Twist Of Cain

Album: Danzig (1988)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • According to the Bible, the first murder on Earth took place when Cain, son of Adam and Eve, killed his brother, Abel, in a fit of jealousy. In "Twist Of Cain," Glenn Danzig uses the title phrase to describe the kind of dark impulses that would drive one to murder. Danzig looks at religion, especially Christianity, with a critical eye, believing that a lot was left out of biblical texts in a very early act of censorship.
  • Danzig offers a bit of a twist when he sings:

    Got a little twist of Cain
    From the God below


    The "God below" likely represents Satan, baiting his critics into labeling him a devil worshiper. Danzig has made it clear he has no affiliation with the Dark Lord, but does see the world for what it is: A blend of bad and good, darkness and light.
  • Glenn Danzig founded the hardcore punk band Misfits in 1977 and was their lead singer until their split in 1983. He then formed a band called Samhain (named for a Celtic holiday that honors the dead), which got the attention of producer Rick Rubin, who signed the band to his newly named Def American Records. "Twist Of Cain" was slated for their next album, which was going to be called Samhain Grim, but Glenn Danzig changed the name of the band as well as the first album to simply Danzig. The song is the first track on the album, which Rubin produced.

    Glenn Danzig would have scarred away most producers, but Rubin liked what he had to offer and was happy to work in his horror-rock genre. Rubin's previous clients included Run-DMC, Slayer, and Beastie Boys.
  • In the chorus of the song, the voice of Metallica's James Hetfield can clearly be heard. Hetfield was a huge Misfits/Samhain fan and was happy to help out with vocals on a couple of songs on the album. However, due to his contractual obligations to Elektra Records, he could not be credited. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Jeff - Austin, TX
  • Danzig released a music video for this song made up of footage from their show at The Ritz in New York City on December 2, 1988. It got some airplay on MTV's Headbanger's Ball, but it was another track from the album, "Mother," that got most of the attention. That song got a concept video that MTV insisted they edit, but it was a live video released in 1993 that ended up getting most of the airplay.

Comments: 4

  • Casey from Phoenix, ArizonaIt is not a song scrutinizing Christianity.
  • Jeff from Austin, Tx"Possession" is the other song on that album that Hetfield sang on. It's even more obvious on that one. It's a great song too.
  • Billy from Cresco, PaDamn...I had no idea that was hetfield
  • Baldrick from Beograd, Yugoslaviayeah, Hetfield's obviously a fan - noticed how much Enter Sandman riff sounds alike to this one?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Donny Osmond

Donny OsmondSongwriter Interviews

Donny Osmond talks about his biggest hits, his Vegas show, and the fan who taught him to take "Puppy Love" seriously.

Carl Sturken

Carl SturkenSongwriter Interviews

Hitmaker Carl Sturken on writing and producing for Rihanna, 'N Sync, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Donny Osmond, Shakira and Karyn White.

American Hits With Foreign Titles

American Hits With Foreign TitlesSong Writing

What are the biggest US hits with French, Spanish (not "Rico Suave"), Italian, Scottish, Greek, and Japanese titles?

Mick Jones of Foreigner

Mick Jones of ForeignerSongwriter Interviews

Foreigner's songwriter/guitarist tells the stories behind the songs "Juke Box Hero," "I Want To Know What Love Is," and many more.

The Police

The PoliceFact or Fiction

Do their first three albums have French titles? Is "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" really meaningless? See if you can tell in this Fact or Fiction.