Disclaimer! The following article discusses the case of American criminal Charles Manson. Here at Mic Drop Music, we do not condone any of the actions committed by Charles Manson or the Manson Family. This article is strictly for research and educational purposes.
Charles Miles Manson was one of the most notorious American cult leaders of the late 1960s. He was known for leading the Manson Family, who carried out a series of nine known murders across four locations in California before it officially dissolved in 1970. Charles Manson died after 50 years in prison due to natural causes at the age of 83.
charles manson’s hollywood connections
What many may not know is that Manson has a great passion for music. Manson had many connections in the Los Angeles music industry including Neil Young, The Beach Boys, and other important industry names of the time. Manson went on to record several other songs with The Beach Boys. But these tracks are not available to the public.
Charles Manson specialized in the genres of folk and blues. Throughout his life, Manson would go on to record 20 albums and 4 singles. After his arrest in 1967, the Manson family recorded two albums, The Manson Family Sings the Songs of Charles Manson and The Manson Family Jams. They would also get together to record songs for Robert Hendrickson’s MANSON (1973). Some of the songs remain locked in a vault.
a look into charles manson’s music
Manson’s music often contains cryptic and abstract meanings. While the lyrics contained central messages, they were still open to interpretation. Here, we will take a deep dive into 5 of Charles Manson’s most well known tracks.
1. ‘never learn not to love’ (1969)
‘Never Learn Not To Love’ is Charles Manson’s most well-known track. Even though The Beach Boys recorded it, Manson wrote the lyrics. This track was adapted from Manson’s ‘Cease To Exist’ (1970).
On the surface, ‘Never Learn Not To Love‘ is a simple love song. But the lyrics suggest that it is about giving into submission. The narrator tells an unnamed girl that they are the same kind of person, which means they should be together. He also tells her that ‘submission is a gift’. He draws her in by saying there is no way he could not love her because they have bonded through love and understanding.
2. ‘i’ll never say never to always’ (1970)
‘I’ll Never Say Never To Always’ was written by Manson and recorded by the Manson family. The song is also featured in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019).
This short track is about embracing contradictions and rejecting absolutes. The title and lyrics containing ‘never’ and ‘always’ create a paradox between nature and humanity. The lyrics, ‘One is one is one’ suggests that everything is connected and we should embrace the idea of being connected.
3. ‘home is where you’re happy’ (1970)
‘Home Is Where You’re Happy’ was written and recorded by Manson. The song is also featured in the Episode 5 end credit sequence of the AMC+ original series, Interview With A Vampire (2022).
The song is about finding a sense of belonging in places that one never thought possible. Manson sings about leaving his childhood home, despite protests from his loved ones. He tells the listener that as long as they have a strong mind and love in their heart, they will never be alone.
4. ‘cease to exist’ (1970)
‘Cease To Exist’ is another track written and recorded by Manson. It was also re-written and recorded by The Beach Boys as ‘Never Learn To Not Love You’.
Unlike the re-write by The Beach Boys, the meaning of the original lyrics is unclear. But listeners speculate that it is a song about losing the ability to love. The lyrics suggest that without the ability to love, people are uneducated.
5. ‘look at your game, girl’ (1973)
‘Look At Your Game, Girl’ is possibly Manson’s most popular recordings. The song was also covered by Guns n Roses in their 1993 album, The Spaghetti Incident. The cover can be found here.
The song is about how love has no meaning if it is not genuine. The lyrics also discuss living in a state of falsehood which can cause immense emotional pain. The chorus challenges this sense of falsehood by asking if the person is truly living their full potential.
Final thoughts
Charles Manson was a complex being and he showed that complexity through his music. When listening to his songs, one may feel conflicted about enjoying it due to the crimes committed by him and the Manson Family. But music and true crime enthusiasts agree that Manson’s work had a cryptic draw to it.
Here at Mic Drop Music, we want to know your thoughts! Did you know Charles Manson was a musician? Are you a true crime fan? What do you think of his music? Let us know in the comments!
