Murder 101
The Wallflowers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I always thought I knew enough
I didn't want to learn this stuff
I didn't ever want to be that tough
But love was just implied
And everything else died
This class has now begun
In murder 101
You can learn it in the first degree
You could even make yourself believe
That you'll never even think of me
When you're packing up your things to leave
Now my intuition failed
I can't graduate unskilled
They don't excuse the young
This is murder 101
Find yourself another heart that needs a rest
Tie a hook onto a single thread
Drop it down beneath the chest
There's the first part of this test
They'll grade you on a curve
They're including everyone
No matter what you've heard
You know this class has now begun
Drop out before they come
To murder one by one
Just look what we've done
In murder 101
Just look what we've done
In murder 101
Just look what we've done
This is murder 101
Just look what we've done
To murder one by one
The song Murder 101 by The Wallflowers is a cautionary tale about the dangers and consequences of love. The first verse establishes the singer's skepticism about love, as they never felt that they knew enough but were forced to learn the hard way. The second verse presents a more sinister tone, as the singer details the process of murdering someone's heart and suggests that their actions have consequences. The third verse is the climax of the song, as the singer speaks to the listeners directly, urging them to drop out of the class (i.e. leave the relationship) before it's too late.
The repeated chorus of "Just look what we've done in Murder 101" reinforces the theme of accountability, as the singer acknowledges that they are responsible for their actions and must now live with the outcomes. While the lyrics are open to interpretation, the overall message could be seen as encouraging listeners to be more mindful of their relationships and to avoid hurting others for their personal gain.
Line by Line Meaning
Never thought that I knew too much
I never thought I was too clever or knowledgeable
I always thought I knew enough
I believed that I had all the knowledge I needed
I didn't want to learn this stuff
I had no desire to learn the cruel ways of love and relationships
I didn't ever want to be that tough
I didn't want to become hardened or tough due to love and its difficulties
But love was just implied
Love was hinted at, and not spoken out loud
And everything else died
All other things became insignificant once love was in the picture
This class has now begun
The lesson on love and its hardships has now started
In murder 101
The class is about the killer nature of love
You can learn it in the first degree
You can become intimately familiar with the harshness of love
You could even make yourself believe
You could deceive yourself into thinking that love isn't cruel
That you'll never even think of me
You'll be able to move on and forget about me
When you're packing up your things to leave
When you're breaking up with me and moving on
Now my intuition failed
My gut feeling and instinct let me down
I can't graduate unskilled
I can't leave the class of love without learning its lessons
They don't excuse the young
The consequences of love's harshness and high stakes apply to the young and the old alike
This is murder 101
The class is focused on how love can destroy and kill
Find yourself another heart that needs a rest
Find another person who is emotionally wounded and vulnerable
Tie a hook onto a single thread
Use a very thin and weak connection to lure them in
Drop it down beneath the chest
Enter their heart and manipulate their emotions
There's the first part of this test
This is just the beginning of the cruel trial of love
They'll grade you on a curve
The grading of love's lesson will be adjusted to fit everyone's abilities
They're including everyone
No one is left out of love's harshness
No matter what you've heard
Despite any positive things you've been told about love, its true nature is still cruel
You know this class has now begun
You realize that the lesson on love's cruelty has started
Drop out before they come
Quit while you still can
To murder one by one
To destroy each person's heart, one by one
Just look what we've done
Reflect on all the damage we've caused through love's harshness
This is murder 101
Reiterate that love is like a killer, and its lesson is cruel
To murder one by one
To destroy each person's heart, one by one
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAKOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind