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* Arguably, the ''[[https://youtu.be/rzyjf9oGBBU whole damn musical]]'' version directed by [[Creator/RobertWilson Robert Wilson]] is this. All of the characters are in [[LooksLikeCesare black and white facepaint]], [[LargeHam make bizarre movements and reactions]] and at some points, move in ''extreme slow motion''. That's not getting into the horrifying things that happen onstage.
** Before the love song "The Briar and The Rose", the two romantic leads (named Wilhelm and Katchen) wander around the stage, speaking the lines for "That's The Way". Occasionally, during "That's The Way", Katchen will randomly ''[[CarefulWithThatAxe shriek]]'' [[https://youtu.be/rzyjf9oGBBU?t=1590 one of the words]] before going back to talking as usual. If you click the link while wearing headphones, ''[[JumpScare make sure you]] [[SensoryAbuse turn your audio down.]]''

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->''Big fucking ditches in the middle of the road''
->''You pay a hundred dollars just for filling in the hole''
->''Listen to the general every goddamn word''
->''How many ways can you polish up a turd''
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[[caption-width-right:350:''Can I go home in March?'']]

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[[quoteright:290:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tom-waits-photo-circa-1992-from-hotparade_9128.jpg]]

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[[quoteright:290:https://static.%%
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tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tom-waits-photo-circa-1992-from-hotparade_9128.jpg]]
org/pmwiki/pub/images/973c2b36_1c4f_4ed8_aeb5_6bd2bb09b54e.jpeg]]
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'''Music/{{Alice}}'''

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'''Music/{{Alice}}''''''Music/{{Alice|TomWaitsAlbum}}'''
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'''Music/RealGone'''
* "Don't Go Into That Barn," [[SlaveryIsASpecialKindOfEvil start to finish]].
-->''When the river is low they find old bones''\\
''When they plow they always dig up chains''
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* "Underground." This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}.'' There used to be a real good video of the song set to scenes involving Lockdown from WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated... And it was scary.

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* "Underground." This was ''the'' song that marked Waits' shift from Jazz/Blues crooner to the tune playing at-times '''terrifying''' avante-garde musician he is, none moreso than on this opening track. Waits' vocals, uttered in Madame Gasket's a barking growl as he vividly describes a subterranean world right underneath our feet [[ParanoiaFuel without us knowing about it]], will send a chill down your spine. Many people (fans of his or otherwise) have commented on how this already-terrifying song is used to even-more-terrifying effect in the chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}.'' There used to be a real good video of the song set to scenes involving Lockdown scene from WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated... And it was scary.
the movie ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''.
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* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY His cover]] of "Heigh Ho" from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''. Definitely a case of TheCoverChangesTheMeaning - the original was a cheerful work song, but his version is creepy and a little depressing without changing the lyrics at all.

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* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY His cover]] of "Heigh Ho" from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''.''WesternAnimation/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''. Definitely a case of TheCoverChangesTheMeaning - the original was a cheerful work song, but his version is creepy and a little depressing without changing the lyrics at all.
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* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY His cover]] of "Heigh Ho" from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''.

to:

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY His cover]] of "Heigh Ho" from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''. Definitely a case of TheCoverChangesTheMeaning - the original was a cheerful work song, but his version is creepy and a little depressing without changing the lyrics at all.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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Music/TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. We're not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music.

Though, it must be said most of the NightmareFuel imagery happened when his music became more avantgarde from ''Music/{{Swordfishtrombones}}'' on.

to:

Music/TomWaits ''Tom Waits'' has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. We're not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits like -- ''Tom Waits'' will scare you with quiet instrumental music.

music.

Though, it must be said most of the NightmareFuel imagery happened when his music became more avantgarde avant-garde from ''Music/{{Swordfishtrombones}}'' on.
on.
----



'''Music/{{Swordfishtrombones}}'''
* "Underground". This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be a real good video of the song set to scenes involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it was scary.

'''Music/BoneMachine'''
* [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "The Earth Died Screaming"]], where Waits sings how the entire planet apparently died while he was asleep. To make the song even more eerie the final lines quote from Music/FryderykChopin's "Funeral March", then fading into "Dirt In The Ground", a melancholic GriefSong about the fact that we're all gonna be dirt in the ground one day anyway. And those two songs just ''open'' the album!

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'''Music/{{Swordfishtrombones}}'''
'''Music/{{Swordfishtrombones}}:'''
* "Underground". "Underground." This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}.'' There used to be a real good video of the song set to scenes involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated... And it was scary.

'''Music/BoneMachine'''
'''Music/BoneMachine:'''
* [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "The "[[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt The Earth Died Screaming"]], Screaming,]]" where Waits sings how the entire planet apparently died while he was asleep. To make the song even more eerie the final lines quote from Music/FryderykChopin's "Funeral March", March," then fading into "Dirt In The Ground", a melancholic GriefSong about the fact that we're all gonna be dirt in the ground one day anyway. And those two songs just ''open'' the album!
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** The opening line is "I'd sell your heart to the junkman, baby, for a buck." ItGetsWorse.

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** The opening line is "I'd sell your heart to the junkman, baby, for a buck." ItGetsWorse.It gets worse.
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** The opening line is "I'd sell your heart to the junkman, baby, for a buck." ItGetsWorse.
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* "Underground". This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be a real good video of the song synced to seens involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it is scary.

to:

* "Underground". This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be a real good video of the song synced set to seens scenes involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it is was scary.
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'''Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards'''

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'''Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards''''''Music/OrphansBrawlersBawlersAndBastards'''
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* "It Ain't No Sin", where Creator/WilliamSBurroughs sings, one should say "talks", the macabre lyrics in his CreepyMonotone voice:
--> ''It ain't no sin to take off your skin and [[DemBones dance around in your bones]]''.

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'''Music/TheBlackRider'''
* "Black Box Theme"
* "Oily Night"



* [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "The Earth Died Screaming"]].

to:

* [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "The Earth Died Screaming"]]. Screaming"]], where Waits sings how the entire planet apparently died while he was asleep. To make the song even more eerie the final lines quote from Music/FryderykChopin's "Funeral March", then fading into "Dirt In The Ground", a melancholic GriefSong about the fact that we're all gonna be dirt in the ground one day anyway. And those two songs just ''open'' the album!


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'''Music/TheBlackRider'''
* "Lucky Day (Overture)" features Waits shouting through a megaphone, while naming all the bizarre freak acts on display in his circus.
* "Black Box Theme" is a very sinister instrumental, complete with the sounds of something leaking.
* "Oily Night" is a TickTockTune set to a satanic rituel.
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* "Army Ants".

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* "Army Ants". You know how some people can make the phone book sound sexy? Tom Waits can make a biology textbook sound like the secret history of Hell.

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* Poor Edward. "Some still believe he was freed from her, but I knew her too well; I say she drove him to suicide, and took Poor Edward... to hell..." *shudder*
* Also, "We're All Mad Here". Urrrrgh. [[SchmuckBait Don't listen to it late at night...]]

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* Poor Edward. "Some still believe he was freed [[quoteright:290:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tom-waits-photo-circa-1992-from-hotparade_9128.jpg]]

Music/TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. We're not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music.

Though, it must be said most of the NightmareFuel imagery happened when his music became more avantgarde
from her, but I knew her too well; I say she drove him ''Music/{{Swordfishtrombones}}'' on.

!! Examples:

'''Music/{{Swordfishtrombones}}'''
* "Underground". This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used
to suicide, be a real good video of the song synced to seens involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and took Poor Edward... to hell..." *shudder*
* Also, "We're All Mad Here". Urrrrgh. [[SchmuckBait Don't listen to
it late at night...]]is scary.

'''Music/TheBlackRider'''
* "Black Box Theme"
* "Oily Night"

'''Music/BoneMachine'''
* [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "The Earth Died Screaming"]].
* "In the Colosseum"
--> ''The dogs are having someone''
--> ''Who is screaming in the mud''
--> ''In the Colosseum tonight''
--> '' (...) It’s always much more sporting''
--> ''When there’s families in the pit''

'''Music/MuleVariations'''



* All of the DarkerAndEdgier ''Music/BoneMachine''. Especially [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "And the Earth Died Screaming"]].

to:


'''Music/{{Alice}}'''
* Poor Edward. "Some still believe he was freed from her, but I knew her too well; I say she drove him to suicide, and took Poor Edward... to hell..." *shudder*
* "We're
All of the DarkerAndEdgier ''Music/BoneMachine''. Especially [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "And the Earth Died Screaming"]]. Mad Here". Urrrrgh. [[SchmuckBait Don't listen to it late at night...]]

'''Music/BloodMoney'''



* "God's Away on Business"
* "Knife Chase"

'''Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers & Bastards'''



* "Hell Broke Luce" from the new album ''Bad As Me.'' WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.
* "God's Away on Business" and "Army Ants". From the names alone, guess how frightening they are.

to:

* "Hell Broke Luce" from the new album ''Bad As Me.'' WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.
* "God's Away on Business" and
"Army Ants". From the names alone, guess how frightening they are. Ants".



* "Underground" from ''Music/SwordFishTrombones''. This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be a real good video of the song synced to seens involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it is scary.
* Music/TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. And I'm not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music. Listen to "Black Box Theme" or "Oily Night" from ''The Black Rider'' and see how well you sleep. "Knife Chase" gives can give you start as well.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo "Children's Story"]] is creepy as well. "Once upon a time there was a poor child, with no father and no mother... And everything was dead... And no one was left in the whole world..." The thing about this one is that it's simultaneously very scary and very, very sad.

to:

* "Underground" from ''Music/SwordFishTrombones''. This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be a real good video of the song synced to seens involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it is scary.
* Music/TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. And I'm not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music. Listen to "Black Box Theme" or "Oily Night" from ''The Black Rider'' and see how well you sleep. "Knife Chase" gives can give you start as well.
* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo "Children's Story"]] is creepy as well. "Once upon a time there was a poor child, with no father and no mother... And everything was dead... And no one was left in the whole world..." The thing about this one is that it's simultaneously very scary and very, very sad.sad.

'''Music/BadAsMe'''
* "Hell Broke Luce". WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.
----
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* All of ''[[DarkerAndEdgier Bone Machine]]''. Especially [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "And the Earth Died Screaming"]].

to:

* All of ''[[DarkerAndEdgier Bone Machine]]''.the DarkerAndEdgier ''Music/BoneMachine''. Especially [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "And the Earth Died Screaming"]].



* "Underground". This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be a real good video of the song synced to seens involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it is scary.
* TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. And I'm not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music. Listen to "Black Box Theme" or "Oily Night" from ''The Black Rider'' and see how well you sleep. "Knife Chase" gives can give you start as well.

to:

* "Underground"."Underground" from ''Music/SwordFishTrombones''. This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be a real good video of the song synced to seens involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it is scary.
* TomWaits Music/TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. And I'm not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music. Listen to "Black Box Theme" or "Oily Night" from ''The Black Rider'' and see how well you sleep. "Knife Chase" gives can give you start as well.

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** There's nothing explicitly scary about "What's He Building," but the whole thing is just incredibly creepy. And the fact that it's spoken completely deadpan and monotone somehow makes it worse.



* There's nothing explicitly scary about "What's He Building," but the whole thing is just incredibly creepy. And the fact that it's spoken completely deadpan and monotone somehow makes it worse.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo">Children's Story</a> is creepy as well. "Once upon a time there was a poor child, with no father and no mother... And everything was dead... And no one was left in the whole world..." The thing about this one is that it's simultaneously very scary and very, very sad.

to:

* <a href="http://www.[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo">Children's Story</a> com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo "Children's Story"]] is creepy as well. "Once upon a time there was a poor child, with no father and no mother... And everything was dead... And no one was left in the whole world..." The thing about this one is that it's simultaneously very scary and very, very sad.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
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* <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo/">Children's Story</a> is very creepy as well. "Once upon a time there was a poor child, with no father and no mother... And everything was dead... And no one was left in the whole world..."

to:

* <a *<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo/">Children's com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo">Children's Story</a> is very creepy as well. "Once upon a time there was a poor child, with no father and no mother... And everything was dead... And no one was left in the whole world..."" The thing about this one is that it's simultaneously very scary and very, very sad.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. And I'm not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music. Listen to "Black Box Theme" or "Oily Night" from ''The Black Rider'' and see how well you sleep. "Knife Chase" gives can give you start as well.

to:

* TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. And I'm not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music. Listen to "Black Box Theme" or "Oily Night" from ''The Black Rider'' and see how well you sleep. "Knife Chase" gives can give you start as well.well.
*<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYCDw89h0bo/">Children's Story</a> is very creepy as well. "Once upon a time there was a poor child, with no father and no mother... And everything was dead... And no one was left in the whole world..."

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Moved from the general Music NF page.


** Also, "We're All Mad Here". Urrrrgh. [[SchmuckBait Don't listen to it late at night...]]
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaLjwSpZ6Cs "What's he building in there?"]]
** All of ''[[DarkerAndEdgier Bone Machine]]''.
*** '''Especially''' ''[[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt And the Earth Died Screaming]]''.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDjEDmgytOA Misery is the River of the World.]] Good GOD!
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY His cover]] of "Heigh Ho" from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''.
** ''Hell Broke Luce'' from the new album ''Bad As Me.'' WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.
*** The rhyme scheme borders on Narm, though, especially the lines about being a chef.

to:

** * Also, "We're All Mad Here". Urrrrgh. [[SchmuckBait Don't listen to it late at night...]]
** * [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaLjwSpZ6Cs "What's he building in there?"]]
** * All of ''[[DarkerAndEdgier Bone Machine]]''.
*** '''Especially''' ''[[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt And
Machine]]''. Especially [[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt "And the Earth Died Screaming]]''.Screaming"]].
** * [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDjEDmgytOA Misery is the River of the World.]] Good GOD!
**
]]
*
[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY His cover]] of "Heigh Ho" from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''.
** ''Hell * "Hell Broke Luce'' Luce" from the new album ''Bad As Me.'' WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.
*** The * "God's Away on Business" and "Army Ants". From the names alone, guess how frightening they are.
* "Dog Door", which doesn't have a [[NonindicativeName particularly disturbing title]]. Even apart from the lyrics, there's the simple fact that they're performed by Tom Waits, who could sing "Happy Birthday" and have it sound like a death threat.
** This is parodied by Bill Bailey in his interpretation of how Tom Waits would perform the nursery
rhyme scheme borders "Three Blind Mice": "Blood on Narm, though, especially the lines cheese! / Little mousey running for his life / You goin' t'Hell / In a mousetrap..." Which is itself a bit Nightmare Fuelish, if you think about being it.
* There's nothing explicitly scary about "What's He Building," but the whole thing is just incredibly creepy. And the fact that it's spoken completely deadpan and monotone somehow makes it worse.
* "Underground". This was the tune playing in Madame Gasket's chop shop in ''WesternAnimation/{{Robots}}''. There used to be
a chef.real good video of the song synced to seens involving Lockdown from TransformersAnimated... and it is scary.
* TomWaits has lots of songs with disturbing lyrics, but the really impressive feat is his ability to scare you just with instrumentals. And I'm not talking about songs with sudden {{Scare Chord}}s and the like---Tom Waits will scare you with quiet instrumental music. Listen to "Black Box Theme" or "Oily Night" from ''The Black Rider'' and see how well you sleep. "Knife Chase" gives can give you start as well.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


** ''Hell Broke Luce'' from the new album ''Bad As Me.'' WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.

to:

** ''Hell Broke Luce'' from the new album ''Bad As Me.'' WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.it.
*** The rhyme scheme borders on Narm, though, especially the lines about being a chef.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Think there oughta\' be a nightmare fuel page for Tom Waits by now.

Added DiffLines:

*Poor Edward. "Some still believe he was freed from her, but I knew her too well; I say she drove him to suicide, and took Poor Edward... to hell..." *shudder*
** Also, "We're All Mad Here". Urrrrgh. [[SchmuckBait Don't listen to it late at night...]]
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaLjwSpZ6Cs "What's he building in there?"]]
** All of ''[[DarkerAndEdgier Bone Machine]]''.
*** '''Especially''' ''[[EndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt And the Earth Died Screaming]]''.
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDjEDmgytOA Misery is the River of the World.]] Good GOD!
** [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4_zaZ3utUY His cover]] of "Heigh Ho" from ''Disney/SnowWhiteAndTheSevenDwarfs''.
** ''Hell Broke Luce'' from the new album ''Bad As Me.'' WarIsHell does not begin to describe it.

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