At the Tate-Labianca murder trial the world was introduced to what is now known as the Helter Skelter motive. Various Family members explained Charles Manson's unique interpretations of the Beatles self-titled double LP more commonly known as the White Album, and how he connected it to the Bible. According to many of his own followers Manson thought the Beatles were prophets sending "tuned-in" people messages within their music. According to Charlie's interpretations of the album, a war between the Black and White races was imminent. The war would start when blacks would commit a series of brutal murders in posh white communities. According to Charlie the Beatles wanted him to release his own album in which he would trigger the pending revolution and map out an escape route for the chosen few. The family would move to California's Death Valley and hide underground until the race-war was over. Manson felt that the black man would win the war but wouldn't be able to control things because of inexperience. The family would then reemerge from the desert having grown to a population of 144,000 and rule the world. It was the prosecutions argument that in the summer of 1969 Manson began telling his followers that they would have to show the black man how to do it, because according to him, "blackie only knew what whitey had told him." And in an effort to start the pending race-war selected family members committed the Tate-Labianca murders.

Revolution 9

Manson felt that the 9th Chapter of Revelation was talking about an upcoming race-war. This idea was reinforced when Capital Records released the self-titled Beatles White Album in November of 1968, which Manson connected to the book of Revelations. Everything about the double LP had meaning to Charlie, even the cover, which he felt was the Beatles way of showing their allegiance to the white race. The most important song according to Charlie was Revolution 9. A long montage of sound clips, Revolution 9 sounded more like a nightmare than a song. The connection was obvious to Manson, Revolution 9 was just prophecy, it was referring back to Revelation, Chapter 9, the apocalypse. As Charlie was convinced that the Beatles were angels speaking directly to him through their music, he started preaching to the family about the upcoming apocalypse, which he referred to as "Helter Skelter". The family would escape the apocalypse by hiding out in Death Valley. Revelation 9 talked about a bottomless pit, and Manson was familiar with some local Hopi Indian legend regarding 3 underground cities in California, one of which he believed to be in Death Valley. The Legend described a race of "Lizard" people who, 5,000 years ago built three underground cities. Charlie would tell the family about an underground city of gold with a lake of life. Various family members would later talk about searching for the entrance to this city in Death Valley.

The Race War.

It would start when a couple of black people from the ghettos would come up into the rich white neighborhoods like Beverly Hills and commit a series of atrocious murders. The white establishment would then retaliate and kill off many blacks, afterwhich, the militants; the Panthers and Muslims, would come out of hiding appealling to the white race, saying "Look what you've done to my people." This would cause a split amongst the white race, putting brother against brother, and a war would break out. A war that would kill off one third of mankind, the white race. The surviving Blacks would then finally reign over the land only to realize that they weren't qualified to do so because of their lack of experience. This is when Charlie and the family, having grown to 144,000 would reemerge from their underground paradise and rule the world.

Revelation 9

(1) And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. Charlie was the fifth angel, and the bottomless pit was in Death Valley, an underground city that the Hopi Indian legends had talked about (2) And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. (3) And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. The locusts were the Beatles the four angels sent to earth to prophesize about the upcoming apocalypse (4) And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. Charlie never did tell the family what the seal would like it, only that he would know it when he saw it. Perhaps this was one reason that Charlie carved an X into his forehead during the murder trial (5) And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. (6) And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. (7) And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. (8) And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. This was more evidence that the Bible was talking about the Beatles, referring to their long hair (9) And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. The breastplates Charlie said were the Beatles' guitars (10) And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. (11) And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. This was Charlie, king of the bottomless pit (12) One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. (13) And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, (14) Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. (15) And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. This was a warning, the four angels were the Beatles, and this line talked about the upcoming race war, which Charlie dubbed "Helter Skelter", the war that would wipe out one third of mankind, the white race. (16) And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. (17) And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. The fire and brimstone issued from their mouths referred to the Beatles lyrics and music. (18) By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. (19) For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. (20) And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: This referred to all the people that would die in the war, the rich white establishment. (21) Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Charlie felt the Beatles were telling the Black man to get armed and ready to fight the White man.

Happiness is a Warm Gun

She's not a girl who misses much
Do do do do do do do do
She's well acquainted with the touch of the velvet hand
Like a lizard on a window pane.

The man in the crowd with the multicoloured mirrors
On his hobnail boots
Lying with his eyes while his hands are busy
Working overtime
A soap impression of his wife which he ate
And donated to the Nation Trust.

I need a fix 'cause I'm going down
Down to the bits that I left uptown
I need a fix cause I'm going down

Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun
Mother Superior jump the gun.
Happiness is a warm gun
Happiness is a warm gun
When I hold you in my arms
And I feel my finger on your trigger
I know no one can do me no harm
Because happiness is a warm gun
-Yes it is.

Blackbird was one of the songs that the family listened to the most. Manson explained that the Black race was the "Blackbird" and it was now their turn to rise up into power. He felt that the Beatles were programming the Blacks to start the revolution.

Blackbird

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird fly Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

The term pig was widely used to refer to both the police and the establishment. Charlie seemed to love the line "What they need's a damn good whacking" and would quote it often. The meaning was quite obvious to the family, the rich white establishment needed to be "whacked". It should be also pointed out that "POLITICAL PIGGY", "PIG", and "DEATH TO PIGS" were written in blood at three of the Manson murder sites.

Piggies

Have you seen the little piggies
Crawling in the dirt
And for all the little piggies
Life is getting worse
Always having dirt to play around in.

Have you seen the bigger piggies
In their starched white shirts
You will find the bigger piggies
Stirring up the dirt
Always have clean shirts to play around in.

In their styes with all their backing
They don't care what goes on around
In their eyes there's something lacking
What they need's a damn good whacking.

Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives
You can see them out for dinner
With their piggy wives
Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon.

Charlie felt the word "Raccoon" was referring to "coon", a derogatory term for someone black, which the family felt was further proof that the Beatles were programming the Blacks for a revolution.

Rocky Raccoon

Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye Rocky didn't like that
He said I'm gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon.

Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy.
Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy.
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin

He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot-he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner.
Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better I'll be better doc as soon as I am able.

Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival.

According to Charlie the Beatles were asking him to make his own album.

I Will

Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to--I will.

For if I ever saw you
I didn't catch your name
But it never really mattered
I will always feel the same.

Love you forever and forever
Love you with all my heart
Love you whenever we're together
Love you when we're apart.

And when at last I find you
Your song will fill the air
Sing it loud so I can hear you
Make it easy to be near you
For the things you do endear you to me
You know I will
I will.

Since Manson had renamed Susan Atkins "Sadie Glutz" earlier that year, this song seem to reinforce the notion that the Beatles were in-tuned with Charlie's mind. Perhaps the family should have paid more attention to the lyrics of this song. Less than a year after its release the Manson family would be caught due to Susan Atkins' endless need for attention.

Sexy Sadie

Sexy Sadie what have you done
You made a fool of everyone
You made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie ooh what have you done.

Sexy Sadie you broke the rules
You layed it down for all to see
You layed it down for all to see
Sexy Sadie oooh you broke the rules.

One sunny day the world was waiting for a lover
She came along to turn on everyone
Sexy Sadie the greatest of them all.

Sexy Sadie how did you know
The world was waiting just for you
The world was waiting just for you
Sexy Sadie oooh how did you know.

Sexy Sadie you'll get yours yet
However big you think you are
However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie oooh you'll get yours yet.

We gave her everything we owned just to sit at her table
Just a smile would lighten everything
Sexy Sadie she's the latest and the greatest of them all.

She made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie.

However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie.

Helter Skelter was the term the family used for the upcoming race-war. The song's opening line referred to the family reemerging from the bottomless pit in the desert after the war was over. It also had the warning "coming down fast" which meant the war was happening very soon so the family should prepare for it.

Helter Skelter

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.

Do you, don't you want me to love you
I'm coming down fast but I'm miles above you
Tell me tell me tell me come on tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter.

Will you, won't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter

Look out, cause here she comes.

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

Well do you, don't you want me to make you
I'm coming down fast but don't let me break you
Tell me tell me tell me the answer
You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer.

Look out helter skelter helter skelter
Helter skelter
Look out helter skelter
She's coming down fast
Yes she is
Yes she is.

The word "IN" was not printed on the album sleeve, but could be clearly heard after the word "OUT", in the line "Don't you know you can count me out". Charlie explained that the line meant that the Beatles were once undecided about the revolution, but were now in support of it. Another line went "You say you got a real solution, Well you know we'd all love to see the plan." To the family this meant that the Beatles needed Charlie to release his album instructing them how to escape the revolution.

Revolution 1

You say you want a revolution
Well you know
we all want to change the world
You tell me that it's evolution
Well you know
We all want to change the world
But when you talk about destruction
Don't you know you can count me out (in)
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you got a real solution
Well you know
we'd all love to see the plan

You ask me for a contribution
Well you know
We're doing what we can
But when you want money for people with minds that hate
All I can tell you is brother you have to wait
Don't you know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

You say you'll change the constitution
Well you know
we all want to change your head
You tell me it's the institution
Well you know

You better free your mind instead
But if you go carrying pictures of Chairman Mao
You ain't going to make it with anyone anyhow
Don't you know know it's gonna be alright
Alright Alright

According the family the line "Oh honey pie my position is tragic Come and show me the magic of your Hollywood song" meant that the Beatles knew JC (an alias Manson used that stood for Jesus Christ) was in Los Angeles. With the line "Oh honey pie you are driving me frantic Sail across the Atlantic To be where you belong" Charlie explained that the Beatles wanted him to come to England and that the line "Honey pie you are making me crazy I'm in love but I'm lazy So won't you please come home" meant that the Beatles were too lazy to go look for Jesus and wanted Charlie to come find them.

Honey Pie

She was a working girl
North of England way
Now she's hit the big time
In the U.S.A.
And if she could only hear me
This is what I'd say.

Honey pie you are making me crazy
I'm in love but I'm lazy
So won't you please come home.

Oh honey pie my position is tragic
Come and show me the magic
of your Hollywood song.

You became a legend of the silver screen
And now the thought of meeting you
Makes me weak in the knee.

Oh honey pie you are driving me frantic
Sail across the Atlantic
To be where you belong.

Will the wind that blew her boat
Across the sea
Kindly send her sailing back to me.

Honey pie you are making me crazy
I'm in love but I'm lazy
So won't you please come home.