Dont fear the reaper bedeutung

Just think of all the vampire imagery and the woman that falls in love with him. Vampires fly etc. The curtains blow and then the vampire is there the candles go out.

Now go over the song

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,

Don't fear death you will live forever if I bite you We'll be able to fly

Second verse is about the love they will share

The third verse says it all

He Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear that 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

She can't stand it anymore she loves him he appears like every Vampire in Every Vampire story ever told.

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

She can't take it she runs to him, he bites her now she is like they are she is a vampire and they started to fly. She had become like they are. And they started to Fly

‘The reaper’ is a character who in Western culture symbolizes death. Thus the title of this song is based on the idea of the singer telling the audience, succinctly put, not to fear death since, as the first verse poetically illustrates, such is inevitable.

Second Verse

The second verse in particular uses a somewhat unconventional approach in relaying this message. And it does so by highlighting the stories of two other fictional characters, “Romeo and Juliet”. “Romeo and Juliet” is a romantic tragedy in which basically both of these individuals died from suicide. Thus some listeners have logically interpreted the song as being an advocacy of such actions, especially considering that it states “we can be like they are”. However, the idea this is actually intended to point to is a love that transcends the mortal plane.

Third Verse

This becomes a bit more apparent in the third verse. This verse serves as a narrative centered on the singer actually witnessing a loved one (particularly a female) passing away. And the alternative-ending chorus can be understood as she meeting up with her romantic partner in the afterlife. Or as Buck Dharma put it in explaining the meaning of the song, she actually goes back for him. However, to the naked eye it reads more like as if she is embracing death, as in accepting the reaper as her buddy.

Does “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper Promote Death?

At the end of the day, by and large, people still see “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” as a song advocating death. This perception is glued to the song that that in the years since its release, it has been heavily utilized largely by horror franchises. That is to say that if one were to actually study the background of the track, such as Buck Dharma having been diagnosed with a heart condition around the time he penned it, then the fact that it is based on the idea of not being afraid to die becomes a lot more obvious. But if one were to listen to it without such knowledge, it is understandable how they can misconstrue the lyrics as actually promoting the idea of dying.

Buck Dharma’s talks about the meaning of “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper”

According to the song’s writer Buck Dharma, the song’s lyrics are not about suicide. They talk about embracing death. However, in doing so, they do not advise people to intentionally bring death upon themselves or others. Below are Dharma’s exact words:

When did “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” come out?

This song was released on 1 July 1976 as the lead single from Blue Öyster Cult’s album “Agents of Fortune”.

Since its initial release, “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” has also been featured on a number of ‘greatest hits’ albums as well as a few of Blue Öyster Cult’s live projects.

The Band’s Signature Song

This track can be the considered Blue Öyster Cult’s signature song. And why? Because it marked their most-impressive chart showing. It rose to number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 7 on Canada Top Singles and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart. In achieving the latter feat, it served as the band’s only hit ever in the United Kingdom.

The track reappeared on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs in 2017. This was some 40 years after its initial release, this time peaking at number 11.

Rolling Stone also placed “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” amongst the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.  As of its 2011 listing, this track has been placed at number 405.

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” inspired Stephen King

Not too many are aware of this. However, this classic hit was reportedly the inspiration behind Stephen King penning his 1978 novel “The Stand”.

Cowbell

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” famously features a cowbell amongst its variety of instruments. This is something that actors Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken made fun of on an episode of the sketch-comedy program “Saturday Night Live” in 2000.