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).
Joan Crawford
Blue Öyster Cult Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're laughing just like hungry dogs in the street
Policemen are hiding behind the skirts of little girls
Their eyes have turned the color of frozen meat
No, no no no, no no no no no no no no,
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Catholic schoolgirls have thrown away their mascara
They chain themselves to the axles of big Mack trucks
The sky is filled with hurt and shivering angels
The fat lady lives! Children, start your trucks
No, no no no, no no no no no no no no
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
(Christina, mother's home!
No, no
Christina
No, no, no, no
Come to Mother
No, no, no, no, no no no no no no
Christina)
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen
from the grave
The lyrics to Blue Öyster Cult's song "Joan Crawford" paint a vividly dark picture of chaos and madness. The first verse depicts the drug culture of Brooklyn, where junkies have lost their minds and the police are powerless. The second verse then refers to the rebellious nature of Catholic schoolgirls, who are coming together to protest various societal issues. The chorus consists of the repeated phrase "Joan Crawford has risen from the grave," which suggests that something dark and dangerous is coming back to life.
The lyrics can be interpreted in different ways, but many believe that they are a commentary on the rise of women in power and the fear that some men have of this. Joan Crawford was an actress in the mid-20th century who was known for being strong and assertive. The repeated phrase in the chorus suggests that she is coming back to life to take on this role once again, which could be seen as a threatening prospect for some.
Overall, the lyrics to "Joan Crawford" are ambiguous and open to interpretation, but they are certainly compelling in their evocation of a dark and chaotic world.
Line by Line Meaning
Junkies down in Brooklyn are going crazy
Drug addicts in Brooklyn are behaving erratically
They're laughing just like hungry dogs in the street
They are laughing hysterically and uncontrollably
Policemen are hiding behind the skirts of little girls
Law enforcement officials are behaving cowardly
Their eyes have turned the color of frozen meat
Their eyes have a cold and lifeless quality
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
There is chaos and disturbance in the world
Catholic schoolgirls have thrown away their mascara
Girls who were once conforming to societal expectations are now rejecting them
They chain themselves to the axles of big Mack trucks
They are committing to extreme and potentially harmful actions
The sky is filled with hurt and shivering angels
There is a sense of sadness and despair in the world
The fat lady lives! Children, start your trucks
There is a call to action to rebel against oppressive forces
Christina, mother's home!
A character named Christina is being called back to a traditional and oppressive family structure
Come to Mother
The character is being encouraged to submit to familial expectations
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
There is continued chaos and disturbance in the world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOUCHARD, RIGG, ROTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jas22
+U.S. SAM wow! That sounds amazing!!! Until 3AM! But not surprising. Their freewheeling spirit and love of performing has always been a part of them (from what I can tell from years of interviews and just observation - its not like I know them).
I saw them in the 90s, then in 2005 when Ritche C. and Jules joined. Allen was with Eric and Donald at the 2005 show, which was great - Castellano blew me away (he was on bass).
Well, they are STILL out there touring! And at least Eric and Donald are still with us...I will make a point of seeing BOC at least 2x a year from now on (life situations have prevented me for the last decade).
And to think, they are so overlooked. No mention at all..."Heaven Forbid" was pretty good, too (but not great). I still have not gotten around to hearing "Curse of the Hidden Mirror".
I think Donald is definitely is in my top 5 of guitarists.
Don't get me started on why they aren't in the Rock Hall (oh, but Madonna is...i mean what. the. fudge, people????)
@JuanLopez-xy2uo
Junkies down in Brooklyn are going crazy
They're laughing just like hungry dogs in the street
Policemen are hiding behind the skirts of little girls
Their eyes have turned the color of frozen meat
No, no no no, no no no no no no no no,
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Catholic schoolgirls have thrown away their mascara
They chain themselves to the axles of big Mack trucks
The sky is filled with hurt and shivering angels
The fat lady lives! Children, start your trucks
No, no no no, no no no no no no no no
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
(Christina, mother's home!
No, no
Christina
No, no, no, no
Come to Mother
No, no, no, no, no no no no no no
Christina)
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen from the grave
Joan Crawford has risen
@DavidSush1
What a great, trippy, weird, haunting, catchy, bizarre, creepy yet totally awesome hard rockin' song! I'll always remember the great set Blue Oyster Cult performed in 1982 at the Rose Bowl stadium in California on a bill with Journey, Triumph and Aldo Nova. That. . . was a great day!
@ethanz0mbie488
Sounds awsome
@gator2813
I was there. One of the biggest food fights ever happened there.
@AudiophileTubes
This album, 'Fire Of Unknown Origin', is an artistic masterpiece! Incredible, timeless music!
@michaelhoward4983
Agreed
@manuelper
100%. It still holds up to this day, front to back.
@myerkord
I wish I could have seen this tour saw an earlier year tour when molly hatchet was opening for them
@joncarroll2040
The best album by the best band.
@ThisGuyRides
Sucks that Vengeance was left out of the Heavy Metal movie, it was perfect for the ending
@johnamartine
"Policemen are hiding behind the skirts of little girls. Their eyes have turned the color of frozen meat." - reason 893 of why I love Blue Oyster Cult.