Thanks to Jim Adams, for hosting Song Lyric Sunday. Rules and future themes are at Jim’s site. Check out some of the upcoming themes, you might have a perfect song to share with us.
The theme this week is – Danger, Fear, Horror, Nightmare, Terror
I’m going with the first song that popped into my head this time. I figure that other people will use the same song, but it’s one of my favorites and none of the other songs I thought of felt right. Or, like Metallica’s Enter Sandman don’t actually have any of the prompt words, though they fit the theme.
The song I’ve chosen is (Don’t Fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult. It was written and sung by their lead guitarist Donald Roeser, aka “Buck Dharma” and is from their fourth album Agents Of Fortune, released in 1976.
According to Songfacts, BÖC, along with Black Sabbath was one of the first “Heavy Metal” bands, and one of the first to use the “Heavy Metal umlaut”. They released their first album in 1972 and built up a small following, but didn’t achieve mainstream success until The Reaper, which reached #12 on the charts.
The name “Blue Öyster Cult” comes from the poetry of band manager Sandy Pearlman. In Pearlman’s writing, the Blue Oyster Cult was a group of aliens secretly guiding Earth’s history. Pearlman claimed that the name came to him when he saw Blue Point oysters on a menu.
Buck Dharma described this as “a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners.” He was taken aback when he learned that many listeners heard it as a song encouraging suicide; it advocates courage in the face of death but in no way suggests we should actively bring it about. He used Romeo and Juliet as an example of lovers who believed their love would last beyond this lifetime.
I have a very clear memory from my teens of hearing this song on the radio while I was in my room reading. It was a late Spring day and there was a breeze coming through my open window. It was one of those perfect kind of days, and a perfect kind of moment. It’s a great song anyway, but that memory makes me love it more.
All our times have come
Here but now they’re gone
Seasons don’t fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain
We can be like they are
Come on, baby (don’t fear the reaper)
Baby, take my hand (don’t fear the reaper)
We’ll be able to fly (don’t fear the reaper)
Baby, I’m your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Valentine is done
Here but now they’re gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity (Romeo and Juliet)
40, 000 men and women everyday (like Romeo and Juliet)
40, 000 men and women everyday (redefine happiness)
Another 40, 000 coming everyday (we can be like they are)
Come on, baby (don’t fear the reaper)
Baby, take my hand (don’t fear the reaper)
We’ll be able to fly (don’t fear the reaper)
Baby, I’m your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Love of two is one
Here but now they’re gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn’t go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew and then disappeared
The curtains flew and then he appeared
Saying don’t be afraid
Come on, baby (and she had no fear)
And she ran to him (then they started to fly)
They looked backward and said goodbye (she had become like they are)
She had taken his hand (she had become like they are)
Come on, baby (don’t fear the reaper)
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Do you have any memories associated with this song? Did you think the Romeo and Juliet reference was about a suicide pact? What song would you choose for this theme? Let me know in comments, or create a post of your own and join the #SLS fun.
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HUGS!!
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King Ben's Grandma 
Hugs back at you. How are you?
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Hey Sadje💕
Not much new here. Ben is still having sleep issues, we’re all still healthy and well, just getting through each day. The usual Casa Cuckoo stuff.
How are you and your family? Is all the stuff in Afghanistan affecting you guys at all? Is Delta causing problems in your city?
🌻🤗🥰🌺
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I’m glad that you’re doing well. But probably not getting much sleep.
Afghanistan is going through a bad situation once again. We already have millions of Afghans living here and I hope there are no displaced refugees this time around. The way taliban have gained control of the country in weeks is very worrying and smells fishy. The delta is striking close to home as my daughter’s mother in law just got diagnosed with covid. She is vaccinated and not that sick but since my daughter and her family lived in the same house, it’s worrying. Thanks for asking my friend. Take care.
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Oh no… I hope your grandchildren don’t get sick!
It will be good when younger children can be better protected with vaccination.
I’ll keep them in my thoughts💕🤗🥰
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Thanks Angie! I am praying that they all keep safe. All the adults are vaccinated but none of the kids.
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Along with many other early metal classics, Don’t Fear the Reaper is a song that seems like it’s always been here. It’s just part of the musical background of life. Possibly not a fair assessment. Later, when I put in my hearing aids for the day, I’ll give it a good listen and reconsider that position. Maybe it’s a gem that’s been sitting right in front of me all these years.
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I don’t think it’s a masterpiece, but it’s a good, catchy tune, and I think it’s just as good today as it was 40 or so years ago when I heard it on the radio that “perfect” day.
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I didn’t know any of that backstory. I love the part about the aliens 👽☺️ Great song and band! Hugs 🤗💕🎶✨
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I didn’t know any of it either. I usually learn something about each song I choose, it’s fun🥳
I just figured it was another random weird band name.
I might need to listen to some of their other stuff… I guess some of their songs lyrics were kinda outrageous, and they never listed their lyrics on the their records. Left it up to fans to hear whatever they heard🤷🏼♀️
Another fun fact… the guitarist/singer of this song is 5’2″ tall… the tallest member was only 5’6″. I’m gonna think of them as Hobbits😂 and I’m sure I was reading LOTR when I made that “perfect” memory 🤣🤣🤣
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I like this song too. I never really thought too much about the lyrics and to be honest, didn’t know them all. I guess my biggest association with the song is from SNL. “More cowbell!” 🙂
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Yes, more cowbell🤣🤣🤣
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This is one of the songs that I can clearly identify after hearing only the first three notes. Thanks for the great write-up on Don’t Fear the Reaper Angie.
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I usually try to use a song that may be new to people, but none of my other choices felt right. I think most people who listen to rock know this song, and like it.🎶💃🏼
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It was very enjoyable and I can clearly identify with this.
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Sorry to be a copycat. I picked this song too.
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You’re not a copycat, you just have good taste in music😉🥰
I thought a few people might choose this song. It’s a classic!🎶💃🏼
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ha! I like that and agree that you do too 🙂
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Haven’t heard this in a long time, so thanks for sharing! ☺️💕
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I’m glad you enjoyed it!🎶💃🏼🥳
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Sure did! ☺️🌺
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Oh wow!! How appropriate! Great choice! 🙂
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Thanks💃🏼🎶
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I love this song. One if the first records I got hold of. Managed to see them once, hopefully twice with Deep Purple next year. I always just see the car scene in Halloween when I hear the song. I remember Al Stewart telling a story when I saw him live. He always wanted to write a great guitar riff. He finally came up with one seemingly from nowhere. He loved it until this BOC song came on the radio and he realised where the guitar riff had actually come from……❤️❤️❤️
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You have memories with this song too. Yay!!
Deep Purple I’ve seen, never saw BÖC🤷🏼♀️
Hella Mega is on the 29th and I can’t wait!!🎶💃🏼🥳
💌💌💌💌💌
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If I was to pick a song in this category, I’d pick Possum Kingdom by the Toadies. It’s catchy, until you read the lyrics — and then it becomes creepy. Or maybe I’ve just watched too many crime shows. Hope you’re doing well and still enjoying sunsets!
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I love that song. And you’re right, it IS creepy… the “so help me Jesus” really drives the creep factor up!
Ben is on his Summer Break which is thankfully only 3 weeks, but his sleep issues are worse, so when he doesn’t sleep at all, some days feel like they’re 3 weeks long🤪
Sunsets are still being paparazzi’d mercilessly😉 And the Parrots are occasional visitors to the neighborhood so that’s a happy thing.
I hope your family is having a good summer!
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Omg 😂👏👏. I love this song! Good choice!
And I simply cannot hear it these days without the SNL skit “gotta have more cowbell” popping into my head, but I think that’s true for most lol 😂
How’ve you been, mi hermana cosmica? 💓🏆💜😎🎉🤗💖💌
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