When I first listened to Jack Kittel's recording of Psycho it gave
me the creeps! The subject matter is so damn dark. There is something
about it being presented in the country genre that makes it even more
disturbing. Bloody Death Skull's version rides a sidewalk chalk line
between Americana roots music and a kind of musical infantilism. Sung in tandem with Gerard Olson, Daiana
Feuer's vocal performance with all it's wide eyed naivety and whimsy
feels tender and almost makes you forget the evil set deep in the bones
of the serial killer lyrics. As fun as the video is, I would of loved to see it go really dark. Any budding video directors listening? In any event, please do check out all of Bloody Death Skull's "tin pan Dali" recordings.
-
Robb Donker
Courtesy of Bloody Death Skull:
The song "You Think I'm Psycho Don't You, Mama?" is based on a true
story. Blind Texan country singer Leon Payne wrote the song he called
"Psycho" after reading about a local murderer by the name of Charles
Whitman. In 1966 Whitman strangled his mother to death, stabbed his
wife, then took his Marine corps sniper rifle to the top of the
University of Texas Library tower and killed sixteen random people
before the police gunned Whitman down. Turns out that Whitman had a
deadly brain tumor he didn't know about. In the weeks prior to his
murder spree, he experienced frequent headaches and nausea, but he had
no idea what was really going on, and the tumor supposedly drove him
crazy killer. On the day he purchased his rifle, Whitman also bought a
can of Spam.
Video by Daiana Feuer and Chris Hajek.
Upcoming shows in Los Angeles:
October 26 at Echo Country Outpost
with Jo Cool (Amanda Jo Williams), Emily Lacy, Sloppy Jo (Donna from Tommy Santee Klaws)
October 30 at Los Globos
with Fancy Space People, Babes, Cabeza De Vaca Arcestra, DJ Sun Araw
Nov 8 at Echoplex
for L.A. Folk Fest Murder Ballads tribute show
More Bloody Death Skull:
Listen to many songs:
Bloody Death Skull: "We write and record simultaneously, usually."
Check out Bloody Death Skull's "Our First Tape," recorded on a haunted tape recorder:
http://bloodydeathskull.bandcamp.com/album/our-first-tape
Full lyrics to Leon Payne’s masterpiece (courtesy of those wonderful folks at
PopKrazy )–
Can Mary fry some fish, Mama
I’m as hungry as can be
Oh lord, how I wish, Mama
You could stop the baby cryin’ ’cause my head is killing me
I saw my ex again last night, Mama
She was at the dance at Miller’s store
She was with that Jackie White, Mama
I killed them both, and they’re buried under Jacob’s sycamore
You think I’m psycho, don’t you, Mama
I didn’t mean to break your cup
You think I’m psycho, don’t you, Mama
You better let ‘em lock me up
Oh, don’t hand me Johnny’s pup, Mama
As I might squeeze him too tight
I’m havin’ crazy dreams again, Mama
So let me tell you ’bout last night
I woke up in Johnny’s room, Mama
Standing right there by his bed
With my hands around his throat, Mama
Wishing both of us were dead
You think I’m psycho don’t you, Mama
I just killed Johnny’s pup
You think I’m psycho don’t you, Mama
You’d better let ‘em lock me up
Oh, you recall that little girl, Mama
I believe her name was Betty Clark
Oh, don’t tell me that she’s dead, Mama
‘Cause I just saw her in the park
We were sitting on a bench, Mama
Thinking of a game to play
Seems I was holding a wrench, Mama
Then my mind just walked away
You think I’m psycho don’t you, Mama
I didn’t mean to break your cup
You think I’m psycho don’t you, Mama
Mama why don’t you get up?
