Dead Moon was a Portland, Oregon punk rock band. The band is fronted by sin… Read Full Bio ↴Dead Moon was a Portland, Oregon punk rock band. The band is fronted by singer-songwriter and guitarist Fred Cole; his wife Toody Cole plays bass, and Andrew Loomis plays drums. Formed in 1987, the band combined punk and country in their stripped-down sound.

Fred Cole has engineered most of the band's recordings and mastered them on a mono lathe that was used for The Kingsmen's version of "Louie Louie."
Their early records, such as In the Graveyard, were released on the Tombstone Records label, named for the musical equipment store Fred and Toody operated at the time. Soon they caught the attention of the German label Music Maniac, and toured Europe successfully. Not until the mid-nineties did they tour the United States. Much of their following is in Europe.

A U.S. filmmaking team (Kate Fix and Jason Summers) produced a 2004 documentary, Unknown Passage: The Dead Moon Story, which played in independent theaters around the U.S., New Zealand, and Melbourne International Film Fest, and might be offered with the upcoming Dead Moon box set on Sub Pop Records. Dead Moon has recorded for labels such as Empty Records, but most releases are on Music Maniac abroad and Tombstone in the U.S. The Tombstone label has also provided cheap mastering and duplication for other bands, serving more as a cooperative than a promotional vehicle.

Fred and Toody are in their sixties. They currently own the Tombstone General Store in Clackamas, Oregon, and are building a shopping center nearby.

Pearl Jam often covers the song It's OK.

In December 2006 they retired:

2006-12-13 - AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM DEAD MOON

After 20 yrs, Dead Moon is retiring. It has been a journey we will always treasure and feel that a worldwide family has emerged in its place. Dead Moon became much bigger than the band itself, it became a DIY underground hopeful for a lot of people. The candle is still burning!
--Fred Cole
(from http://www.subpop.com)

2007-05-18 PIERCED ARROWS
For the first time in a long time, Fred and Toody Cole were nervous. Six months after the breakup of their legendary garage-rock outfit, Dead Moon, the Coles were about to debut a new group—something they haven’t had to do for 20 years. And their new trio, Pierced Arrows, had only six practices under its belt at showtime.
http://localcut.wweek.com/2007/05/23/pierced-arrows-at-ash-street-saloon-may-18-2007/

killing me
Dead Moon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sinister love came knocking on my bedroom door
I had this kind of thing happen once before
Spent most of my life in recovery
So tell me, tell me babe
Why are you killing me

Seen a lot of bad trips coming and I've been on a few
Got a nightmare premonition that you're real bad news

Behind your looks there's another side nobody sees
So tell me, tell me babe
Why are you killing me

I shoulda been smart and got out while the gettin' was good
I woulda been better off if only I could
But you made me love the side of you nobody sees

So tell me, tell me babe
Why are you killing me

Overall Meaning

The song "Killing Me" by Dead Moon talks about a dangerous and tragic love affair. The singer describes how sinister love came knocking on his bedroom door, and he reluctantly let it in. He has been on bad trips before, and he has a nightmare premonition that this new person is real bad news. The lyrics suggest that the singer has had some difficult experiences in his life, and he has been in recovery for most of his life. He questions why this person is killing him and wonders if it is worth it. However, he also admits that he cannot resist the side of this person that nobody sees, which makes him love her despite the danger.

The theme of love and danger runs through the lyrics of "Killing Me." The singer suggests that he ought to have been smart enough to get out while the going was good, but he was unable to do so because of his love for this person's hidden side. He feels trapped in this relationship, and he is unable to free himself from it. At the same time, he also recognizes the danger this person poses and is aware of his vulnerability to her. The song's melancholic and melodic tone perfectly captures the fatalistic mood of the lyrics, creating a poignant and powerful song about the risks of romantic love.

Line by Line Meaning

Sinister love came knocking on my bedroom door
A destructive and harmful form of love appeared in my life.

I had this kind of thing happen once before
I experienced this type of dangerous love in my past.

Spent most of my life in recovery
I have worked hard to overcome the effects of previous toxic relationships.

So tell me, tell me babe Why are you killing me
I am asking you to explain why this love is causing me so much harm.

Seen a lot of bad trips coming and I've been on a few
I have had experiences with harmful relationships in the past and can recognize the warning signs.

Got a nightmare premonition that you're real bad news
I have a feeling that being with you will only cause me more harm and pain.

Behind your looks there's another side nobody sees
You may seem attractive on the surface, but there is a darker side to you that is hidden.

I shoulda been smart and got out while the gettin' was good
I should have recognized the danger and ended the relationship before it caused me more harm.

I woulda been better off if only I could
In hindsight, I realize that leaving the relationship would have been the best thing for me.

But you made me love the side of you nobody sees
Despite the warning signs, I fell in love with the hidden and dangerous side of you.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS