SPOOKYSONGS

(Don’t Fear) the Reaper – Blue Oyster Cult

Yep, the “More Cowbell” song.

I flip-flop between considering this a Halloween song. It’s extremely over-played on classic rock channels, it’s part of a arguably the most popular SNL sketch of all time, and it’s just been beaten to death.

However, there’s no arguing with the content. It’s literally about the Grim Reaper coming to kill us all and there’s nothing we can do about it. Guitarist Buck Dharma wrote the song while worrying about dying early, eventually realizing everyone’s gotta go at some point.

Go with a smile!

The song starts off telling us that nature doesn’t care about dying, it’s part of the cycle. There’s some lyrics about Romeo and Juliet, but then the kicker – the haunting background responses –

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)

That’s where the song takes a dark turn. “We could be like they are.” Is this about some sort of suicide pact? Dharma claims it isn’t, but the final verse makes it even weirder

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

This can be taken in two ways – is the “he” the main character, coming to die together with the girl? Or is it the Reaper himself, saying “time’s up”? Weird how a song you’ve heard a thousand times is about a double suicide.

It’s also interesting to note that he thinks 40,000 die per day? Turns out it’s almost 140,000, if not more. The Reaper is busy.

The middle part kicks butt too.

So, yeah, this song was immortalized in the SNL Cowbell sketch. What’s funny is the cowbell was added after the song was recorded. Due to the fame of that sketch, almost everyone in the band (and the producer) has taken credit for the idea.

The song was used to awesome effect in the 1995 Stephen King “The Stand” miniseries, over the opening credits, showing how everyone is dead.

The song got to number 12 on the US charts, Also interesting is the B-side to the single was “Tattoo Vampire”.

They also have a spooky song explicitly about Nosferatu called “Nosferatu”

And, of course, Godzilla. Does Blue Oyster Cult know how to party or what? This video is live footage featuring a fire-breathing Godzilla!!!

And, one more for the 00’s kids: Apollo 440 covered the song, so you can dance while you wait for death to arrive, like nurses during the early COVID days.