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A Summer To Remember

from Serial Numbers by A Candlelight Vigil

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Killer: David Berkowitz
Victims: 6 killed, 7 wounded
Song background: New York City in the summer of 1977 was a tense place to be, plagued by racial and socioeconomic tensions, a brutal heatwave, an electrical blackout that prompted mass looting, and a serial killer on the loose. Since July of 1976, there had been a wave of shootings (many fatal) of couples committed using a .44 Bulldog. Police suspected a single shooter, but their worst fears were confirmed when a letter was sent to Captain Joseph Borrelli of the NYPD in April of 1977. Rife with misspellings and written in block capital letters, the author identified himself as "a monster...the Son of Sam" and bragged that "I am on a different wave length then everybody else — programmed too (sic) kill." Another Son of Sam letter was sent to the New York Daily News that May, and when they published it a wave of hysteria swept the city. Noting that all the killer's female victims had been long-haired brunettes, women took to cutting and dying their hair or wearing wigs. Fearful residents spent some of the hottest nights on record inside, as many of the shootings had taken place outside or in parked cars. The shootings continued until August, when a parking ticket led to the capture of David Berkowitz, who immediately confessed to being the Son of Sam. He also revealed that Sam was the name of his neighbor, and claimed that Sam's black Labrador Retriever was possessed by a demon that commanded him to kill.

lyrics

Couples parking in the middle of the night
Leaning in close, holding each other tight

Barking commands to carry out his plans
Using block letters so he can understand

And the dogs instruct him what to do
To quiet them he hunts for you
Hidden death will strengthen him
Guilt free as he lives his sin

This was a summer to remember
How can anyone not remember?

Their hair color's changed just to be safe
Hope that it will help them to escape

The fate of the rest of the block
Just stay home and keep your doors locked

And the dogs instruct him what to do
To quiet them he hunts for you
Hidden death will strengthen him
Guilt free as he lives his sin

This was a summer to remember
How can anyone not remember?

credits

from Serial Numbers, released October 31, 2008
Lyrics: Nathan Levi
Music: Charlie Crane
Quote at start: Bob Dylan

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Charlie Crane Chicago, Illinois

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