# "Don't Fear the Reaper" - ?! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 18, 2004, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732 "2004-05-18T08:08:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/1 "2004-05-18T08:08:00Z")
Okay, is the guy counselling the girl to commit suicide, suggesting a pact or just saying goodbye to someone who’s already dying? I’ve been at the Blue Oyster Cult website and they ain’t telling. Nothing else out there either, at least not on my search. Anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/2 "2004-05-18T08:10:41Z")
The song’s just an excuse for one _killer_ cowbell solo. ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/3 "2004-05-18T08:13:15Z")
I always thought the song was saying that dying isn’t that big of a deal because “40 thousand men and women everyday” are doing it. It is a fact of life so why not embrace it when it comes. BTW: I did a ska version of that song. heh heh. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/4 "2004-05-18T08:19:41Z")
“It’s a pussy song” “If it’s B.O.C., how could it be pussy?” “Look, every band puts out at least one pussy song so they can find out who the faggots are!” A big high five to whoever knows where _that_ is from. ---
**Author:** ![Necro\_Romancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/50afbb/32.png) [@Necro\_Romancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necro_Romancer)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/5 "2004-05-18T09:51:43Z")
My tape! This machine just scarfed my tape! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/6 "2004-05-18T10:38:51Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > “It’s a pussy song” > > “If it’s B.O.C., how could it be pussy?” > > “Look, every band puts out at least one pussy song so they can find out who the faggots are!” > > A big high five to whoever knows where _that_ is from. Is that from “South Park”? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/7 "2004-05-18T11:01:54Z")
> [@Necro Romancer](#): > > My tape! This machine just scarfed my tape! “So? Put in another one!” [Joe puts in _Don’t Fear the Reaper_] [Utterly disgusted look on Hubbs’ face] “What the fuck is that?!?” 😃 > [@](#): > > Is that from “South Park”? No, it’s from the greatest movie ever made, The Stoned Age. ORRRR!!! ---
**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:** [May 18, 2004, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/8 "2004-05-18T11:43:01Z")
> [@zoogirl](#): > > Okay, is the guy counselling the girl to commit suicide, suggesting a pact or just saying goodbye to someone who’s already dying? > > I’ve been at the Blue Oyster Cult website and they ain’t telling. Nothing else out there either, at least not on my search. > > Anyone know? I can’t locate the site (which featured an interview with Buck Dharma), but I read recently where the song is about accepting death as a part of life. The “40,000” number was pulled out of the air and means nothing. It’s definitely NOT about suicide. I will try and find the site. ---
**Author:** ![thwartme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@thwartme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thwartme)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/9 "2004-05-18T12:49:02Z")
Just MHO, but I always thought she was already dying, and he was saying that she shouldn’t be too afraid. thwartme ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/10 "2004-05-18T13:33:41Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > “So? Put in another one!” > > [Joe puts in _Don’t Fear the Reaper_] > > [Utterly disgusted look on Hubbs’ face] > > “What the fuck is that?!?” “Bring back Talls!” ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/11 "2004-05-18T14:17:22Z")
**Silentgoldfish** it has a killer cowbell solo? Actually, I thought it could have used _ **more cowbell** _. I think “Don’t Fear The Reaper” will forever be linked with that sketch. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/12 "2004-05-18T14:48:40Z")
He needs to explore the space with the cowbell! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/13 "2004-05-18T14:51:13Z")
I’ve got a fevah, and the only prescription is _more cowbell_! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/14 "2004-05-18T14:51:55Z")
I **love** the cowbell! I **need** more cowbell! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/15 "2004-05-18T15:20:36Z")
For all of you that need the cowbell, this Saturday (May 22) SNL is showing “[The Best of Christopher Walken](http://www.snlonline.tv/schedule.htm).” ---
**Author:** ![NicePete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee7513/32.png) [@NicePete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NicePete)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/16 "2004-05-18T18:42:12Z")
> [@Mr. Miskatonic](#): > > “Bring back Talls!” We’ve got the Schnappster. **Ding** ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/17 "2004-05-18T18:59:32Z")
Darkling I listen; and, for many a time I have been half in love with easeful Death, Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme, To take into the air my quiet breath; Now more than ever seems it rich to die, To cease upon the midnight with no pain. ---
**Author:** ![zoogirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b9bd4f/32.png) [@zoogirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoogirl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/18 "2004-05-18T19:20:35Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > Darkling I listen; and, for many a time > I have been half in love with easeful Death, > Call’d him soft names in many a mused rhyme, > To take into the air my quiet breath; > Now more than ever seems it rich to die, > To cease upon the midnight with no pain. Good one, **Eve**. Don’t even get me started on death poetry, let alone other death songs - I’ve written enough myself! Oddly enough, I was listening to top 40 all the time when DFTR came out and for some reason I totally missed the lyrics. I was a pretty morbid little thing as a teen too. I’d have loved it! Now all of a sudden I’ve connected to the thing courtesy of our local Classic Rock station. It’s my new favorite song. (Okay, I’ve gotten really attached to "_Hello Hooray"_ too, but that doesn’t count since it’s Alice and I gotta love it anyway! 😉 ) I still think it’s a suicide song. He’s saying they could be together forever like Romeo and Juliet. They’d be able to fly if she’d just take his hand and follow him. It sure seems like he wants her to walk into eternity with him. I mostly wondered if we had any rabid BOC fans who might know the (ahem) Straight Dope. ---
**Author:** ![LorieSmurf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a587f6/32.png) [@LorieSmurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LorieSmurf)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/19 "2004-05-19T03:35:17Z")
I took care of a 16 year old boy who had leukemia. He was rather odd, but a cool kinda odd. Anyway, at his funeral (at a church), that was one of the songs that played :eek: I asked his mom afterwards “I bet that was his idea wasn’t it?” She said, “yeah, he always said he wanted it to be played at his funeral, so I had to do it!” ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-fear-the-reaper/245732/20 "2004-05-19T04:03:02Z")
I had half-assumed that the singer/narrator _was_ the reaper; singing to a girl who was about to die to reconcile her to her fate, make her less fearful as he escorted her from her mortal life.