Did you ever see any of the documentaries? A very sad and odd case. The "West Memphis Three" is a reference not to the children killed, but rather to the 3 teenagers accused of the murders. They were in some senses railroaded by a corrupt local justice system. The documentary filmmakers got involved in a not so veiled effort to expose the corruption, exonerate the teens, and suggest other more likely suspects. A lot of celebrities and "rock stars" joined in the effort. I forget how long they spent in prison, but they were eventually released. Some people still believe they are guilty of killing those three kids. I believe it to be true that there is such a thing as a false confession. However, I am personally unconvinced and undecided whether the teens committed the murders or not.
I confess this whole thing kind of creeped me out. One, I could see myself in those kids. We used to do that, jump on our bikes in the morning and not return home until dark. In between explore the world around us, woods, creeks, lakes. Just normal kid stuff, but evil exists. Two, I have no idea why when listening to your song my mind went to murder, of children. Specifically those murders. I played it for a few other people without revealing my own thoughts, none thought murder. Sad, yes, murder, no. What do I see in your song? I see tragedy. Graphic warning---> The one kid watches as his two friends are hogtied and submerged in the water. The innocence of a child, "please don't drown", his heart breaking in fright at the sight of it all, "with a crack in my heart". Simple yet good line, btw. "We start"? The murderer(s) then set their sights on him. He was the only one who didn't drown, he died of "injuries". His genitals were mutilated, but there is still dispute with regard to those injuries, it could have been post mortem by wildlife, animals. In the morning the cries were so loud as they were laid in the sun, sounds like a funeral to me.
Yeah, that's crazy that is what I heard in your song. Perhaps equally crazy, when I asked the motivation for the lyrics you said from a song written about the serial killer John Wayne Gacy. I seriously about fell off my chair, totally blew my mind.
With Dylan's The Lonesome Death of Hattie Caroll there is no ambiguity to the lyrics, you don't need the title to understand the song. With your song, i'm not sure the title should be so direct. I mean, for one, that's a very disturbing tragedy. It might/would turn some off. For me, when I hear it that is what I think about, and I don't want to think about something like that. It is uncomfortably sad. Perhaps suggest and let those with ears to hear figure it out? I can't come up with anything good at the moment....Memphis Lament?....Six In, Three Out?....From 6 Comes 3? None of those are good, but you get the idea.
Apologies for the long post. It's your song and decision to make. As to whether it is bad taste, the lyrics aren't exploitative, they are sympathetic to the subject matter.