---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was literally singing to myself on my…"
description: "\"I was literally singing to myself on my way home, after the killing. The tension, the desire to kill a woman had built up in such explosive proportions..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/david-berkowitz-26889_desire_i-was-literally-singing-to-myself-on-my_248481.jpg"
---

#  I was literally singing to myself on my way home, after…

![“I was literally singing to myself on my way home, after the killing. The tension, the desire to kill a woman had built up in such explosive proportions that when I finally pulled the trigger, all the pressures, all the tensions, all the hatred, had just vanished, dissipated, but only for a short…” quote by David Berkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/david-berkowitz-26889_desire_i-was-literally-singing-to-myself-on-my_248481.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/david-berkowitz-26889_desire_i-was-literally-singing-to-myself-on-my_248481.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b6d/david-berkowitz-26889_desire_i-was-literally-singing-to-myself-on-my_248481.jpg)

> “I was literally singing to myself on my way home, after the killing. The tension, the desire to kill a woman had built up in such explosive proportions that when I finally pulled the trigger, all the pressures, all the tensions, all the hatred, had just vanished, dissipated, but only for a short time.”

[David Berkowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-berkowitz/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes a fleeting release of intense violent tension after a killing, noting the temporary calm before it returns.

**In simple terms:** Killing gave a brief, false relief from built-up rage.

Key Takeaway

Recognize that violent acts provide only temporary relief.

Themes

violence psychology temporary relief

Mood

distressed reflective

Type

cautionary psychological

When to use this quote

- post‑crime reflection
- therapy sessions
- risk assessment
- law enforcement training

Key Concepts

catharsis addiction psychopathology

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives the urge for such extreme release?
- How can one find healthier outlets for built‑up tension?

A Different Perspective

The relief is short‑lived and may lead to further aggression.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desire Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire-kill-382842/) [Hatred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hatred/) [Home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home/) [Home Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/home-killing-2476595/) [Kill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kill/) [Killing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing/) [Killing Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/killing-tension-2476594/) [My way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-way/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Proportion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proportion/) [Pulled Trigger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulled-trigger/) [Singing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/singing/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Triggers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/triggers/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Way home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way-home/)

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## More by David Berkowitz

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