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).
Hungry Boys
Blue Öyster Cult Lyrics
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My buddy's and me keep lookin' for the stuff
To make us feel the blood rushin' through our veins
Just to keep on livin', it's bound to be a strain
We're hungry boys
We're hungry boys
We're hungry boys
Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry boys
Friday night we take off, headin' for the city
And dance with the lady from the white-snow country
Then she takes us home and we get a little love
That's something, can't get enough of
We're hungry boys
We're hungry boys
We're hungry boys
We're hungry boys
Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry boys
Now look at Louie, he's really got the need
(Valerie's?) got the needle but she always makes him plead
Louie was a-wonderin', if brought the stuff to town
But the cop's moved in and shut the operation down
That's why we're hungry boys (4 times)
Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry boys
The lyrics of Blue Oyster Cult's "Hungry Boys" tell a story of young men seeking out experiences that make them feel alive while facing the struggle of constantly needing more. The first verse highlights the idea that life is hard and finding things to feel passionate about and keep the blood pumping through their veins is essential. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "We're hungry boys," emphasizes the never-ending need for more, whether it be love or something else entirely.
The second verse describes a night out with friends, venturing into the city to dance with women from different places. They eventually end up with one of these women and experience something they can't get enough of. The final verse introduces a character named Louie, who has an addiction to drugs, specifically the needle. He contemplates bringing drugs to town but is stopped by the police who end up shutting down the operation. The song ends with the repetition of the phrase "That's why we're hungry boys," perhaps suggesting that the endless pursuit of something more is hardwired into their being.
Overall, "Hungry Boys" offers a commentary on the universal human experience of always needing more of something to keep ourselves going. It begs the question of whether or not the pursuit of more is worth the endless hunger it creates.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes it feels like ya' can't get enough
Life can be unsatisfying and unfulfilling, making it seem as though there is not enough in the world to quench our thirst for more.
My buddy's and me keep lookin' for the stuff
My friends and I are always searching for something, with an insatiable hunger driving us to keep going.
To make us feel the blood rushin' through our veins
The things we pursue are intended to bring us excitement and adrenaline, to make us feel alive and powerful.
Just to keep on livin', it's bound to be a strain
In order to keep moving forward and surviving, we must constantly find ways to satisfy our cravings for more, which can be demanding and exhausting.
Friday night we take off, headin' for the city
On Friday evenings, my friends and I leave town and head into the bright lights of the city.
And dance with the lady from the white-snow country
In the city, we meet women from other places, who we dance and flirt with until the night ends.
Then she takes us home and we get a little love
These women sometimes invite us back to their homes, where we enjoy romantic intimacy with them.
That's something, can't get enough of
These experiences are the very things we crave and desire, and we always want more of that which we cannot live without.
Now look at Louie, he's really got the need
One of our friends, Louie, is especially driven by his hunger and desires, always seeking something new and exciting.
(Valerie's?) got the needle but she always makes him plead
Louie is involved with a woman named Valerie, who exposes him to drugs and other destructive passions that he cannot resist, despite their harmful effects.
Louie was a-wonderin', if brought the stuff to town
Louie has become preoccupied with a new desire, wondering if he can bring some kind of euphoric substance to our town.
But the cop's moved in and shut the operation down
However, the authorities have caught wind of his plan and have intervened, putting a stop to his scheme.
That's why we're hungry boys (4 times)
Our constant hunger is driven by a fundamental sense of dissatisfaction and restlessness that is always seeking out new experiences and sensations, even as we struggle to find fulfillment and meaning in our lives.
Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry boys
We are always hungry for more, never satisfied with what we have, and always searching for something that can truly fill us up.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOUCHARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind