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).
Dominance and Submission
Blue Öyster Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's been ten years, half my life
Just getting ready but then it was time
War page in the figures, radios appear
Midnight was the barrier, back in 1963
Each night, the covers were unfolded
Each night, It's Susy's turn to ride
Covers on his eyes, murmurs in the background
It will be time
Oh yeah
Susan and her brother, Charles the grinning boy
Put me in the backseat, and they took me for a ride
Yeah, the radio was on, can't you dig the locomotion
Kingdoms of the radio, 45 R-P-M
Too much revolution then
Each night,
Each night, It's Susy's turn to ride
While Charles, the one they call her brother
Covers on his eyes, murmurs in the background
It will be time
It's past midnight said Charles the grinning boy
And looking at me greedily, said it's 1964
In times square now, the people do the polka
Dominance, submission, radios appear
New Year's eve, it was the final barrier
Dominance, submission, radios appear
We took you up and put you in the back seat
Dominance, submission, radios appear
Form year to year we looked out for the venture
Dominance, submission, radios appear
Dominance, submission
The lyrics to Blue Oyster Cult's song Dominance and Submission tell a story of a young person experiencing sexual exploration and rebellion, set against the backdrop of the early 1960s. The opening lines of the song refer to the passing of time, suggesting that the singer has waited patiently for 10 years, half their life, for the right moment. The second verse introduces two characters, Susan and Charles, who take the singer on a ride in the backseat of their car. The sexual tension is palpable throughout the song, with repeated references to Susy riding each night, and Charles grinning and looking at the singer greedily. The final lines of the song suggest an embrace of dominance and submission, with repeated mentions of "radios appear" as a symbol of technological progress and cultural change.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh yeah
Casual introduction to the song
It's been ten years, half my life
The singer has spent ten years preparing for something important
Just getting ready but then it was time
Despite his preparations, the time for action suddenly arrived
War page in the figures, radios appear
There is a sense of impending conflict as radios suddenly become prominent
Midnight was the barrier, back in 1963
Midnight in 1963 was a significant moment separating the past from the future
Each night, the covers were unfolded
Something is revealed each night
Each night, It's Susy's turn to ride
Susy takes her turn at something, perhaps a game
While Charles, the one they call her brother
Charles is Susy's brother
Covers on his eyes, murmurs in the background
Charles is preoccupied with something else while Susy plays her game
It will be time
Something important is about to happen
Susan and her brother, Charles the grinning boy
Introducing the characters of Susy and Charles
Put me in the backseat, and they took me for a ride
The artist accompanied Susy and Charles on some sort of adventure
Yeah, the radio was on, can't you dig the locomotion
Music was playing on the radio and they were enjoying it
Kingdoms of the radio, 45 R-P-M
The different types of music and formats available on the radio
Too much revolution then
There was a lot of change happening at that time
It's past midnight said Charles the grinning boy
Another significant moment that Charles acknowledges
And looking at me greedily, said it's 1964
Charles seems to be looking forward to something happening in the future
In times square now, the people do the polka
A scene is described where people are dancing in Times Square
Dominance, submission, radios appear
The singer is reflecting on the themes of the song
New Year's eve, it was the final barrier
New Year's Eve marks an important moment, perhaps the end of something
We took you up and put you in the back seat
Referring to an earlier event when the artist went on a ride with Susy and Charles
From year to year we looked out for the venture
Year after year, they were searching for something exciting, a new adventure
Dominance, submission, radios appear
Repeating the themes of the song
Dominance, submission
The power dynamic between people
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALBERT BOUCHARD, E BLOOM, SAMUEL PEARLMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Desdinova69
Oh yeah!
I spent ten years, half my life
Just getting ready, then it was time
Warpage in my figures, radios appear
Midnight was the barrier, back in 1963
Each night the covers were unfolded
Each night it’s Susie’s turn to ride
While Charles, the one they call her brother
Covers on his eyes
Murmurs in the background
It will be time
Oh yeah!
Susan and her brother, Charles the grinning boy
Put me in the back seat, and they took me for a ride
Yeah, the radio was on, can’t you dig the locomotion
Kingdoms of the radio, 45 RPM
(Too much revolution, then)
Each night the covers were unfolded
Each night it’s Susie’s turn to ride
While Charles, the one they call her brother
Covers on his eyes
Murmurs in the background
It will be time
It’s past midnight said Charles the grinning boy
And looking at me greedily, said it’s 1964
In Times Square now people do the polka
(Dominance!) Submission (Radios appear)
This New Year’s Eve was the final barrier
(Dominance!) Submission (Radios appear)
We took you up and we put you in the back seat
(Dominance!) Submission (Radios appear)
From year to year we looked out for the venture
(Dominance!) Submission (Radios appear)
(Dominance!) Submission
(Dominance!) Sub-mission
(Dominance!) Sub-mission
(Dominance!) Submission
(Dominance!) Sub-mission
(Dominance!) Sub-mission Sub-mission
(Dominance!) Sub- submission sub- sub-
(Dominance!) Submission submission
(Dominance!) Submission submission submission
(Dominance!) Sub- submission submission
(Dominance!) Submission submission submission
(Dominance!) Sub- submission sub- sub- submission
(Dominance!) Submission submission!
(Dominance!) Submission!
Kachenko
no doubt these guys should be in the Rock N Roll hall of fame, they are pioneers of progressive and metal, best band ever in my opinion
Mark Tele
Jan Wenner's R&R HOF ... who cares, it's just a "piss stain".
Steven Wiezbicki
My favorite part of the song is when Al Bouchard screams "SUBMISSION!" for the last time, and continuing up to the point just before Buck's guitar solo. It just blows me away, EACH AND EVERY TIME.
Mike Foley
One of the best guitar solos of all time. Buck Dharma is so underrated.
elf man
My all time favorite solo.
samiam261
agreed. best solo from BOC.
nirreisler
Damn right. And one of the best rock bands ever to exist.
Duck Bharma
Under rated by only those that do not know any better.
TooTall Tim
I saw these guys 5 different times and the one thing that stood out about them is how much they enjoyed performing. They seemed really happy to be playing live.
Dance Yourself Clean
One more vote here for Greatest Rock Guitar Solo Ever: Buck Dharma/Donald Roeser, "Dominance and Submission". Starts out at 4:20 so sweet and mournful, and by the time it peaks it's spitting sparks and melodic metal shards into your face. I'm 62, and I can't fucking sit still while I hear it--I'm playing air guitar with all the requisite face-melting I can muster. I cannot think of any other guitar solo that covers so much emotional ground so succinctly, and yet makes me feel like a 15-year-old all over again. The whole song is a terrific joyride up that great, great solo. BOC, and especially Buck Dharma, roolz. I'm going to see them in two nights with my son and stepson, and if they play this song I told them I'm gonna pee myself.