So due to the graphic nature of this story, listener discretion is advised.

This episode includes depictions of murder, violence, and substance use.

Consider this when deciding how and when you'll listen.

In 2011, Foster the People's Song Pumped Up Kicks was everywhere.

A Grammy nominee, A song of the summer, a feel-good radio hit.

Until people gave the lyrics another look and realized it's about a teenager planning a violent shooting. Finding the hidden

meaning was surprising. Just as spending July 4th rocking out to born in the USA

only to realize Bruce Springsteen's lyrics are

criticizing facets of American culture, not celebrating it. People commonly

misinterpret songs or mishear lyrics, even musicians themselves.

Bob Dylan famously thought the lyrics to the Beatles song,

I want to hold your hand, were, I when actually there I can't hide which tells you more about Bob Dylan than the Beatles

because the true meaning of a song is in the mind of the listener.

And when that listener is a serial killer, songs receive the darkest possible interpretation.

Today we're looking at song meanings no one else found because they existed solely inside the terrifying psyche of Charles Manson.

Manson is one of the most infamous criminals of all time.

Technically, he never killed anyone himself. He just convinced his

followers to kill by using sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Since it's almost the Grammys, we're going to focus on rock and roll.

For the next two weeks, we'll follow how Manson's music obsession led to at least seven murders during the summer of 1969.

Today we'll cover Manson's attempt to get a record deal and how his industry connections

led him to the Manson family's victims.

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