13 Great Songs About Death
9. Blue Öyster Cult - (Don't Fear) The Reaper
The national anthem to goths everywhere, BÖC's 1976 classic is the Romeo & Juliet-inspired song written by lead guitarist Buck Dharma for the Agents of Fortune album and has since become synonymous with the band.
Heralded in many a 'Greatest Songs of All Time' list, the song's iconic guitar riff and liberal use of cowbell have since been covered by the likes of HIM, The Goo Goo Dolls, Snuff, Pierce the Veil and The Beautiful South. Mixed bag then.
Often misinterpreted as a song glorifying suicide, Dharma's lyrics actually describe the inevitability of death and how we should not fear it. Eternal optimist Dharma envisioned himself dying at an early age and pondered if he would see his loved ones again. The guitarist has also added "it's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners".
Going on to inspire the 1978 Stephen King novel The Stand, the song asks a lot of its listener, saying not to fear a typically hooded skeleton with a giant dagger stick that will bring upon your doom. Instead, think of the love in your life that will transcend this mortal realm into whatever comes next.
Easier said than done.