Blue Öyster Cult Turn Up The Heat With “Burnin’ For You” Live In 1981
Live From The Charles Grodin Show, 1981
Written in 1981 and featured on the critically acclaimed Fire Of Unknown Origin, Blue Öyster Cult’s ‘Burnin’ For You’ was their first #1 hit since the band struck gold with 1976’s ‘(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,’ even enjoying a pretty lengthy stay on the airwaves with its video in constant rotation on MTV. ‘Burnin’ For You’ is a song that’s wildly catchy on its own with its killer harmonies and the guitar talents of Buck Dharma, but to seeBlue Öyster Cult actually perform it is something else entirely!
Fun Fact: The song was on the 2001 Clear Channel memorandum list of deemed “lyrically questionable” songs after 9/11.
This 1981 performance on the Charles Grodin Show features the boys – clad in all manner of odd looking, gold outfits – performing this classic, and they don’t disappoint. Buck Dharma is at the helm, delivering an unbelievable vocal and guitar performance that reminds you exactly how underrated he is as a frontman; absolutely nailing those guitar parts in between vocal breaks, and his ear for melody is unbelievable.
The interview at the end featuring Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma chatting it up with Charles Grodin is pure gold, too – who knew they were so funny?
+ Burnin’ For You lyrics +
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
