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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to think Richard killed Mary rather than the sheriff?

38 replies

Seaglasscat · 29/07/2026 20:21

Watched this video for the first time in forever and I always thought it was the sheriff that killed Mary but now I am thinking Richard did it in a jealous rage after seeing Mary with her boyfriend.

I think the town blaming him for his mother’s death was a bit mean. When you have candles that close to a window is not going to end well. Also how did they not smell smoke and get the hell out.

OP posts:
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EmeraldRoulette · 31/07/2026 01:27

AnAutumnCrow · 31/07/2026 01:22

‘the night she went out walking all alone
And never came home’

‘… I swear I left her by the river
I swear I left her safe and sound’ 🎶

These are contradictory statements.

Not from his point of view, they're not

EmeraldRoulette · 31/07/2026 01:27

Seaglasscat · 31/07/2026 01:25

EmeraldRoulette

“Right here waiting” is a good cheesy ballad song by him as well and “Hold onto the Night is not bad as well

Edited

Not keen on that one
too dirgey

I mean, the first one, sorry

I will have a listen to the second one tomorrow!

Original poster
Seaglasscat · 31/07/2026 01:25

EmeraldRoulette

“Right here waiting” is a good cheesy ballad song by him as well and “Hold onto the Night is not bad as well

OP posts:
Original poster
Seaglasscat · 31/07/2026 01:23

This was the guy who played the sheriff when he was younger

AIBU to think Richard killed Mary rather than the sheriff?
OP posts:
AnAutumnCrow · 31/07/2026 01:22

‘the night she went out walking all alone
And never came home’

‘… I swear I left her by the river
I swear I left her safe and sound’ 🎶

These are contradictory statements.

EmeraldRoulette · 31/07/2026 01:20

well, I'm glad we cleared that up

I just listened to the song again

The only other one of his I know is "should've known better". Well, I know a couple of others, but I'm not that keen on those - maybe I should listen to an album because I love cheesy American rock.

RichardMarxisinnocent · 31/07/2026 01:19

yodaforpresident · 30/07/2026 15:26

I am going to see him in concert next Friday and cannot wait!

I'm going later in the year, he is great live!

RichardMarxisinnocent · 31/07/2026 01:19

JoeSikoraTommysStory · 31/07/2026 01:00

ask @richardmarxisinnocenthe definitely is.

I can confirm that he is categorically innocent.

JoeSikoraTommysStory · 31/07/2026 01:00

ask @richardmarxisinnocenthe definitely is.

Original poster
Seaglasscat · 31/07/2026 00:45

Even the song cover art is creepy

AIBU to think Richard killed Mary rather than the sheriff?
OP posts:
Original poster
Seaglasscat · 31/07/2026 00:42

I have just looked into it more and Richard has said he doesn’t know himself.

apparently he loved the line “this old Nebraska town” so he looked for towns in Nebraska that would fit in with the song and found Hazard which is a real place. Apparently there is no river there just a small creek.

OP posts:
yodaforpresident · 30/07/2026 15:26

I am going to see him in concert next Friday and cannot wait!

poundshopkardashians · 30/07/2026 15:16

I love this song so much - it reminds me of taking my GCSEs in 1992 (along with KWS please don’t go and also the terrible ABBA covers that Erasure did) - I always assumed it wasn’t Richard, not the sheriff, but just some random wrong ‘un. I’m not sure we will ever know. Maybe Richard will reveal all on his deathbed?

JazzyJelly · 30/07/2026 15:12

DallasMajor · 30/07/2026 12:16

Adults don't need to be spoon fed everything.

If you didn't know you could just click out.

Show quote history

'Spoon fed everything' when the context is 'Watched this video' 🙄

DallasMajor · 30/07/2026 12:16

JazzyJelly · 29/07/2026 23:46

Good for you. For those of who aren't, some context might have been useful, or aiming the title at those who might understand it.

Show quote history

Adults don't need to be spoon fed everything.

If you didn't know you could just click out.

EmeraldRoulette · 29/07/2026 23:50

He did a fantastic job with this

I agree that he is an unreliable narrator

But I also don't think he did it

How many years later and we're still talking about it? Great work.

JazzyJelly · 29/07/2026 23:46

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 29/07/2026 22:46

I knew exactly what op was mulling over from the title. Maybe this is a thread aimed at MNers of a certain vintage.

Show quote history

Good for you. For those of who aren't, some context might have been useful, or aiming the title at those who might understand it.

Livinginthenewcentury · 29/07/2026 23:33

It's a great video. I think he might have done it and is trying to make it to the river to drown himself and be with Mary.

Ereshkigalangcleg · 29/07/2026 23:21

I think it was him and always have. As pp said he’s an unreliable narrator.

CuppaWhiteTea · 29/07/2026 23:18

I never thought he did it either. I’ve never seen the video though so the fact the sheriff is a suspect is a revelation to me. That’s blown this cold case wide open!

cariadlet · 29/07/2026 23:15

Never heard of the song but why would a young man leave his girlfriend alone by a river? The pp make it soundas though he left her alone, somewhere fairly isolated, in the evening/night.

That doesn't sound very caring or responsible.

XigDoop · 29/07/2026 23:10

Richard is innocent. Mary swam off to find her true love Jaques Costeau.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 29/07/2026 22:46

JazzyJelly · 29/07/2026 20:37

YABU for not explaining the context.

I knew exactly what op was mulling over from the title. Maybe this is a thread aimed at MNers of a certain vintage.

DallasMajor · 29/07/2026 22:46

I knew what you were talking about by the title, I always thought he was innocent, but I will rewatch the video tomorrow.

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 29/07/2026 22:45

I don’t think it was him. He’s just an obvious scapegoat. Most haunting song ever though, under rated.