mornin' researchers,

this is a phrase used in a lot of old blues songs which has come to
mean "being in trouble" or "done wrong by your man/woman."  most
internet references concern poor blacks who migrated north to work in
Chicago's slaughterhouses in/after World War I.

also there are many books and a film or two with "Killing Floor" in
the title so the phrase gives the imagination a very powerful, albeit
rough, tongue bath.

I'd like to see any other explanations/discussions -exclusive- of
what's here.  metaphorical, less concrete, and the older the better --
the Dante reference which refers to an "absence of love" was
excellent.
http://members.tripod.com/~blueslyrics/blueslanguage.htm#killing_floor
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/26/messages/769.html

somehow the phrase reminded me of VM's "The Burning Ground" but it
might be totally unrelated; however, this is more of the underlying
subtext I'm after.
http://www.harbour.sfu.ca/~hayward/van/glossary/burningground.html

free associating, I've used "killing fields," "killing ground" and
"killing room" but getting mostly hits about Cambodia, war atrocities,
Tyson's chickens, and serial killers.

I've researched this a while but it's time to drag in more head power.
hopefully someone will be interested in what's been caught in
granny's netbrain today and can tell me of a new research hole.

thanks for reading/looking/wondering with me,
GB