Klaatu was named after Michael Rennie's character in the classic science fiction film The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951). The band has reunited a number of times since their breakup for small-scale live performances.
Mister Manson
Klaatu Lyrics
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Makes them wish they was someplace else
He'll twist their thoughts with his pretty words
Make them extensions of himself
He's the reincarnation of Hitler
The daughter of the devil all right
Let me ask you Mister Manson
Do you sleep at night?
Acid in a little pill
He'll take a thing called love and make you hate it
And claim to cure your ills
He took the madness of a generation
And made them madder still
Tell me won't you Mister Leary
Keep your little pills
He'll fill you with his empty statements
Directed to a fool
Then he'll ignore his own unending speeches
And bend the golden rule
In the name of God he'll tell you
That he's better than all the rest
Let me tell you Mister Manson
Jesus has been and left
Let me tell you Mister Manson
Jesus has been and left
The song "Mister Manson" by Klaatu is a direct commentary on Charles Manson and his cult following. The lyrics are dark and accusatory, painting Manson as a manipulative and evil figure who has twisted the thoughts of young, vulnerable girls and turned them into extensions of himself. He is described as the reincarnation of Hitler and the daughter of the devil, and the singer questions whether he sleeps at night with all the damage he has caused.
The second verse of the song delves deeper into the horrors of Manson's influence on his followers. He is depicted as someone who will use any means necessary, including drugs and manipulation, to gain control over people's minds and turn them into mad, violent followers. The song calls out both Manson and Timothy Leary, another influential figure in the 60s drug culture, warning against their dangerous philosophies and methods.
Overall, "Mister Manson" is a stark warning against the dangers of cult-like behavior and the methods used by those who seek to manipulate and control others for their own twisted purposes.
Line by Line Meaning
He looks at the girls with his evil eye
He stares at girls maliciously, making them long to be anywhere else.
Makes them wish they was someplace else
His gaze is so toxic that it creates a deep desire within them to escape from the situation.
He'll twist their thoughts with his pretty words
He uses his charming words to alter the girls' ways of thinking, making them subservient to him.
Make them extensions of himself
The girls then become mere puppets, extensions of his own being.
He's the reincarnation of Hitler
He is similar to Hitler in his ruthless, tyrannical ways.
The daughter of the devil all right
He is the devil's own child, residing deep within.
Let me ask you Mister Manson
The singer compellingly questions Mr. Manson.
Do you sleep at night?
The singer wonders if Mr. Manson has any guilt about his heinous actions.
Well he'd like to melt your mind with hydrochloric
Mr. Manson would like to disintegrate your mind with hydrochloric acid, in a tiny pill.
Acid in a little pill
He'd put the acid in a pill, making it profoundly dangerous.
He'll take a thing called love and make you hate it
Mr. Manson transforms love; he makes the people who possessed it hate it.
And claim to cure your ills
He'll use that tactic to offer a fake cure for their problems.
He took the madness of a generation
Manson took advantage of the lunacy of the times.
And made them madder still
Mr. Manson worsened their madness.
Tell me won't you Mister Leary
The singer moves on to questioning Mr. Leary now.
Keep your little pills
The singer advises Leary to hold on to his drugs.
He'll fill you with his empty statements
Mr. Manson's words are meaningless, said only to mesmerize fools.
Directed to a fool
These are specifically aimed at gullible people.
Then he'll ignore his own unending speeches
Mr. Manson's words will go on and on without ever ceasing. He will simply ignore them.
And bend the golden rule
He'll assail the golden rule, justifying his actions.
In the name of God he'll tell you
He'll take the name of God and use it for his own purposes.
That he's better than all the rest
He'll assert that he is superior to everyone else.
Let me tell you Mister Manson
The singer once again addresses Mr. Manson directly.
Jesus has been and left
The singer declares that Jesus has come and gone, leaving Mr. Manson lacking.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DEE(DAVID) LONG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind