"The Killing Moon" by Echo and the Bunnymen (1984)
Dad's Song of the Day #98, Dec. 5, 2025
At one point during my little run on Beatles songs, I really wanted to highlight the opening chord on “Hard Day’s Night,” but I couldn’t find the right moment. So I’m taking it right here…to gawk at the miracle of opening notes and sounds.
For some songs, it’s not even a full second before you’re submerged in its atmosphere.
“The Killing Moon”—Echo and the Bunnymen’s haunting song about fate, destiny and surrender—provides one of the most transcendent introductory moments.
Even after dozens, if not hundreds, of listens, those initial reverbed guitar arpeggios remain so mystical and transporting for me.
In that instant, the air turns cold and gloomy…like the ghosts are out.
Spotify:
YouTube:
This series is for my two 19-year-olds, who moved off to school with the misguided belief they’d escaped their dad’s relentless nostalgia and monopolization of the car stereo. I’m very happy for anyone else to come along for the ride.
The Spotify playlist for Dad’s Song of the Day is located here:
So I have to go watch Donnie Darko. I have never seen it.
I’ve had so many friends in film (and not) rave about how great the movie is and how this song factors into it. Ironically I have purchased this film at least three times and still own those dvds.
The only movie I have purchased more is The Last Waltz, I currently own five copies. Clearly I used to buy dvds while drunk :-)