Tom Dula’ – Neil Young & Crazy Horse
The legend surrounding Tom Dula in North Carolina seemingly paints Dula as a selfless hero who pled guilty to a murder he never committed, in order to protect the actual murderer and not see her being hanged. However, the actual story of the murder is one that does not portray Dula in such a kind light.
Nebraska’ – Bruce Springsteen
watch on YouTube
One night in January 1958, Charles Starkweather went to pick up his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril Ann Fugate, at her parents’ house. Starkweather had murdered a gas station attendant the previous November. Upon Starkweather’s arrival at their house, Fugate’s parents refused to let her out with him. Starkweather went into a frenzy, killing both of Fugate’s parents with a shotgun and strangling their two-year-old daughter.
Georgia Lee’ – Tom Waits watch on YouTube
Beside a freeway in Petaluma, California, in August 1997, the body of 12-year-old Georgia Lee Moses was found naked and strewn across the floor. She had been missing for eight days but had not yet been reported in an official capacity to the authorities.
Georgia Lee’s murder was eventually classified as a ‘suspicious death’ and is still yet to be resolved by the law. Waits shakes his hands at the sky in sorrow for Georgia Lee, as he sings, “Why wasn’t God there for Georgia Lee?”
I Just Shot John Lennon’ – The Cranberries watch on YouTube
A narrative of the events of John Lennon‘s death. On the evening of Monday, December 8th, 1980, Lennon returned to his home in New York City. He was approached by Mark David Chapman, who alleged called out the name ‘Mr. Lennon’, before dropping to his knees in a shooting stance and firing five .38 calibre bullets from his revolver at point-blank range.
‘Hurricane’ – Bob Dylan watch on YouTube
In New Jersey on June 17th, 1966, two men entered a bar and opened fire on its patrons. They killed three customers and quickly fled in a white Chevrolet. Later that night, famous boxer Rubin ‘Hurricane’ Carter was arrested by a police officer whilst driving his own white Chevrolet with his friend. Both men were tried for murder and were convicted in 1967.
Jenny Was a Friend of Mine’ – The Killers
The body of Jennifer Levin was found in Central Park, New York City on August 26th, 1986. Robert Chambers, who was later called ‘The Preppy Killer’, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He had initially been tried for second-degree murder, but the jury could not find enough evidence. Levin and Chambers had been partners.
I Don’t Like Mondays’ – Boomtown Rats watch on YouTube
Sixteen-year-old Brenda Ann Spencer opened fire on a group of young school children in 1979 on the playground of Grover Elementary School in San Diego, California. She then used a .22 calibre rifle to kill the school’s principal and janitor, and eight children were wounded.
Let Him Dangle’ – Elvis Costello watch on YouTube
Derek Bentley was an 18-year-old young man with epilepsy. In 1952, he decided to rob a confectionary warehouse in Croydon with his friend and accomplice, Christopher Craig, who was just 16. The pair were quickly caught in the act by two police officers. One officer held down Bentley, while the other requested that Craig hand his gun over. It is alleged that Bentley said to Craig, “let him have it,” after which, Craig shot the officer in the shoulder.
