BOC: DFTR Part #2...

[Douglas A Mitchell]

And here is the final word:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Guess I gotta jump in here,

'Reaper' is specifically about two concepts:

1) A powerful enough romantic LOVE can transcend physical death
    and endure in the hereafter.
2) Death is inevitable whenever it happens to us, and we should
    know that and face it without fearing it, having some confidence
    in the universality of the human spirit, but having no proof until
    we actually die.

I wrote this tune at a time in my life when I was thinking about dying
early (in my twenties.) So I'm thinkin', (First Verse) 'I'm dead', now
what? So I sing this song to my Love (kiss for Sandy here) sayin'
'looks like it's all over for us, but I'm on the other side now, and
that's not the only way it can be'. Turns out that if the love is
strong enough, spiritual things are possible that wouldn't make
it to CNN or the Congressional Record. There _is_ a way to be
reunited on another plane of consciousness.

(We can be like they are) could be my fave line in the tune.
Implies that there are entities that are doin' stuff WAY different
than you and me here on earth, Rusty.

(Second Verse) the one that's caused all the trouble all these years:
Valentine as metaphor for mortal love/stuff, done now. Romeo and
Juliet I used as an _example_ of a couple who had the faith to take
their love elsewhere when (in their case) they weren't permitted the
freedom to love here and now. What I meant was, THEY'RE in
eternity, 'cause they had the Faith to believe in the possibility.

It frankly never occured to me that the suicide aspect of their story
 would be plugged in (like images in a rock video?) to people's take
on 'Reaper' making it an advert for suicide. The forty thousand number
was pulled from the air as a guess about how many people died
every day world wide, not how many people committed suicide.

(Third Verse) The idea here is that a critical mass of emotional
and mental intensity is necessary to create this event. What if
the remaining partner just can't stand being alone? What if by
dint of sheer will lovers can reunite again after death? In my
vision, the 'permission' of the event has to come from the 'other'
side, the afterlife. The event transpires when there is enough
faith and belief to make it happen. Not really so different than
any other afterlife belief system.

It never bothered me that 'Reaper' was embraced as a horror
icon ('Halloween' and 'The Stand') or allegedly enjoyed by Gary
Gilmore ('Executioner's Song'). It WOULD bother me to know
'Reaper' gave someone an excuse to commit suicide. I never
have come anywhere close to REALLY wanting to commit
suicide. I'm gonna live until I die. On the other hand when I go,
I don't want 'Amazing Grace' as the musical centerpiece at my
funeral. I want 'Don't Fear The Reaper'.

Buck Dharma

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That about sums it up... =)

"The Snowman"           _?_     Tuned in to life's essentials...
Douglas A. Mitchell        I         Skiing, Backpacking, & the
                                                mighty Blue Oyster Cult!
Home:  dwnthemtn at aol.com
Office:  dmitch at microscan.com         WE UNDERSTAND...

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"They're OK the last days of May, but I'll be breathin' dry air,
I'm leaving soon, the others are already there...Wouldn't be
interested in coming along, instead of staying here?  It said
the West is nice this time of year, that's what they say."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
                                       --- Donald 'Buck Dharma' Roeser