38 Years ago today, Blue Öyster Cult
released their hugely influential song “(Don't Fear) The Reaper”.
It was written by lead guitarist Buck Dharma who also sang lead
vocals on the track.
Some still believe it's about suicide
but it's actually simply about not fearing death. Dharma explained in
a 1995 interview with College Music Journal: "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."
