Killer Barracuda
Kris Kristofferson · Original Album Classics [2009]
Look into water see the barracuda
Patient as the devil hanging still
Like a shadow in the water pretty barracuda
Dagger of the devil waitin' to kill.
Little girl beware of the killer barracuda
He rules these waters like a king
He'll cut your heart out slicker than a dagger
Not 'cause he's hungry, 'cause he's mean.
You can see the shark now glidin' through the water
Ugly as death eats anything
But the pretty barracuda don't touch no leavings
Takin' what he wants to 'cause he's king.
You can't scare him or entice him
He wouldn't move for the devil till his own time
Then quicker than a heartbeat he'll turn you away girl
Just to see you fall and leave you dyin'.
Little girl beware of the killer barracuda
He rules these waters like a king
He'll cut your heart out slicker than a dagger
Not 'cause he's hungry, 'cause he's mean...
Killer Barracuda - Kris Kristofferson
Released on the 1971 album *Killer*, this track stands as a defining moment in Kris Kristofferson's career, blending his signature storytelling with a driving, blues-infused rock rhythm. The song captures the tension of a high-stakes poker game, utilizing the metaphor of a 'killer' to describe a player who cannot afford to lose. Kristofferson's delivery is characterized by a gritty, conversational tone that anchors the track's narrative, while the band's performance delivers a relentless, propulsive energy that became a staple of the outlaw country and rockabilly revival movements of the early 1970s. The composition's structure, featuring a distinctive guitar riff and a soaring chorus, cemented its status as a classic, influencing countless subsequent artists in the genre who sought to merge lyrical depth with raw, unpolished rock energy.