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).
Let Go
Blue Öyster Cult Lyrics
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There's a hot wind blowing better hold on tight
To your soul
Blue fire rising up from the deep
Burning the world just when it's trying to sleep
So let go
Let go let go let go
B.O.C.
You can be whatever you want to be
You got the power, we got the key
Yeah, B.O.C.
You're a rebel and you got no friends
We all know that it all depends
On rock and roll
Do you feel like they're keeping you down
Ain't no fun with your feet on the ground
So let go
Let go let go let go
B.O.C.
You can be whatever you want to be
You got the power, we got the key
Yeah, B.O.C
The song "Let Go" by Blue Öyster Cult is a fast-paced, hard-rocking anthem that presents a strong message of liberation, empowerment, and self-determination. The lyrics open with the image of a person who is "hell-bent for leather on a moonlit night," indicating a sense of urgency, determination, and passion. The hot wind blowing and the blue fire rising up from the deep evoke a sense of danger, excitement, and power, as if symbolizing the forces of nature and the human spirit that are beyond control and beyond reason.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Let go" over and over, as if urging the listener to release their fears, doubts, and limitations and embrace their inner strength and potential. The lines "You can be whatever you want to be / You got the power, we got the key" reinforce this theme of personal choice, self-belief, and collective support. The reference to B.O.C. (Blue Öyster Cult) as a symbol of rebellion, friendship, and rock and roll culture adds another layer of meaning to the song, suggesting that music can be a transformative force, a source of identity and community, and a way of expressing one's true self.
Overall, "Let Go" is a powerful and passionate rock song that invites the listener to break free from their constraints and live life to the fullest. It celebrates the human spirit and the power of music to inspire and empower, and it encourages the listener to embrace their own uniqueness and follow their own dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Hell bent for leather on a moonlit night
Riding on a motorcycle with great speed and intensity on a bright night
There's a hot wind blowing better hold on tight
There's a powerful and fierce force approaching that requires you to brace yourself
To your soul
You must protect the very essence of who you are
Blue fire rising up from the deep
An intense and dangerous entity is emerging from the depths
Burning the world just when it's trying to sleep
The entity is wreaking havoc on the world at a time when it is least equipped to handle it
So let go
Release or surrender yourself to the situation
Let go let go let go
Repeatedly remind yourself to release control
B.O.C.
The acronym for the band Blue Öyster Cult
You can be whatever you want to be
You have the ability to pursue your dreams and desires
You got the power, we got the key
You possess the strength and we possess the tools to help you unlock your potential
You're a rebel and you got no friends
You're a nonconformist and have a small social circle
We all know that it all depends
The success of your endeavors depends on several factors
On rock and roll
The genre of music that champions rebellion and individuality
Do you feel like they're keeping you down
Do you sense that others are preventing you from reaching your potential
Ain't no fun with your feet on the ground
Being confined and restricted to the norm can be tedious and unfulfilling
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARK HUNTER, ROBERT ARNOLD, JIM LAMARCA, CHRIS SPICUZZA, ANDY HERRICK, JASON HAGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind