This article, dedicated to perhaps the most famous song of the Blue Oyster Cult group, has an unusual structure for Blimey. Its main part consists of quotes from musicians, producers and other people who were directly or indirectly involved in the creation of the track.
To trace the story of (Don’t Fear) The Reaper (“(Don’t be afraid) of the reaper”), as well as to understand its true meaning, we will be helped by excerpts from an interview that the participants in the recording of the composition gave to the popular publication Uncut in 2010. So what did they say in that memorable conversation.
Don’t Fear The Reaper Song History
The composition was composed by Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser.
Buck Dharma:
Much of my strongest material was written somewhat mechanically. I came up with the guitar part and the first two lines of lyrics in about two minutes.
Albert Bouchard:
I first heard it in May 1975. Donald called me and said, “I have this new riff,” and then played it to me on the phone. Two weeks later we were on tour and Donald played the demo for me. I reacted something like this: “Never mind! Awesome! Sounds like a future hit.” Not all members of the group immediately liked her. Some thought she was really weak.
Eric Bloom:
I remember listening to Don’s demo and thinking it was a good song, but it really wasn’t like anything we’d done before.
Sandy Perlman:
I thought she was more than amazing. They didn’t often write on their own before. Reaper was a watershed moment in the development of our songwriting. It certainly coincided with their introduction of multi-channel home tape recorders.”
Then you can listen to Don’t Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult online.
Song recording history
The band recorded the song at The Record Plant.
Eric Bloom:
Quadruple channels gave everyone the opportunity to write on their own. Don has always been a good engineer and his homemade demos have always sounded more artful than the others. Even though we always wrote together before, everyone always brought their own ideas and tried to impose them on everyone. Don brought Reaper essentially complete.
Albert Bouchard:
Donald didn’t really ask for help at all. I offered him a couple of ideas, but he didn’t use them at all.
David Lucas:
Back then, Reaper was a bit long, so I made a couple of editing suggestions to make it shorter. We shortened it and went to the Record Plant.
Joe Bouchard:
We chose the Record Plant because John Lennon used to work there. Everyone worked there: Hendrix, Aerosmith, Gregg Allman, but it was the spirit of Lennon that attracted us. While we were recording, we would go out into the living room and watch The Exorcist on Lennon’s VCR he left there. I think it affected Reaper.
Sandy Perlman:
Reaper benefited from an incredible infusion of new recording technology into Record Plant, which was one of the top three, four or five of the best and most advanced recording studios in the world. We got access to all sorts of sound manipulations that were not available to us even a couple of years before.
Albert Bouchard:
When Sandy Perlman heard it, he said, “That sounds like The Byrds.” And I’m like what? It doesn’t fucking sound like The Byrds!
What is Don’t Fear the Reaper about?
Many music lovers, having heard the song, decided that it was about suicide. However, this is not at all surprising, given the mention in the text of Shakespeare’s famous heroes who took their own lives because of tragic love. In fact, the composition is not dedicated to suicide.
Buck Dharma:
I once heard that the whole song, including the arrangement, was a dream to me. This is a great story. Of course, the arc of this story has always been in my head. I thought about the inevitability of death and thought: “Listen, wouldn’t it be great if your love survived even after your death.” I had abnormalities in the work of the heart, and I was very worried about this. It turned out that this was not life threatening, but, of course, it made me think about my own mortality. I think one of the appealing things about Reaper is that it resonates with people. They think about it. About death.
Joe Bouchard:
We didn’t know that Donald had heart problems, so we knew what inspired him. Of course, we all got older. I just thought that was what influenced him. For years, he vaguely explained the song, saying, “It’s just another stupid love song.”
Buck Dharma:
I was somewhat shocked that some people thought it was about suicide. If I had guessed that they would think of her that way, I would have changed part of the text. Perhaps I would have removed the reference to Romeo and Juliet, but it was too good a metaphor.
Buck Dharma:
Reaper claims that there is life after death, and you can change your mind. From time to time reality can be torn apart and you can actually move around within these different areas. When I wrote it, I hoped it was the afterlife. And now? I admit that there can be nothing else. But I really want to be surprised.
Song Achievements
The composition was released as the first single from the album Agents of Fortune (1976). It peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.
You can now watch the live video clip of Don’t Fear the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult online.
What role did she play in the band’s history? We learn the opinion of the team members and producers:
David Lucas:
I don’t think the Blue Öyster Cult guys were expecting a hit. They just hoped to make a career.
Buck Dharma:
Reaper has changed a lot in the band. He brought some confusion to the identity of the team. After that, the Blue Öyster Cult tipped in a direction that we would otherwise resist as far as our conscious image is concerned. I never thought that we condoned the occult, cruelty or anything like that. We dealt with these themes, much like a writer or director would. We were branded as Nazis or Satanists, like we create labyrinths of the mind with our music, but we did not lead such a lifestyle at all. It was very frustrating because we were basically just middle class guys.
Joe Bouchard:
The main change was that we played in empty halls, and as soon as Reaper came out, tickets for us began to be completely sold out. It literally happened within a week. Such is the power of a hit record.
Buck Dharma:
The song became something like a memorial service for the dead. Those that play or say when someone goes to the next world. And I don’t mind. I want it to be played at my funeral.
Song Achievements
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper has been featured on several authoritative best track lists, including Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, Q’s 1001 Greatest Songs, and Mojo’s Top Singles Ranking.
It has been covered by HIM, Apollo 440, Big Country, Wolf and many other bands working in different genres.
Interesting Facts
- Alpine (cow) bell sounds in the song. David Lucas suggested using it, and Albert Bouchard played the instrument.
- The text of the composition is quoted in Stephen King’s novel “Confrontation”.
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult Lyrics
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
Forty thousand men and women everyday
Like Romeo and Juliet
Forty thousand men and women everyday
Redefine happiness
Another forty thousand 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 then disappeared
The curtains flew 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
(Don’t Fear) The Reaper Lyrics
Our time has come
But it’s already gone
The seasons are not afraid of the reaper
As he is not afraid of the wind, sun or rain …
And we can be like them
Come on baby don’t be afraid of the reaper
Baby take my hand, don’t be afraid of the reaper
We can fly, don’t be afraid of the reaper
Baby I’m your man
Valentine’s end
And they’re gone
Romeo and Juliet,
Together for eternity, Romeo and Juliet
Forty thousand men and women every day
Like Romeo and Juliet
Forty thousand men and women every day
Look at happiness differently
Forty thousand more men and women every day
We can be like them
Come on baby don’t be afraid of the reaper
Baby take my hand, don’t be afraid of the reaper
We can fly, don’t be afraid of the reaper
Baby I’m your man
The love of two is one
But they are no longer
The last night of sorrow has come
And it was clear that she couldn’t live on
Then the door opened and the wind blew
The candles went out and disappeared
Curtains began to flutter when he appeared, calling not to be afraid.
Come on baby and she wasn’t afraid
And she ran to him and then they flew
They looked back and said goodbye
She became like them
She took his hand
She became like them.
Come on baby don’t be afraid of the reaper
Song quote
I don’t know why people take it so personally. This is a song where many secrets can be found. But although I myself think that some of it can be analyzed on an intellectual level, something about it remains ephemeral and otherworldly. There is always another door. Perhaps one day it will be found.
Joe Bouchard
