Jack The Ripper
Motörhead Lyrics
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I gotta tell you what I'm seeing in the glass
Tall dark stranger, knocking at your door
Looking thru the window, it's you he's looking for
Don't be acting crazy, don't you cause a riot
Stand very still, keep very quiet
Your heart begins to raise
He's the one to spring you a surprise
Aaah, the ripper, master of disguise
See into the mind, see into the brain
Try to find the reasons that Jacky's out again
Slipping and sliding, don't even try to hide
Just like your shadow, breathing at your side
Don't give into panic, don't you run an' scream
Aaah, the ripper, haunting all your dreams
You'll never see the face of the man in the window
Heart begins to race
He's the one to spring you a surprise
Aaah, the ripper, master of disguise
Cold steel, whisper in the night
He'll be at your side, with a smile and a knife
It's seems like dreaming, moving in the dance
The last embrace you'll ever know, the violence of romance
Don't try to run, you'll trip and fall, you'd be a fool
He's right beside you and he can be so cruel
Stand O very still, your heart is beating like a drum
He turns his face towards you and the two move as one
And so the mystery continues to beguile
The ones who know can never tell you of his smile
See the faces shiver, see the figures move
How can you see? They move so fast, you're bound to lose
The lyrics of Motorhead's Jack The Ripper are a warning to its listeners to be aware of the dangers that could lurk around every corner. The song describes a mysterious, tall, dark stranger who is constantly looking for his next victim, possibly inspired by the infamous serial killer Jack The Ripper, who terrorized London in the late 1880s. The lyrics urge people to stay calm and be quiet when this stranger comes knocking at their door, for fear of inciting violence. The song also explores the stalking and somewhat seductive nature of the stranger, with lines such as "Slipping and sliding, don't even try to hide, just like your shadow, breathing at your side." The last stanza of the song is particularly eerie, as it speaks of the stranger moving in for the kill with a cold steel knife, alongside a “violence of romance.”
The song has a dark and unsettling tone, akin to the feeling of walking through a dark alley or being followed by a stranger. The imagery painted in the lyrics is vivid, with descriptions such as "cold steel whisper in the night," heightening the sense of danger. The lyrics also touch upon the idea of a person's inability to recognize their attacker's face or identity, which is a common theme in horror movies and thrillers.
Line by Line Meaning
See into the future, see into the past
I can foresee both the future and the past
I gotta tell you what I'm seeing in the glass
I am telling you what I see in my vision
Tall dark stranger, knocking at your door
A stranger who is tall and dark is knocking at your door
Looking thru the window, it's you he's looking for
He is looking for you by peering through the window
Don't be acting crazy, don't you cause a riot
Don't behave erratically or instigate any disturbance
Stand very still, keep very quiet
Remain immobile and silent
You'll never see the face of the man in the window
You will never identify the man peering through the window
Your heart begins to raise
Your heartbeat quickens
He's the one to spring you a surprise
He will surprise you
Aaah, the ripper, master of disguise
He is Jack the Ripper, who is a master of disguise
See into the mind, see into the brain
I can read people's thoughts and intentions
Try to find the reasons that Jacky's out again
I am attempting to determine why Jack the Ripper has come out again
Slipping and sliding, don't even try to hide
You cannot hide from Jack the Ripper
Just like your shadow, breathing at your side
Like a shadow, he is standing next to you and breathing
Don't give into panic, don't you run an' scream
Don't panic or scream and try to run away
Aaah, the ripper, haunting all your dreams
Jack the Ripper haunts your dreams
Cold steel, whisper in the night
The sound of cold steel is a whisper in the night
He'll be at your side, with a smile and a knife
He will be near you, holding a knife and wearing a smile
It's seems like dreaming, moving in the dance
It feels like a dream, a dance with death
The last embrace you'll ever know, the violence of romance
This will be your last embrace, the violent end of romance
Don't try to run, you'll trip and fall, you'd be a fool
You will fall if you try to run, it's foolish to attempt to escape
He's right beside you and he can be so cruel
He is near you and can be extremely cruel
Stand O very still, your heart is beating like a drum
Stay perfectly still even though your heart is pounding
He turns his face towards you and the two move as one
He looks at you, and the two of you move together
And so the mystery continues to beguile
The mystery of Jack the Ripper continues to enchant
The ones who know can never tell you of his smile
Those who know about him can never describe his smile
See the faces shiver, see the figures move
Observe the shivering faces and the moving figures
How can you see? They move so fast, you're bound to lose
How can you keep up? They are moving too quickly, and you're sure to lose
Writer(s): Ian Kilmister, Michael Burston, Phil Campbell
Contributed by Hudson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.