# Does anyone know what "Don't Fear the Reaper" is ABOUT? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 18, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882 "2000-08-18T18:17:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/1 "2000-08-18T18:17:51Z")
I’m referring to the 70’s hit by Blue Oyster Cult. I LOVE this song. I think it has some of the best bass and drums of any song I’ve ever heard. I particularly like that beat in the background (it sounds like _pock pock pock pock_) I don’t know what the instrument that makes that sound is called, but I know it looks like copper pipe. But my big issue is the lyrics. The phrase “don’t fear the Reaper” is pretty easy to fathom, but what about the rest of it? “40,000 men and women every day”?? What’s that about? Is the whole song about committing suicide, and 40,000 people do that everyday? I’ve heard this song is quoted by Stephen King somewhere. Where? What part? In what context? I’ve helpfully reproduced the lyrics below. (Probably violating a law or two in the process.) **Don’t Fear The Reaper** – by Blue Oyster Cult [redacted by manhattan] 40,000 men and women everyday…Like Romeo and Juliet 40,000 men and women everyday…Redefine happiness Another 40,000 coming every day…We can be like they are 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 [Edited by manhattan on 08-18-2000 at 01:36 PM] ---
**Author:** ![missbunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@missbunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missbunny)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/2 "2000-08-18T18:23:43Z")
Do a Web search. There’s some site out there on which BOC explains the song. From what I recall, the “40,000” is just a number they picked out of a hat. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/3 "2000-08-18T18:31:02Z")
Ah, one of the classics. I like Shooting shark better for both imagery and impenetrability, though. As for what it all means…I think that that is VERY open to interpretation. It was used by Stephen king in both the book and the movie ‘The Stand.’ It plays at the very beginning of the movie as the soundtrack to which the fatal disease is released into the world. K. (a BIG BOC fan) ---
**Author:** ![HelloKitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/4 "2000-08-18T18:38:22Z")
I always thought the song was about a guy singing to a girl about committing suicide with him. “C’mon baby, don’t fear the reaper, baby take my hand, we’ll be able to fly, etc.” You know, like Romeo and Juliet…they both committed suicide, ya know. The 40,000 men and women–it’s probably more than that these days that kill themselves. I don’t like the song because of what it is singing about…too creepy for me. Same thing with that Ozzy song where he sings about suicide with Lita Ford…can’t remember the name of that one. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/5 "2000-08-18T18:39:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > **(Probably violating a law or two in the process.)** Uh, yeah. I’ve been _way_ too lax about this lately. As this site is owned by people who make their money by creating intellectual property, surely you can understand that they would not want to be a party to stealing that property from others. I’ve redacted the lyrics as best I can to conform with the fair use doctrine. Folks, please do not interpret my previous failings in this regard as blanket permission to go reproducing copyrighted material on this website. ---
**Author:** ![TampaFlyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@TampaFlyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TampaFlyer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/6 "2000-08-18T18:40:01Z")
I’m glad someone asked this, because I’ve always wondered what the 40,000 referred to- people dying, falling in love, or what. ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/7 "2000-08-18T18:44:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally sung by HelloKitty \* > \*\*…that Ozzy song where he sings about suicide with Lita Ford…can’t remember the name of that one. \*\* Close My Eyes Forever K. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/8 "2000-08-18T18:49:15Z")
**manhattan** , Sure, pick on _me_! 😛 Well, surely you wouldn’t mind if I provided a url=“[http://showcase.netins.net/web/iowamusic/lyrics/Don’t%20Fear%20The%20Reaper.html](http://showcase.netins.net/web/iowamusic/lyrics/Don't%20Fear%20The%20Reaper.html)”]link to place where the fulllyrics are posted elswhere, would you? ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/9 "2000-08-18T18:50:35Z")
Damn vB code! That link from my last post is [here](http://showcase.netins.net/web/iowamusic/lyrics/Don't%20Fear%20The%20Reaper.html). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/10 "2000-08-18T19:00:14Z")
I thought the lyrics are pretty clear. The song is about suicide pacts among teenage lovers. I’ve always been amazed at the lack of controversy over this song; I can’t think of any other pro-suicide songs that get this kind of airplay. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/11 "2000-08-18T19:05:33Z")
Stephen King, famous for using songs in his work, used _Don’t Fear the Reaper_ at the beginning of _The Stand_. He also used it at the beginning of the movie, so every time I hear it I think of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![ubermensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/bcef8e/32.png) [@ubermensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ubermensch)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/12 "2000-08-18T19:10:55Z")
as anyone who watched christopher walken’s last appearance on SNL could tell you, that DOCK DOCK DOCK sound is a cow bell. “you know what it needs? more cowbell…” ---
**Author:** ![Gravity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gravity/32/14322_2.png) [@Gravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gravity)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/13 "2000-08-18T19:13:01Z")
I’ve sort of always interpreted it as a dead lover tempting his (ex?) girlfriend to suicide. If you read it with that in mind it make sense (IMO.) K. ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2000, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/14 "2000-08-18T22:31:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by techchick68 \* > \*\*Stephen King, famous for using songs in his work, used _Don’t Fear the Reaper_ at the beginning of _The Stand_. > > He also used it at the beginning of the movie, so every time I hear it I think of the movie. \*\* Hmm. Which part did he use in the book? I am quickly getting obsessed with this song. I’ve listened to it about 6 times today. I should be over it soon, but I’ve figured out a few things. The last verse, where it says:“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 curtains flew then he appeared…saying don’t be afraid” I think this is _definitely_ about the Reaper coming for a young girl. But this still leaves the seond verse somewhat open to interpretation. Does anyone know when this song came out originally? Hope manhattan doesn’t jump on me for quoting that… ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/15 "2000-08-19T00:50:00Z")
In my younger days when I would write songs, I found very few people got the same message I was trying to convey. Remember also in the 70s, especially the early 70s, some of the great rock acts, Jimmi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, the dude from the Doors(his name escapes me for the moment), even to a lesser degree Mama Cass, all lived life on the edge. That is what a lot of the harder edge rock of the 70s was about. Don’t fear the reaper was more of an “ERA” thing. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/16 "2000-08-19T01:18:30Z")
I got the fever, baby! And the only cure is MORE cowbell! ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/17 "2000-08-19T01:35:55Z")
Lizard, If I remember correctly, the reference to the song is on the first page of the book. In the movie, they started to play it after the MP and his family left the compound. Later on in the movie, one of the other characters was a singer and his first hit was \*Baby I’m Your Man/i] which incidentally is a line from _Don’t Fear the Reaper_. I assume there is a connection there but I may be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/18 "2000-08-19T04:27:56Z")
“Dude, that’s a pussy song!” “No Way!” “Yeah. Every band does at least one song to weed out the pussies. That’s BOC’s.” …Or something sorta like that. I gotta quit drinking the Schnappster. _(DING)_ ---
**Author:** ![Road\_Rash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a8b319/32.png) [@Road\_Rash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Road_Rash)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/19 "2000-08-19T04:52:45Z")
I remember a radio interview on Redbeard (a weekly syndicated musical tribute with interviews) where they interviewed the one who wrote the song (Buck Dharma?). He was adamant about it not being a siucide song, claiming he was moved by the death of a friend. ---
**Author:** ![Zarathustra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/898d66/32.png) [@Zarathustra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zarathustra)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2000, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882/20 "2000-08-19T07:21:12Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve sort of always interpreted it as a dead lover tempting his (ex?) girlfriend to suicide. I always thought that the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” had a similar theme, though the temptation to suicide is in the singer’s own mind: > [@](#): > > I see a line of cars and they’re all painted black > With flowers and my love, both never to come back . . . > > No more will my green sea go turn a deeper blue > I could not forsee this thing happening to you > If I look hard enough into the setting sun > My love will laugh with me before the morning comes . . . Depressing and disturbing song, especially if you’re currently in love with someone . . . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-anyone-know-what-dont-fear-the-reaper-is-about/29882.md?page=2)