Don't Fear The Reaper!!

There are a lot of songs out there that can be misconstrued when talking about such things as death and suicide.  Don't Fear The Reaper is one of those songs.  The song is actually about the eternal power of love and learning to accept death.

Don't Fear The Reaper was written by Donald Roeser, the lead guitarist of Blue Oyster Cult, also known as Buck Dharma.

Buck Dharma explained the meaning of the song in a 1995 interview with College Music Journal(1). Here is an excerpt from the article:  "I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something, that was not my intention at all.  It is, like, not to be afraid of it (as opposed to actively bring it about).  It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners."

Some cool facts about the song:

*  Don't Fear The Reaper is one of several songs quoted in Stephen King's novel, The Stand, published in 1978.

*  Stephen King's miniseries, The Stand, first broadcast in 1994, featured the song during the opening credits. 

*  On April 8, 2000, Saturday Night Live performed a spoof that fictionalized the recording of the song starring Christopher Walken and Will Ferrell, along with a few other cast members.  This is where the well-known cowbell catchphrase was born!  "Guess what?!  I got a fever, and the only prescription is more cowbell!!" ~Christopher Walken's character

*  Rolling Stone Magazine released the list "500 Greatest Songs Of All Time" in November 2004. Don't Fear The Reaper was listed at number 405.

Now that you know what the meaning of the song truly is, read through the lyrics below.   The song is absolutely  amazing.  And for me, the song has always been a little higher than number 405 on my list of 500!

Blue Oyster Cult ~ Don't Fear The Reaper ~ Agents of Fortune (1976)

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 ...

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 ...

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

Source(s):

1 Buck Dharma's November 6, 1995 Interview by James Lien, College Music Journal.