Killing Comb
Rasputina Lyrics


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The Summer I
Simmered simple in the sand,
No tongue- tied
Mum and dumb,

The comb, it just
Found itself in my hand
I stood when I
Should I run.

A conspiracy
Those fellows and me
And the comb, the way it's going
Hardly I
Hardly I
Hardly I knew him
But he had to die.

To establish
Whereabouts, where for?
If guilty, flawed or more
The world would find me
Sprawled on the floor
A vulgar foreigner
A conspiracy
Those fellows and me
And the comb, the way it's going
Hardly I
Hardly I




Hardly I knew him
But he had to die.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rasputina's song "Killing Comb" are enigmatic and open to personal interpretation. The song appears to be about a murder investigation, but little is explained about the events leading up to the killing. Instead, the lyrics focus on the singer's contemplations about their own involvement and potential ramifications of the crime.


The first verse is nostalgic, recalling a simpler time in the beach where the singer was carefree and unencumbered by responsibilities. The second stanza introduces the titular "killing comb," which the singer seems to have stumbled upon. The comb becomes a symbol of something sinister, as the lyrics imply that it somehow prompted the singer to commit murder.


The chorus is repetitive but haunting, with the singer acknowledging that they barely knew the victim, but still feel compelled to take their life. The final verse refers to the consequences of the killing, with the singer worried about being caught by authorities and seen as a "vulgar foreigner." The lyrics suggest that the singer was part of a larger conspiracy, but it is unclear who else was involved.


Overall, the song is eerie and gripping, but it leaves the listener with more questions than answers. It is up to interpretation whether the singer was morally compelled to kill or driven by external forces out of their control.


Line by Line Meaning

The Summer I
During one summer


Simmered simple in the sand,
I relaxed easily on the beach


No tongue- tied
I wasn't awkward or shy


Mum and dumb,
I was silent and ignorant


The comb, it just
The comb appeared


Found itself in my hand
I picked it up


I stood when I
I didn't run away


Should I run.
I thought about running, but didn't


A conspiracy
A secret plan with others


Those fellows and me
Those men and I


And the comb, the way it's going
The situation with the comb


Hardly I
I barely


Hardly I
I barely


Hardly I knew him
I hardly knew him


But he had to die.
But he had to be killed


To establish
To determine


Whereabouts, where for?
Location, reason?


If guilty, flawed or more
If he was guilty, flawed, or worse


The world would find me
I would be discovered


Sprawled on the floor
Lying on the ground


A vulgar foreigner
An offensive outsider


And the comb, the way it's going
The situation with the comb


Hardly I
I barely


Hardly I
I barely


Hardly I knew him
I hardly knew him


But he had to die.
But he had to be killed




Contributed by Penelope Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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