The Murder Trilogy

Being a fan of The Killers, I am surprised that I am just now finding out about the Murder Trilogy, which is an interesting mix of songs telling the story of the murder of a girlfriend named Jenny. I have heard countless fans online wishing The Killers could play the trilogy at their shows, so I just had to investigate what it was. Now I join the list of fans wishing they'd play all three songs at their upcoming shows. 

The trilogy consists of three songs from the Hot Fuss album, the first being "Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf" (this is actually a B-side from Hot Fuss, and can be found on the album Sawdust), "Midnight Show" and "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine". 

I find the Murder Trilogy very intriguing. I have always loved every one of the songs, but I never pulled the true meaning out of each until now. Of course, I always new "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" was about murder. It is the more obvious of the three; the others you have to listen closely. Once you've figured it out, the songs take on a whole new meaning. Brandon Flowers is a master storyteller, and the composition of each song is genius and reflective of each part of the story. 

"Leave the Bourbon on the Shelf" is quite upbeat; it is the beginning of the break-up and the jealousy hasn't quite set in yet. He is medicating himself with alcohol and wanting to win Jenny back.

Jennifer, tell me where I stand

And who's that boy holdin' your hand?

Oh, Jennifer, you know I always tried

Before you say goodbye

Leave the bourbon the shelf

And I'll drink it by myself

And I never liked your hair or those people that you lie with

But I'm not satisfied

Until I hold you tight

"Midnight Show" takes on a much more serious tone. He abducts Jenny, forcing her into his car and driving her to where he will eventually commit murder. He wants the hurt to go away and in his mind the only way to do that is to take her out of the picture completely. He parks the car, suffocates her, and throws her body into the water. Flowers has mentioned that "The murder has something to do with water, but it's not drowning." We can conclude it is suffocation or strangulation, since he says "I took my baby's breath..."   

Oh, crashing time can't hide a guilty girl

With jealous hearts that start with blossom curls

I took my baby's breath beneath the chandelier

Of stars in atmosphere

And watch her disappear

Into the midnight show

After he is caught, in "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" he is defending himself to the police. The song's composition feels frustrated, with heavy bass and a slightly more aggravated sound.

We took a walk that night, but it wasn't the same

We had a fight on the promenade out in the rain

She said she loved me, but she had somewhere to go

She couldn't scream while I held her close

I swore I'd never let her go

Tell me what you wanna know

Oh come on, oh come on, oh come on

There ain't no motive for this crime

Jenny was a friend on mine

So come on, oh come on, oh come on

It is so cool to listen to all three songs and piece together the story of a man whose intense jealousy evolves into murder.