Most artists leave it up to fans to interpret the meaning behind their songs, allowing people to make each lyric their own based on their imagination and lived experience. Yet, what happens when an ambiguous track is taken out of context and in turn incites violence and bloodshed? The Beatles saw one of the singles from their self-titled album (also known as the White Album) gain a life of its own, when a cult leader interpreted it as an apocalyptic sign. When Paul McCartney wrote “Helter Skelter”, he simply wanted to create a song that channeled the chaos of an amusement park ride and as proof that he could do more than just ballads. However, the hardcore production and gritty vocals didn’t achieve the intended response when the tune later became associated with Charles Manson and his crimes.
Manson used “Helter Skelter” as an anthem to justify the string of murders that took place in the summer of 1969, with some of the victims being actress Sharon Tate, socialite and coffee heiress Abigail Folger, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, horse wrangler Donald Shea, and musician Gary Hinman. According to the cult leader during his trial, the reasoning behind those fatal attacks orchestrated by The Family (how Manson’s cult was referred to) was directly tied to The Beatles, particularly the music that they were putting out.
Charles Manson’s Odd Interpretation of The Beatles’ Hit, “Helter Skelter”
The way Charles Manson lured new adepts to his cult was through playing his guitar and singing both authorial music and that of The Beatles. Although he wasn’t the one to commit the murders, his followers did so through his direction and influence. At the trial that took place from 1970-1971, Mason shared that The Family knew what to do through the music they were listening to. In his mind, songs from the White Album, particularly “Helter Skelter”, had a subliminal message that persuaded kids to “rise” and “kill”.
The track also became a symbol for an incoming revolt between Black and white people that Manson not only believed in, but was certain that it would result in him and his followers becoming the ultimate saviors. He used other tracks from the White Album to corroborate his perspective on this revolution, with lyrics from “Blackbird” and “Revolution 9” backing up his apocalyptic claims. Of course, his vision of a racial war never materialized. He and his Family members were instead convicted of murder. Although some of them were sentenced to death, they were later spared when California’s Supreme Court invalidated all death sentences before 1972. Manson died in November 2017, and two of the seven members of his cult have since been granted parole.
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The Song Was Originally Written as a Response to The Who
But after all, what is even the real story behind “Helter Skelter” aside from Manson’s interpretation? McCartney shared in an episode of the McCartney: A Life in Lyrics podcast that he was inspired to write the song after reading a quote from The Who band member Pete Townshend in an interview discussing their tune, “I Can See For Miles”. Townshend said something along the lines of, “We have just recorded the loudest, dirtiest, rockiest thing ever.” McCartney was captivated by the description and wanted to engage in a friendly competition to create a tune that was just as dirty, loud, and rock ‘n’ roll infused. The Beatles alum was often criticized at the time for coming up with too many ballads, and “Helter Skelter” proved that he was capable of challenging himself creatively.
McCartney intended for “Helter Skelter” to function as a metaphor for life’s ups and downs, which is far from what Manson believed the song referred to. The artist said in the podcast episode that he was drawn to the notion of shifting moods. “You know, you’re up, you get knocked down, you’re feeling euphoric, and you’re feeling miserable. Such is the nature of life,” he said. Given the aftermath of the Manson Family killings, McCartney refused to perform it for several years.
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“Helter Skelter” Was One of The Beatles’ Heaviest, Most Influential Tunes
Aside from the Manson affiliation, “Helter Skelter” became influential for other reasons. Many see it as the precursor of heavy metal, given its distorted sound and gritty vocal delivery. It isn’t the first heavy metal song, so to speak, but it does serve as a pioneer of the genre. Not only was it the loudest, most raucous tune The Beatles have ever made, but it was also one of the most taxing for the group to record. According to McCartney, the band did several takes, including one that exceeded 27 minutes. After finalizing it, Ringo Starr even said that he had blisters in his fingers.
Although “Helter Skelter” became known for inspiring a cult, the song stemmed from McCartney’s will to step outside his comfort zone and make a song in response to The Who’s “I Can See For Miles”. As ambiguous as The Beatles’ lyricism might be depending on the song you listen to — no, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” doesn’t mean LSD— “Helter Skelter” was far from a revolutionary anthem. The song is instead a product of one of the band’s most avant-garde tracks, highly regarded for its heavy metal elements before the genre was even established.