Don't Fear the Reaper - Blue Oyster Cult

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[Michael Scott]

This song, to me, isn't about suicide at all. Though it certainly can allude to it, I feel it's about the idea of not fearing death. Living each day to its full capacity. Living life to its fullest. We're all going to die at some point, so why be afraid of what is inevitable? Live life to its fullest, for when the Reaper comes knocking, you can be happy with how you lived your life.

That's the meaning of this song to me.

[Kohntarkosz]

Really? Do we actually KNOW anyone killed themselves because of this song? Did anyone commit murder after hearing Marty Robins' El Paso back in 1959? And for what it's worth, there's nothing in this song actually telling anyone to commit suicide. It's about not fearing death. A songwriter can't help it if somebody misinterprets his or her work.

[wenaolong]

And, generally speaking, suicide is no answer to any of the typical torments, nor is "finding compensations" in the world (as those only lead to more of the same, or other and varied torments). The only solution is a solution for True Beings (no one else finds themselves in this position, but "go the way of the world"), and that is to awaken to the Truth, deactivate the bodily emotions and their complexes, master the instincts and sublimate them and minimize all attachments, and meditate.

[wenaolong]

It could be much worse, but the thrills that come with these pains are no fair compensation, a True Spirit KNOWS this, and expect not to be believed by anyone. Therefore it knows that there is never any TRUE compensation for suffering. It also knows that there is a True Glory for which there is no comparison in the "thrills" of this bodily existence. It is exactly those torments and maelstroms of "false yin and false yang" (as Laozi put it) that we avoid so as to purify ourselves in meditation

[Nativeblkft]

NEEDS MORE COWBELL!!!

[goldfingerrrrr]

Could be worse. Could be married to evil. Even more worse, to be stuck in divorce court for eternity fighting evil over custody for demon offspring. Those taking their own lives took the easy way out. It's not honorable and you miss all the thrills and pains of being alive.

[MisterMojoSinkin]

When Buck goes to Heaven, the Man Upstairs is going to ask Jimi to sit out a set or two so He can dig THIS.

[John Lewis]

"40,000 men and women everyday"

[wenaolong]

The song is about being seduced by evil.

[wenaolong]

It needs more cowbell. Where's the COWBELL!?

[Benjamin Davies]

whats all this cowbell nonsense? just enjoy it in its raw form, you crazy crackers.

[Benjamin Davies]

does anybody know about this song being quoted in the opening chapter of Stephen Kings masterwork, 'The Stand'?. i just wondered if anybody out there was a big fan of S.K. like i am, and could appreciate the relevance of the quote to the character of Nadine, which i found hauntingly appropriate? i think that is his magnum opus, as much as i appreciate the dark tower ? just wondered...