Today’s Tuneage: John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

There are haunting songs … and then there are songs that take it one level deeper.

Sufjan Stevens’ “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” falls into the latter category. Recorded for his 2005 concept album Illinois, the song explores the legend of the serial killer of the same name.

From 1972-78 Gacy – a.k.a. the “Killer Clown” – raped and murdered at least thirty-three boys and young men in and around Chicago, Illinois, infamously burying many of his victims in the crawl space beneath his home.  He is one of – if not the most famous serial killer in American history.

Stevens’ song (and its video) have inspired all sorts of criticism … and acclaim.

“What begins as a somewhat poetic account of the infamous murderer becomes a haunting reflection on the protagonist’s own soul, whoever he is,” one reviewer noted.

And as Stevens himself has controversially said, “we’re all capable of what (Gacy) did.”

Anyway, it’s a moving number … we hope you enjoy it.