Helter Skelter Lyrics

[Verse 1]
When I get to the bottom, I go back to the top of the slide
Where I stop, and I turn, and I go for a ride

'Till I get to the bottom, and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah!

[Bridge]
Well, do you, don't you want me to love you?
I'm coming down fast, but I'm miles above you (Aaaaah)
Tell me, tell me, tell me, come on, tell me the answer (Aaaaaaaaah)
Well, you may be a lover, but you ain't no dancer (Dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer)

[Chorus]
Now, Helter-skelter
Helter-skelter
Helter-skelter
Yeah
Woo

[Bridge]
Oh, will you, won't you want me to make you? (Aaaah)
I'm coming down fast, but don't let me break you (Aaaaaaaaah)
Tell me, tell me, tell me the answer
You may be a lover, but you ain't no dancer (Dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer)

[Chorus]
Look out
Helter-skelter
Helter-skelter
Helter-skelter
Ooh
Look out
'Cause here she comes
[Verse 2]
(Aaaaaaaaah)
When I get to the bottom, I go back to the top of the slide
And I stop, and I turn, and I go for a ride
And I get to the bottom, and I see you again
Yeah, yeah, yeah

[Bridge]
Well, do you, don't you want me to make you? (Aaaah)
I'm coming down fast, but don't let me break you (Aaaaaaaaah)
Tell me, tell me, tell me your answer
You may be a lover, but you ain't no dancer (Dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer-dancer)

[Chorus]
Look out
Helter-skelter
Helter-skelter
Helter-skelter

[Outro]
Well look out, helter-skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes, she is
Yes, she is
Coming down fast
Oh, yeah, Helter Skelter
Woo

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About

Genius Annotation

A “helter skelter” is an amusement park ride with a slide built in a spiral around a high tower (it’s also British slang, meaning “in disorderly haste or confusion”)

Paul McCartney – who penned the song – used the song as a response to critics who accused him of writing too many ballads. The proto-heavy metal musical backing emerged as Paul saw Pete Townshend saying The Who’s “I Can See for Miles” was “the raunchiest, loudest, most ridiculous rock and roll record you’ve ever heard", so he decided to up the ante, while also “using the symbol of a helter skelter as a ride from the top to the bottom; the rise and fall of the Roman Empire – and this was the fall, the demise.”

Paul McCartney only started playing the song live in 2004, but it has since become a mainstay of his setlist. Before that, “Helter Skelter” was covered by many artists, including Siouxsie And The Banshees and Motley Crue. And most infamously, Charles Manson used “Helter Skelter” as the centerpiece of his weird beliefs that led to 8 murders.

We used to have a laugh about this, that or the other, in a light-hearted way, and some intellectual would read us, some symbolic youth generation wants to see something in it. We also took seriously some parts of the role, but I don’t know what Helter Skelter has to do with knifing someone. I’ve never listened to it properly, it was just a noise.
-John Lennon to Rolling Stone, 1970

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The Beatles say about "Helter Skelter"?
Genius Answer

Paul McCartney had this to say about “Helter Skelter“:

That came about just ’cause I’d read a review of a record which said, ‘and this group really got us wild, there’s echo on everything, they’re screaming their heads off.’ And I just remember thinking, ‘Oh, it’d be great to do one. Pity they’ve done it. Must be great – really screaming record.’

And then I heard their record and it was quite straight, and it was very sort of sophisticated. It wasn’t rough and screaming and tape echo at all. So I thought, ‘Oh well, we’ll do one like that, then.’ And I had this song called ‘Helter Skelter,’ which is just a ridiculous song. So we did it like that, ‘cuz I like noise.”

What else has McCartney said about the song?
Genius Answer

Translations
Genius Answer
Credits
Produced By
Six-string bass
Rhythm Guitar
Trumpet
Saxophone
Recorded At
EMI Recording Studios, St. John's Wood, City of Westminster, Greater London, England (July 8th, September 9-10th, 1968)
Release Date
November 22, 1968
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