The band's lead guitarist,
Donald "Buck Dharma" sums up my views quite well with his comments below.
Quote:
The song's appeal is due in part to its use of well-known archetypes in American culture. "The reaper" is a reference to the Grim Reaper, a traditional personification of death in European folklore. Also, songs and poetry pairing "Death and the Maiden" date back to before the Middle Ages.
Lyrics such as "Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity" have led many listeners to interpret the song to be about a murder-suicide pact, but Dharma says the song is about eternal love, not suicide:
I felt that I had just achieved some kind of resonance with the psychology of people when I came up with that, I was actually kind of appalled when I first realized that some people were seeing it as an advertisement for suicide or something that was not my intention at all. It is, like, not to be afraid of it (as opposed to actively bring it about). It's basically a love song where the love transcends the actual physical existence of the partners
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(Don't_Fear)_The_Reaper
All our times have come
Here but now they're gone
Seasons don't fear the reaper
Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain
(We can be like they are)
Come on baby
(Don't fear the Reaper)
Baby take my hand
(Don't fear the Reaper)
We'll be able to fly
(Don't fear the Reaper)
Baby I'm your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Valentine is done
Here but now they're gone
Romeo and Juliet
Are together in eternity
(Romeo and Juliet)
40,000 men and women everyday
(Like Romeo and Juliet)
40,000 men and women everyday
(Redefine happiness)
Another 40,000 coming everyday
(We can be like they are)
Come on baby
(Don't fear the Reaper)
Baby take my hand
(Don't fear the Reaper)
We'll be able to fly
(Don't fear the Reaper)
Baby I'm your man
La, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la
Love of two is one
Here but now they're gone
Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew and then disappeared
The curtains flew and then he appeared
(Saying don't be afraid)
Come on baby
(And she had no fear)
And she ran to him
(Then they started to fly)
They looked backward and said goodbye
(She had become like they are)
She had taken his hand
(She had become like they are)
Come on baby
(Don't fear the reaper)