The Killing Type

Album: Theatre Is Evil (2012)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • All the tracks on Theatre Is Evil were written by Amanda Palmer alone on a piano, except for this anguished tune, which she penned wrote during a walk in Amsterdam. She recalled to American Songwriter magazine: "Late one night, I couldn't get a cab and just decided to walk back to my hotel. I heard the song in my head, and I knew it was going to be really simple and stripped down. I got back and plucked the chords out on my ukulele. That's the beauty of the ukulele, especially since I can't play it very well: there's no danger of overcomplicating anything. 'The Killing Type' is just a simple, simple song, with four chords and no flourishes. Nothing extra; just the facts."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Hawksley Workman

Hawksley WorkmanSongwriter Interviews

One of Canada's most popular and eclectic performers, Hawksley tells stories about his oldest songs, his plentiful side projects, and the ways that he keeps his songwriting fresh.

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Colbie Caillat

Colbie CaillatSongwriter Interviews

Since emerging from MySpace with her hit "Bubbly," Colbie has become a top songwriter, even crafting a hit with Taylor Swift.

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie Combination

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.