BLUE ÖYSTER CULT - (DON'T FEAR) THE REAPER

(DON'T FEAR) THE REAPER

BLUE ÖYSTER CULT

SONGWRITER: DONALD “BUCK DHARMA” ROESER

COUNTRY: USA

ÁLBUM: AGENTE OF FORTUNE

LABEL: COLUMBIA

GENRE: HARD ROCK

YEAR: 1976

Blue Öyster Cult(often abbreviated BÖC or BOC) is an American rock band formed on Long Island, New York in 1967, perhaps best known for the singles "(Don't Fear) The Reaper", "Burnin' for You", "Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll", and "Godzilla." Blue Öyster Cult has sold more than 24 million records worldwide, including 7 million in the United States alone. The band's music videos, especially "Burnin' for You," received heavy rotation on MTV when the music television network premiered in 1981, cementing the band's contribution to the development and success of the music video in modern popular culture.

Blue Öyster Cult's longest-lasting and most commercially successful lineup included Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (lead guitar, vocals), Eric Bloom (lead vocals, "stun guitar," keyboards, synthesizers), Allen Lanier(keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Joe Bouchard(bass, vocals), Albert Bouchard (drums, percussion, vocals). The band's current lineup includes Roeser and Bloom, as well as Danny Miranda (bass, backing vocals), Jules Radino (drums, percussion) and Richie Castellano(keyboard, rhythm guitar, backing vocals).

"(Don't Fear) The Reaper" is a song by American rock band Blue Öyster Cult from the band's 1976 album Agents of Fortune. The song, written and sung by lead guitarist Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser, deals with eternal love and the inevitability of death. Dharma wrote the song while picturing an early death for himself.

Released as an edited single (omitting the slow building interlude in the original), the song was Blue Öyster Cult's highest chart success, reaching #7 in Cash Box and #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in late 1976. Critical reception was mainly positive, and in 2004, "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" was listed at number 405 on the Rolling Stone list of the top 500 songs of all time.

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

And 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 la la

Valentine is done

Here but now they're gone

Romeo and Juliet

Are together in eternity (Romeo and Juliet)

Forty thousand men and women everyday (like Romeo and Juliet)

Forty thousand men and women everyday (redefine happiness)

Another forty thousand comin' everyday (and 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 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).