Friday, March 7, 2025

“Killer” by Nathan O'Regan – A Song Feature

 

    Appropriately, the track from Nathan O'Regan begins with a killer rhythm section. The percussion during “Killer” is invigorating. Although it isn’t apparent without listening closely to the lyrics, the song is a tribute to strong women. O’Regan and co-writer Gareth Dunlop explain that they are both with strong life partners who have positively affected the men they are now. Thus, the lyric “She was the death of the old me // Takes credit for the man you see.”
 
     “Killer” is a fusion of Southern Rock and Rhythm & Blues, with a dose of Americana. That blend hints of places like Nashville, Tennessee, but Nathan O’Regan was born in Cork, Ireland. He is currently based in Belfast, as is Gareth Dunlop.
 
     The chorus of “Killer” emphasizes there is no doubt about the verdict “Bang to Rights, she’s guilty as charged” (note: in some areas, the expression is instead “Dead to Rights). She put an end to the worst parts of her love interest (the entertaining official video is embedded at the bottom of this post).
 
     Quoting an explanation of the song:
      “Killer” was written by O’Regan with fellow Belfast-based musician Gareth Dunlop, a close friend and mentor, and recorded at Attica Studios in Donegal, run by Villagers guitarist Tommy McLaughlin. The song’s theme came from a discussion the two had about their life partners.
  “Gareth and I have incredible, fierce women in our lives and we were joking about how we both need that from time to time” explains Nathan. “It’s like dealing with an assassin – they kill all the worst parts of you, and leave you with the bits they like the most.”
 
     Last year O’Regan signed to the Belfast-based independent label Zenith Cafe. “It feels like a momentous thing. I’ve been working towards this for almost half my life. It feels like an introduction of sorts, or starting from the very beginning.”
 
     “Killer” by Nathan O'Regan

Lyrics of “Killer” by Nathan O'Regan
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
 
She killed the liar
She killed the cheat
A quick-draw shooter couldn’t get close to her
When she gunned down the worst of me
 
She let the good survive
The bad don’t make it out alive
She’s a killer
 
She killed the coward
She killed the crook
Put them 6 feet under for an eternal slumber
When she got me on the hook
 
She was the death of the old me
Takes credit for the man you see
She’s a killer
 
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
 
She killed the loser
She killed the fool
Killed them in cold blood face down in the mud
To be kind, she had to get so cruel
 
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
She took down everyone but us
She’s a killer
She’s a killer
 
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
She’s a killer
 
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
Bang To Rights, She’s guilty as charged
Bang To Rights, But I had it coming
The way I was is only dead
Because she’s a killer
She’s a killer
She’s a killer
She’s a killer

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