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Blue Öyster Cult — Burnin For You
Album: Fire of Unknown Origin
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1139









Released: 1981
Length: 4:23
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Home in the valley
Home in the city
Home isn't pretty
Ain't no home for me

Home in the darkness
Home on the highway
Home isn't my way
Home will never be

Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I can't see no reason to put up a fight
I'm living for giving the devil his due

And I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you
I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you

Time is the essence
Time is the season
Time ain't no reason
Got no time to slow

Time everlasting
Time to play B-sides
Time ain't on my side
Time I'll never know

Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I'm not the one to tell you what's wrong or what's right
I've seen suns that were freezin' and lives that were through

Well I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you
I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you

Burn out the day
Burn out the night
I can't see no reason to put up a fight
I'm living for giving the devil his due

And I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you
I'm burning, I'm burning, I'm burning for you
Comments (114)add comment
This is a guilty pleasure. Enjoyed occasionally. It’s a solid 7 until I overhear it, as so many of us did a few decades ago.
What a show that was at the Checkerdome that tour! Row 20, there was me and Crash, an up-for-anything party-buddy from New Jersey I knew from E-School. He smuggled in my 200mm f:2.8 telephoto lens in the sleeve of his puffy coat! We also had the nitrous gear, bags of weed, flasks, chunks of hash, several pipes, and just the right amount of groovy psychedelics. Foghat opened -- JAM! We ran into Chuck the Fucker and some St. Louie gals during Intermission, unleashing a surrealistic quantum-chain of wild parties and fun...
I really like the one bounce echo from the rhythm guitar with the very dry chord at the end of each phrase.  haven't quite gotten around to listening to the rest of the song yet.
I went to a BOC show in the '70's in Syracuse.  BOC had one of the first laser light shows.  It was outstanding.  A few days later the NYS Legislature banned laser displays because people claimed physical injury from the lights.   
"Got any Blue Oyster Cult?"NO I don't have any Blue Oyster Cult! I had to eat 34 pairs last time around, where were YOU?"
Sounds like Gary Wright
BOC brings me back to watching The Stoned Age during college with old high school friends. Happy memory. The Schnappster..
 QuantumShaman wrote:

       ludite wrote:

       Still, I'd like to hear something from the old BOC.
       Maybe something moody, like "Then Came the Last Days of May", or rocky, like "Flaming Telepaths".



"Cities on Flame with Rock And Roll." 
To a BOC aficionado, anything from Agents of Fortune forward does not qualify as "old BOC."  Not that there aren't a few good bits from there forward, but the first three studio albums are what we mean.


I definitely don't qualify as a BÖC (mind the umlaut!) "aficionado". I merely dig them.  And, yes, especially this much overlooked album. Not right from the start, I have to admit, it rather grew on me over the years. Reasons? I'm a Moorcock fan, for starters. Then, I absolutely love the lyrical (and musical) weirdness of songs like Joan Crawford, let alone the title track itself.

And hey,! inspired by The Spine of Night, I recently went back to watch that Heavy Metal movie of yore.... nuff said?
secretsauce wrote:

       ludite wrote:

       Still, I'd like to hear something from the old BOC.
       Maybe something moody, like "Then Came the Last Days of May", or rocky, like "Flaming Telepaths".



"Cities on Flame with Rock And Roll."   Bleyfusz wrote:

Godzillaaaaaa......... (the Extraterrestial Live version)


To a BOC aficionado, anything from Agents of Fortune forward does not qualify as "old BOC."  Not that there aren't a few good bits from there forward, but the first three studio albums are what we mean.
 ludite wrote:

Always preferred the earlier, lesser-know BOC.  But, like Radio Paradise, early BOC albums were designed to flow seamlessly from one song to another.  The individual songs don't stand up as well on their own.

Fun fact:  Bryan Adams wrote a song for BOC, "Run to You", off his "Reckless" album.  If you listen to the song, you can totally hear BOC in it. But, the band turned it down.  "Run to You" became a major hit for Bryan Adams and his career was launched.  Conversely,  BOC began as slow slide to oblivion. C'est la vie.

Still, I'd like to hear something from the old BOC.  Maybe something moody, like "Then Came the Last Days of May", or rocky, like "Flaming Telepaths".



The "On Your Feet or On Your Knees" LP  is a stellar live recording.
Glad to see that Soft White Underbelly is mentioned in the bio. Won a trivia contest knowing that name many, many years ago.
Needs more cowbell!
Palate cleanser, stat!
 secretsauce wrote:

   ludite wrote:

       Still, I'd like to hear something from the old BOC.
       Maybe something moody, like "Then Came the Last Days of May",           or rocky, like "Flaming Telepaths".


"Cities on Flame with Rock And Roll." 

Godzillaaaaaa......... (the Extraterrestial Live version)

 ger-man wrote:

Für BÖC ein richtig schwacher Song.
[....]


Dachte ich auch mal.
someone on a blog I frequent just posted this song as part of a running joke.
small universe
Ahhhhh -- just pure and beautiful rock with an excellent guitar solo and a bass line that carries this to wonderful places....
Badass song.
 Kaisersosay wrote:
Ahhhhhh the summer of 81,,,,, mmmmmm mayhem
 
For me it was the spring of 1982, and I was in the army then (and luckily never after). 
 ludite wrote:
Always preferred the earlier, lesser-know BOC.  But, like Radio Paradise, early BOC albums were designed to flow seamlessly from one song to another.  The individual songs don't stand up as well on their own.

Fun fact:  Bryan Adams wrote a song for BOC, "Run to You", off his "Reckless" album.  If you listen to the song, you can totally hear BOC in it. But, the band turned it down.  "Run to You" became a major hit for Bryan Adams and his career was launched.  Conversely,  BOC began as slow slide to oblivion. C'est la vie.

Still, I'd like to hear something from the old BOC.  Maybe something moody, like "Then Came the Last Days of May", or rocky, like "Flaming Telepaths".
 
More likely that BOC  turned it down because it came from, you know, Bryan Adams. 
Aaaaahhh, I just love reading the comments, it's great to hear the happy echo of great memories. Please keep playing RP.
This is the absolute pinnacle of Lön Gyländ culture.
Für BÖC ein richtig schwacher Song.

Greetings from Bavaria to all the listeners outside. Stay safe.
 ludite wrote:
Still, I'd like to hear something from the old BOC.  Maybe something moody, like "Then Came the Last Days of May", or rocky, like "Flaming Telepaths".
 

"Cities on Flame with Rock And Roll." 
Always preferred the earlier, lesser-know BOC.  But, like Radio Paradise, early BOC albums were designed to flow seamlessly from one song to another.  The individual songs don't stand up as well on their own.

Fun fact:  Bryan Adams wrote a song for BOC, "Run to You", off his "Reckless" album.  If you listen to the song, you can totally hear BOC in it. But, the band turned it down.  "Run to You" became a major hit for Bryan Adams and his career was launched.  Conversely,  BOC began as slow slide to oblivion. C'est la vie.

Still, I'd like to hear something from the old BOC.  Maybe something moody, like "Then Came the Last Days of May", or rocky, like "Flaming Telepaths".
"Time to play B-sides"
 phlattop wrote:

That makes sense. I always wondered how she met them. But BOC was/is based out of Long Island and Patti is in NYC so there was proximity.

And in fairness to them, they were never a straight up metal band with just one or two themes. Besides death, they had themes about aliens, sci-fi, the occult, old Hollywood and the music borrowed from other genres like doo-wop. In addition to Patti, the sci-fi/fantasy (and a few other genres) writer Michael Moorcock wrote lyrics on at least one other tune....
 
She was in a relationship with the keyboard player, Allan Lanier in the early-to-mid 1970s and co-wrote lyrics to several of their songs.
Ahhhhhh the summer of 81,,,,, mmmmmm mayhem
Sure it's a classic rock radio staple, but I like it. The guitar sells it.
 drfeeleygood wrote:

I believe Bill plays this after Walking Barefoot because Patti Smith was in a relationship with a member of B.O.C. (the keyboard player I think?) She wrote Walking Barefoot for him. Patti probably thinks Bill is a clever DJ!

 
That makes sense. I always wondered how she met them. But BOC was/is based out of Long Island and Patti is in NYC so there was proximity.

And in fairness to them, they were never a straight up metal band with just one or two themes. Besides death, they had themes about aliens, sci-fi, the occult, old Hollywood and the music borrowed from other genres like doo-wop. In addition to Patti, the sci-fi/fantasy (and a few other genres) writer Michael Moorcock wrote lyrics on at least one other tune.

this tune certainly drove the comeback after the two albums that followed the "Reaper" album (Agents of Fortune) failed to generate a major hit like that one. A mediocre tune. Think there were better tunes on "Fire".
sounds too much like boc trying to sound like an 80s version of steve miller with rick springfield i stead of boc
Welp. I listened very carefully but couldn't make out any cowb–*slap* Ow! 

Ok, sorry.  
Always loved this album. Hadn't expected to hear it on RP, though. Joyous flashback to headbangin' glory days.
They really were on top of the Rock pile back in the day, and this was considered a killer comeback. I saw them during this tour and it was a frickin' awesome experience, especially "Joan Crawford (Has Risen from the Dead)..." Their lyrics, guitars, jam style = ROCKIN'
Can't help myself. Have always loved this band, and this song since it came out, overplayed as it's come to be on terrestrial radio. Buck has always been one of my absolute faves  on guitar.
"Time to play B-sides"  
Putting on my denim vest...
 drfeeleygood wrote:

I believe Bill plays this after Walking Barefoot because Patti Smith was in a relationship with a member of B.O.C. (the keyboard player I think?) She wrote Walking Barefoot for him. Patti probably thinks Bill is a clever DJ!

 
Nah. It's because the cult of blue oyster worshipers took over Bill's studio one day, made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
cool tune! (read somewhere Patti Smith was considered for lead singer of BOC way back when, would that be fukkin' WICKED?!)
Thought RP got hijacked by a Top 40 station for a minute.  Solid 3
 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
Punctuation! Blue Öyster Cult, Burnin’ for You. Thank you.

 
Right you are!   LOL!  
Love the bass line in this tune. Has a good groove too...8 on my ratings list...
Not bad and a very welcome change from Don't Fear the Reaper.
 linden wrote:

LOL. How about "Der Kommissar" or "Rock Me Amadeus" next? It's free skate night!



 
Definitely a blast from the past. Feels longer than 4:29 today but BOC was a cool band, even if they didn't hit greatness that often. 
 dsd wrote:
Wonder what Patti would think of this segue?  all healed-up and couldn't care less I suppose.

 
I believe Bill plays this after Walking Barefoot because Patti Smith was in a relationship with a member of B.O.C. (the keyboard player I think?) She wrote Walking Barefoot for him. Patti probably thinks Bill is a clever DJ!
 Bam! Whatevs to the nattering nabobs.

Rooney wrote:
I like this song.  Always have, and probably always will.  So what if it's mainstream bleh.  I'm better than that.  I can be mainstream along with the best of them.  Happy Halloween{#Devil_pimp}

 


Wonder what Patti would think of this segue?  all healed-up and couldn't care less I suppose.
Punctuation! Blue Öyster Cult, Burnin’ for You. Thank you.
Long Island (noun long-island/lawn guyland) in the house!
How quaint.  Not bad, but really dated sound and dare I say, formulaic.
Best video ever.
Channeling "Joe Dirt!"   so much fun!  cheesy but fun!
 fingerpin wrote:
That is funny
{#Jump}

 


It was on september 11th 2001 that I couldn't get this album's title track out of my head.

LOL. How about "Der Kommissar" or "Rock Me Amadeus" next? It's free skate night!


 derekd wrote:
And next up...Billy Squier. :)
 
{#Jump}

This makes me want some Alan Parsons Project.
Time to pull out the Malibu, turn up the Krako as loud as it goes (which isn't much with one blown out speaker in back), and get lost on some off-ramps.
Wait a minute!  There's hardly any cowbell at all in this track!
I like this song.  Always have, and probably always will.  So what if it's mainstream bleh.  I'm better than that.  I can be mainstream along with the best of them.  Happy Halloween{#Devil_pimp}
I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin a mule!!
This is one of those tracks that always makes me want to tune to BBC 6 Music instead. It's artificial 80s pap with no soul - bland simplistic harmonies, trite lyrics and guitar-by-numbers. Dullsville with no redemption.

It´s really nice to here something from this wonderful LP. Unfortunately, this is by far the weakest song on the album. I wonder what made you choose this one...

 Jelani wrote:

Well then, maybe stop listening to Clear Channel and stay here. (?)
This is the first time i've heard this on RP and I listen almost daily. 
 
I listen to RP all day at work and I don't think any classic rock I've heard here is played too much.


So good!
thanks RP!...{#Roflol}
 Captn_Pea wrote:
Overplayed Clear Channel Crap... 2
 
And who listens to Clear Channel? I haven't listened to mainstream commercial radio in years. It's either NPR or a CD/Ipod .


 Captn_Pea wrote:
Overplayed Clear Channel Crap... 2
 
Well then, maybe stop listening to Clear Channel and stay here. (?)
This is the first time i've heard this on RP and I listen almost daily. 
And next up...Billy Squier. :)
Thanks for playing!
 Hairfarmer wrote:


Veteran Of The Psychic Wars was the only B.O.C. song in the movie. It's a great soundtrack.
 

I had to look up the tracklist - Weren't these in the movie? I'm almost certain they were, regardless of them being on the actual soundtrack or not.

Heavy Metal (The Black and Silver)
Vengeance (The Pact)

BOC is a great rock and roll band. Buck Dharma is one of the greatest rock guitarists ever. Period
The stuff he was playing in 1971 was not really being played by anyone else and it rocked.
Kick out the jams Buck!
Still over played after all these years.
 Bosami wrote:
This is a fun record. Brings back a whole host of memories.

That ultra-stoner animated movie 'Heavy Metal' for one. I don't know if this song was actually in the film - but I know a couple of cuts from this record were.


 

Veteran Of The Psychic Wars was the only B.O.C. song in the movie. It's a great soundtrack.
 snitramc wrote:
I lurve Bill and Rebecca, and the play list RAWKS! But still, the only decent song by BOC played recently is Days of May? You can do better. Burnin' For You and Fear the Reaper? Sorry, now you sound like a commercial classic rock station.
 

I totally agree...pull some nuggets out of their catalogue we HAVEN"T heard!  Growing up in Ohio I had this song forced down my gullet by FM radio to the point of getting physically ill when I hear it now.  Doesn't mean it's a bad song...just played to DEATH.
 steuss wrote:
Another example of why the 80's are the black hole of music...

Wow. That's a broad brush you got there...

Overplayed Clear Channel Crap... 2
This is a fun record. Brings back a whole host of memories.

That ultra-stoner animated movie 'Heavy Metal' for one. I don't know if this song was actually in the film - but I know a couple of cuts from this record were.


 newwavegurly wrote:
Come on now, people. This may be a commercial radio hit (and still get played on commercial radio), but where else are you going to hear it so masterfully played after Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire"?
 
Rock on, Bill. 
 
I agree with WonderLizard, you go, gurly!! 

And Bill, you TOTALLY ROCK!!

I lurve Bill and Rebecca, and the play list RAWKS! But still, the only decent song by BOC played recently is Days of May? You can do better. Burnin' For You and Fear the Reaper? Sorry, now you sound like a commercial classic rock station.
Oh no!  They say he's got to go...

GODZILLA!
I was on the BOC back in school.  It was a very formative experience; and influenced my future ethical framework.
 capandjudy wrote:

In 1972 when the first Blue Oyster Cult album came out, it was a breath of fresh air for hard rock fans. After their "black and white period" I agree that they surely made more money but lost their way musically. The first album has been remastered so it sounds less murky now.
 
Agreed. The first record was great and a breath of fresh air. Downhill from there, excluding "The Reaper".

 newwavegurly wrote:
Come on now, people. This may be a commercial radio hit (and still get played on commercial radio), but where else are you going to hear it so masterfully played after Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire"?
 
Rock on, Bill. 
 
You go, gurly. {#Clap}

"Ring of Fire" segues into "Burnin' for you"? I really love Radio Paradise.



 skinnyo wrote:
Used to love the early Blue Oyster Cult but at this point in time in their musical careers, they had more or less sold out for a more radio friendly sound. There are much better songs than this in their catalog. How about some "Cities on Flame".
 
In 1972 when the first Blue Oyster Cult album came out, it was a breath of fresh air for hard rock fans. After their "black and white period" I agree that they surely made more money but lost their way musically. The first album has been remastered so it sounds less murky now.


 steuss wrote:
Another example of why the 80's are the black hole of music...
 
In fact, a lot of very fine music came out of the 80's - this isn't part of it.  In fact, the only piece by Blue Oyster Cult that I've ever liked is "Don't fear the reaper".

Hmmm I think they got rid of the cowbell on this song,,,thats why you guys don't like it
Its all about the cowbell..
Buck Dharma, ladies and gentlemen! Buck Dharma! I vaguely recall that the video for this one was pretty cheesy...
Come on now, people. This may be a commercial radio hit (and still get played on commercial radio), but where else are you going to hear it so masterfully played after Johnny Cash's "Ring Of Fire"?
 
Rock on, Bill. 
Time to play B-sides

Jinx!!

It's cheesy, but I like it!

 
a2 wrote:
Six years between plays....yep, about right.
 

Another example of why the 80's are the black hole of music...
WTF?!
Six years between plays....yep, about right.
 holborne wrote:
"Wife beater music"? Do you mean cock rock?
 
Considering that the comment you replied to was over five years old he's undoubtedly fallen off his barstool by now.  {#Drunk}

I am unashamed to say I enjoy this little fluffy pop tune.

Would have preferred "Joan Crawford".
 drife wrote:
BOC. Nothing but wife beater music for the idiot masses listening to commercial radio. A bunch of nobodys making singularly terrrible so-called
music. Buck Darma is an idiot guitar player.

I HATE BOC!

Flame on, boys and girls....
 

"Wife beater music"? Do you mean cock rock?
{#Cheers}
BOC. Nothing but wife beater music for the idiot masses listening to commercial radio. A bunch of nobodys making singularly terrrible so-called music. Buck Darma is an idiot guitar player. I HATE BOC! Flame on, boys and girls....
twiggy wrote:
oh noooo.
skinnyo wrote:
Used to love the early Blue Oyster Cult but at this point in time in their musical careers, they had more or less sold out for a more radio friendly sound. There are much better songs than this in their catalog. How about some "Cities on Flame".
I definitely agree! their first album would have to rank up there in my list of favote albums. Although I was a fan throughout their career even I admit that B.O.C.'s output was uneven and/or somewhat sold out after the first one. They were always entertaining live though.
oh noooo.
Never a big BOC fan, but I've always loved this song. I just had to shut my door so I could crank it up. It would only be better if I was in my Mom's old '70 8 cylinder Buick Skylark convertible on a warm sunny day
BOC is awesome! Glad to hear it here. One question though - how does this rank lower than Lucinda Williams? HOW!!
now I like a lot of music and being an 80s fellow I should be even more lenient....but this has always been finger nails on the chalkboard for me
A cute thematic connection to the other "Fire" songs in this set is not a sufficient reason to disturb this song's unvisited grave.
Used to love the early Blue Oyster Cult but at this point in time in their musical careers, they had more or less sold out for a more radio friendly sound. There are much better songs than this in their catalog. How about some "Cities on Flame".
drover wrote:
Why? Even "eclectic" should have its limits! :p
Nonsense! BOC were the epitome of eclectica in heavy rock music. They stood alone in what they did. Their lack of huge mainstream success has more to do with their image than their music, which as awkward as in may have sometimes been, was at the time original and of a high creative order. That having been said, this songs kix ass clean and hard. Keep it in the line up Bill. Way to go.
BOC got me through high school. A lot of their stuff doesn't hold up-- frankly some of it is quite embarrassing now-- but this song remains a classic. Buck Dharma is one of the most underrated guitarists in rock.
where's my lighter? Where's my lighter?
Bill, please leave this one to \"classic rock radio.\" I don\'t understand how this fits into the RP family of songs. It is not a \"bad\" song, but it is definitely not what I want to hear on RP. Thanks.
Why? Even \"eclectic\" should have its limits! :p