Blue Öyster Cult have been described as heavy metal, light metal, psychedelic rock, occult rock, acid rock, and progressive rock. They have also been recognized for helping pioneer genres such as stoner metal and speed metal.
The band is influenced by artists such as Alice Cooper, Grateful Dead, The Doors, Jefferson Airplane, MC5, The Blues Project, Jimi Hendrix, and Black Sabbath.
While Blue Öyster Cult has been noted for heavy rock, they would often add their own tongue-in-cheek style. Keeping with their image, the band would often include out-of-context fragments of Pearlman’s The Soft Doctrines of Imaginos into their lyrics, giving their songs cryptic meanings. Additionally, the band would keep a folder of Meltzer’s and Pearlman’s word associations to insert into their music.
Blue Öyster Cult's longest-lasting and most commercially successful lineup included Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser (lead guitar, vocals), Eric Bloom (lead vocals, "stun guitar," keyboards, synthesizers), Allen Lanier (keyboards, rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Joe Bouchard (bass, backing vocals), Albert Bouchard (drums, percussion, backing vocals). The band's current lineup includes Roeser and Bloom, as well as Danny Miranda (bass, backing vocals), Jules Radino (drums, percussion) and Richie Castellano (keyboard, rhythm guitar, backing vocals).
Cities on Flame
Blue Öyster Cult Lyrics
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Cities on flame with rock and roll
Three thousand guitars they seem to cry
My ears will melt, and then my eyes
Oh, let the girl, let that girl, rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
Reins of steel, and it's alright
Cities on flame, with rock and roll
Marshal will buoy, but Fender control
So, let the girl, let that girl rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
My heart is black, and my lips are cold
Cities on flame with rock and roll
Three thousand guitars they seem to cry
My ears will melt, and then my eyes
So, let the girl, let that girl rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
The lyrics to Blue Öyster Cult's song "Cities on Flame" can be interpreted in a few ways. First, the opening lines, "My heart is black, and my lips are cold, Cities on flame with rock and roll" suggest that the singer is hardened and unfeeling, but energized by the power of rock and roll music. The three thousand guitars that "seem to cry" represent a powerful force that the singer is eager to experience, even if it may be dangerous.
The next verse, "Gardens of nocturne, forbidden delights, Reins of steel, and it's alright," suggests that the power of rock and roll is intertwined with darker, more mysterious elements. The "gardens of nocturne" may represent a kind of underground, subversive culture associated with rock music. The "reins of steel" may be a metaphor for the power and control that rock music gives the singer.
The final verse repeats the opening lines, suggesting that the singer's heart is still black and cold, but the power of music continues to move them. The repeated refrain to "let that girl rock and roll" may be interpreted as a call to empower women in the music world, as rock music has often been male-dominated. Overall, the lyrics celebrate the powerful, transformative force of rock music and its ability to connect people across boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart is black, and my lips are cold
I am filled with darkness and apathy
Cities on flame with rock and roll
The electrifying energy of rock and roll fills the cities
Three thousand guitars they seem to cry
The sound of guitars is so powerful it seems to evoke an emotional response
My ears will melt, and then my eyes
The music is so intense it physically affects the listener
Oh, let the girl, let that girl, rock and roll
Give the girl a chance to express herself through rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
The cities are alive with the energy of rock and roll
Gardens of nocturne, forbidden delights
The artistic and creative ideas that blossom in the darkness are often considered taboo or forbidden
Reins of steel, and it's alright
The power and control of the music is accepted and embraced
Marshal will buoy, but Fender control
Traditional authority may attempt to suppress the music, but the power and influence of instruments like the Fender guitar cannot be denied
My heart is black, and my lips are cold
I remain indifferent and detached
So, let the girl, let that girl rock and roll
Encourage and support female expression through rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
The energy and intensity of the music has transformed the cities
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Samuel Pearlman, Donald Roeser, Albert Bouchard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
My heart is black, and my lips are cold
Cities on flame with rock and roll
Three thousand guitars they seem to cry
My ears will melt, and then my eyes
Oh, let the girl, let that girl, rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
Gardens of nocturne, forbidden delights
Reins of steel, and it's alright
Cities on flame, with rock and roll
Marshal will buoy, but Fender control
Let the girl, let that girl rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
My heart is black, and my lips are cold
Cities on flame with rock and roll
Three thousand guitars they seem to cry
My ears will melt, and then my eyes
Let the girl, let that girl rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
Submit Corrections
@michaelmyers8596
Blue Oyster Cult - Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll (1971)
My heart is black, and my lips are cold
Cities on flame, with rock and roll
Three thousand guitars, they seem to cry
My ears will melt, and then my eyes
Oh let that girl, let that girl rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
Gardens of nocturne, forbidden delights
Reins of steel, and it’s all right
Cities on flame, with rock and roll
Marshall will buoy, but Fender control
Oh, let the girl, let that girl rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
My heart is black, and my lips are cold
Cities on flame, with rock and roll
Three thousand guitars, they seem to cry
My ears will melt, and then my eyes
Oh, let the girl, let that rock and roll
Cities on flame now, with rock and roll
@kakarrot62
"3000 guitars, they seem to cry. my ears will melt and then my eyes" Poetry. sheer poetry! I love it!!!
@cv507
cympäell süstäh v?v
aquelänk ^?^
@chrisdamon5367
This song just kills every time. "Cities On Flame..." should be played hourly on every radio station on Earth. This jam is just crucial rock 'n' roll!
@officialdandaman
🗣️ at least once a week.
@arthurwild5734
I agree!!!
@harlanclayton1761
I concur...☠️💪😎♥️
@deborahthomas1313
Absolutely
@Ariovistus1
Abolutely! All Cities should Be On Flame with BOC! \m/ \m/
@earlgosselin5023
A versatile band! As heavy metal as Iron Maiden, dark and ominous as Black Sabbath, as progressive as Pink Floyd, as smart as Rush and as pop as any top 40 band!
@stevenwilkinson1265
As poetic as The Doors with the harmony of The Beach Boys .... there's more but it's late already ...