Karma Killer

About

Karma Killer, written by Robbie Williams and Guy Chambers, is one of the most confrontational tracks on I've Been Expecting You. Built around driving guitars, orchestral strings and a snarling vocal, the song channels Williams’ anger towards his former manager Nigel Martin-Smith, with whom he had a well-publicised dispute after leaving Take That. The track stands out for its ferocity and theatrical production, blending rock, pop and orchestral drama.

Williams described the song as a release of pent-up frustration over manipulation and control during his early career. The lyrics are both venomous and defiant, including lines such as “Why haven’t you managed to die yet?” and “I hope you choke on your Bacardi and Coke,” a reference to Martin-Smith’s preferred drink. Despite its hostility, the song ultimately asserts triumph over adversity, with the refrain “Look what you didn’t take from me” symbolising survival and independence.

When I play it live, goose pimples. I dread to think how it’ll go off. It’s pure catharsis.Robbie Williams

Performed throughout Williams’ 1998–2001 tours and briefly revived in later years, Karma Killer became a fan favourite for its intensity. The arrangement, featuring the London Session Orchestra, mirrors the fury of its lyrics through urgent strings and pounding percussion. Critics noted its cinematic scope and emotional honesty, identifying it as one of Williams’ most powerful statements of artistic autonomy. It remains a defining example of his ability to fuse personal narrative with pop spectacle.