(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).