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).
Nosferatu
Blue Öyster Cult Lyrics
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Lucy clutched her breast in fear
She heard a beat of her lover's heart
For weeks she raved in dreams he appeared
From far off Transylvania
Only a woman can break his spell
Pure in heart who will offer herself
The ship pulled in without a sound
The faithful captain long since cold
He kept his log 'til the bloody end
Last entry read "Rats in the hold
My crew is dead, I fear the plague"
Only a woman can break his spell
Pure in heart who will offer herself
Mortal terror reigned
Sickness now then horrible death
Only Lucy knew the truth
And at her window
Nosferatu
So chaste, so calm, she gave herself
To the pleasure of the dreaded master
He sucked her precious drops of life
Throughout the long and cold dark night
One last goodbye goodbye He was blinded by love
One last goodbye goodbye He was blinded by love
Blinded by love
He screamed in fear he'd stayed too long in her room
The morning sun had come too soon
The spell was broken with a kiss of doom
He vanished into dust left her all alone
Only a woman can break his spell
Pure in heart who will offer herself
Only a woman can break his spell
Pure in heart who will offer herself
To Nosferatu
The lyrics of Blue Öyster Cult’s song “Nosferatu” narrates a chilling story about a creature of the night known as Nosferatu (a vampire), who preys on the innocent, and it is only a woman - pure in heart - who can break his spell. The song takes us on a journey through Transylvania and Germany, as Nosferatu's presence becomes known. In Germany, Lucy hears the beat of her lover's heart, who appeared in her dreams for weeks. However, it is revealed that it is not him but the vampire, who has cast a spell on her lover.
As the story unfolds, we learn that Nosferatu arrives in a ship that pulled into the harbor without a sound, and the captain is found dead, with his last entry in the logbook saying, "Rats in the hold. My crew is dead, I fear the plague." The vampire spreads sickness and death, but Lucy is the only one who knows the truth, and it is at her window where she encounters Nosferatu. She gives herself to him, and he sucks her life's blood. However, he stays too long and is blinded by love, and the spell is broken with a kiss of doom.
The lyrics of this song are inspired by the classic 1922 silent film "Nosferatu" directed by F.W. Murnau, which was based on Bram Stoker's Dracula. The film Nosferatu was the first-ever film adaptation of the novel, and it is considered one of the most influential films in horror cinema. The song also references the plague, which is a historical occurrence that shaped the world's history. Blue Öyster Cult is known for incorporating themes of horror and the supernatural into their music, and this song fits perfectly with their style.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep in the heart of Germany
The story takes place in Germany.
Lucy clutched her breast in fear
Lucy was scared and held her chest.
She heard a beat of her lover's heart
Lucy imagined she heard her lover's heartbeat.
For weeks she raved in dreams he appeared
Lucy had been having dreams about her lover for weeks.
From far off Transylvania
The story begins in Germany, but Transylvania is also involved.
Only a woman can break his spell
Only a woman can free Nosferatu from his curse.
Pure in heart who will offer herself
The woman must be pure of heart to save Nosferatu.
The ship pulled in without a sound
A ship arrived silently at the dock.
The faithful captain long since cold
The captain of the ship is already dead.
He kept his log 'til the bloody end
The captain kept a record until his death.
Last entry read "Rats in the hold
The captain's last entry mentions rats in the hold.
My crew is dead, I fear the plague"
The captain is worried about the plague as his crew has all died.
Mortal terror reigned
There was widespread fear and horror.
Sickness now then horrible death
Disease led to death.
Only Lucy knew the truth
Lucy knew what was really happening.
And at her window
Nosferatu appears outside her window.
So chaste, so calm, she gave herself
Lucy remained a virgin and willingly submitted herself to Nosferatu.
To the pleasure of the dreaded master
Lucy gave herself to Nosferatu's delight.
He sucked her precious drops of life
Nosferatu drank Lucy's blood.
Throughout the long and cold dark night
Nosferatu took Lucy's blood during the entire night.
One last goodbye goodbye He was blinded by love
Nosferatu was in love with Lucy for the last time before he died.
He screamed in fear he'd stayed too long in her room
Nosferatu was scared he had stayed too long with Lucy.
The morning sun had come too soon
Nosferatu was still awake when the sun came up.
The spell was broken with a kiss of doom
Lucy's kiss broke the spell that kept Nosferatu alive.
He vanished into dust
Nosferatu turned to dust.
left her all alone
Lucy was left alone.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Helen Robbins, Joseph Bouchard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind