kill the girls. He later told the truth in prison that he really killed these women because of his shit relationships with his mom/other women and he would masturbate after killing these women. Berkowitz claims to be sorry for everything he did as of 2002, he's rotting away in jail and claims to be a Christian now.
As far as the reference to Shiva, she would be more..creative than destructive. I guess maybe this song is about good vs evil type of thing? The whole "Shiva opens her arms now to make sure I don't get too far" I guess too far out of her reach. Maybe he's saying he's creatively destroying himself. I mean, he did kill himself in the end. He was awesome though.
I think this song is using Berkowitz as a metaphor. I think the song is saying... I'm a slave to my demons, the same way Berkowitze was a slave to his.<br /> <br /> The Shiva reference is also interesting, because while Shiva is the destroyer, the destruction is done to clear the way for a new life (told the boss off made my move).<br /> <br /> The overwhelming feeling I get from this song is "I don't know what I want to do with my life, but I'm driven to throw everything away and try to find something else... even though I don't have anything to find."
I agree, I don't think it's actually ~about~ David Berkowitz. That seems a little too obvious for Elliott's usual style, so I agree that it's a metaphor rather than actually being about Son of Sam. Especially since he says 'I'm a little like you, more like Son of Sam'. If he were actually writing about Berkowitz, why would he say 'like Son of Sam' rather than just... Son of Sam, ha ha. Or Son of Satan which is what Berkowitz started out calling himself in the earliest letters to the police.<br /> <br /> But I think you're right about the 'I don't know what to do with my life' as well. I think the song is expressing a feeling that he has the compulsion to destroy things, including good things in his life, and that if he continues to listen to this compulsion (like Son of Sam), he will end up with nothing. King for a day but with nothing for the rest of his life. It's more about desperation and kind of a self-aware habit of self-destruction, of ruining things for himself for the thrill of the moment rather than any long-lasting benefit. Acting on impulse rather than having self-control. It's one of his most interesting songs I think, and it reveals a lot about his thought process at the time.<br /> <br /> But the saddest thing to me is knowing that before his suicide, he had actually moved a great deal forward toward living a healthy and rewarding life, having depression treated and being clean from all drugs aside from those prescribed to him, but in that moment he acted on emotion and killed himself.
@Aslard I didn’t know where was a genius on this website! Are you sure you thought this up on your own?? It’s a bit complex for just one person don’t you think??
This song is about interpretation of oneself and the conflict within. It gives a sense of awe about what we are capable of, be it good or evil.
We've spawned from the love of a mother and the slap of a docter, to be thrown into the world to make our move, with nowhere to go.
We've the courage to not feel weird being out of our comfort zone, but we don't really have any other choice.
God's embrace keeps us close, but when you look at me, you are not looking at an image of yourself, but at a demon within.
What the hell are we?
Great Song Elliott!
"It's not about the serial killer. I'm not sure exactly what it's about because it's just sort of like telling someone a dream you had last night. There are some destructive figures in it, 'Son of Sam', Shiva... but Shiva's also associated with creativity... I'm not sure... it's just an impressionistic song about destruction and creativity, I guess, if it's about anything." -- Elliott Smith
I think Elliott's father, Gary, is a doctor (retired now). Correct me on that if I'm wrong. Also, Son of Sam WAS a "couple killer." He shot at couples making out in alleys or cars with .44 caliber. Usually the men were just badly wounded and one man DID die. So he didn't just kill women, theough his anger was probably more fixed towanrds them. Elliott might be saying that his failed relationships make him a couple killer and that he didn't feel particularly great about it. He felt guilty, and that makes him no better than Son of Sam, because he knew he harbored a messed up love and hate for those women in his love. Since his dad was a doctor whom he repsected and loved, his mom was probably the nurse. Although the images are pretty sterile, aren't they? BTW, Elliott's relationship with his mom was strained. He got along much better with his dad, probably blaming his mom for letting him be abused by his step-dad. "You tears are cheap" he once wrote of her. I can understand why he said this song was written without Berkowitz in mind, creativity can be very sub-conscious.
youtube.com/watch
Listen to this for a great cover of the song.
Son of Sam is metaphor for being a fucked up product of abuse. You know he can't form relationships or hold relationships because of this. Hence couple killer each and everytime. The ending shows that he is scared of himself.
i think this is one of elliots catchiest songs
this is the first of elliott i ever heard, and it's probably the most different of any of his other stuff.
aslard, i was thinking about david berkowitz, too.
berkowitz and smith both had a really messed up childhoods, and there are parellels in the way that they both were rejected from step-parents and whatnot.
creepy connection but it's a cool song nonetheless.
I heard Elliott say on an interview one time that he wasn't thinking of Berkowitz at all when he wrote this, like he didn't even know what the lyrics meant