The Herbaliser is a Hip-Hop band formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Trattles i… Read Full Bio ↴The Herbaliser is a Hip-Hop band formed by Jake Wherry and Ollie Trattles in London, UK in 1994. Previously one of the most famous artists from the Ninja Tune independent record label, they have released 8 LPs, plus a DJ mix for Ninja Tune's Solid Steel series. Tracks by The Herbaliser have featured a variety of guest vocalists including Jean Grae, Roots Manuva, Seaming To, Rakaa-Iriscience, Blade, Phi Life Cypher, Bahamadia, Katerine, Dream Warriors and MF DOOM.

The core pairing assembled a full 8-piece live band for touring purposes, and released one The Herbaliser Band album. Although still a studio rather than a live album, it is distinct from the normal Herbaliser albums; the lack of guest vocalists focuses the an overall "live band" feel, especially showcasing the horn section.

Real Killer
The Herbaliser Lyrics

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You ain't goin' to shoot the piano player are you?

Please, no more!
I'm hurt
Can't you see I'm hurt
You shot me, please don't! don't
let me have a doctor
please give me the doctor

don't kill me!
You tried to kill me

If I tried that, your head would be splattered all over this field
Where's the girl?

both of you put the fucking gun on the floor now!
nooooooo

I'd kill him
Shoot him in the face
Put him down like a dog

Killin's the hard part
Gettin' away with it
That's easy
As long as you're not at scene of the crime
With a smokin' gun in your hand
You'll get away with it

(mumbling)
Put the gun down you son of a bitch

what the fucking world coming to?
How do you like that? How's that?
What's the fucking matter with you?
What's the fucking matter with you?
What are you stupid or what?
Nah, nah
I'm kidding with you what the fuck you want me to do, I'm fucking sick maniac
etc....
he's dead

You know you're crazy if you think you've heard the last of this guy

he's gonna kill again
See he likes it

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Herbaliser's song Real Killer Pt.2 are emblematic of the film noir genre and the themes it explores – violence, crime, and the psychological aftermath. The dialogue between the characters in the song seems to mirror a conversation between two criminals – one who has been shot and is pleading for medical attention, and the other, a remorseless killer who revels in the act of killing. The exchanges between the two characters highlight the power dynamic between them, with the killer asserting his dominance over the other. The lines "Killin's the hard part/Gettin' away with it/That's easy" underscore the theme of impunity prevalent in noir literature and film.

The song's lyrics also touch on the trope of the femme fatale, a central element of the film noir genre. The line "Where's the girl?" suggests that a female character has played a role in the events leading up to the shooting. This echoes the theme of the femme fatale, an archetype of the manipulative and seductive woman who leads men to their destruction. The lyrics to Real Killer Pt.2 are thus laden with symbolism and references to the noir tradition, highlighting the genre's continued relevance in contemporary pop culture.

Line by Line Meaning

You ain't goin' to shoot the piano player are you?
Are you really going to shoot me? I am hurt, please give me the doctor, don't kill me.

If I tried that, your head would be splattered all over this field
You better not try anything, otherwise, I will kill you where you stand.

Where's the girl?
Where is the girl we are looking for? Tell me now!

both of you put the fucking gun on the floor now!
Both of you drop your guns on the floor immediately!

I'd kill him
I would take his life away without hesitation.

Killin's the hard part
The act of killing someone is difficult to do.

Gettin' away with it
Escaping from the crime scene without getting caught is the easy part.

With a smokin' gun in your hand, You'll get away with it
As long as you're not at the scene of the crime holding the murder weapon, you'll likely get away with it.

Put the gun down you son of a bitch
Drop the gun or face the consequences, you bastard.

What the fucking world coming to?
What has this world come to? What has happened to us?

What are you stupid or what?
Are you stupid? What is wrong with you?

I'm kidding with you what the fuck you want me to do, I'm fucking sick maniac etc....
I'm just playing with you, don't take it personally. I'm crazy and can't control myself sometimes.

You know you're crazy if you think you've heard the last of this guy, he's gonna kill again. See, he likes it
If you think this person won't kill again, you're crazy. He enjoys taking lives.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAKE WHERRY, OLIVER TRATTLES

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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