3 Classic Rock Songs That Predict the End of the World

As anyone who has turned on the news or social media these days, we’re in trying times. Whether it’s rising global temperatures or politicians dividing us, it’s easy to worry about and even fear that the world is coming to an end. You don’t have to be Chicken Little to wonder if the proverbial (or actual) sky is falling.

Here below, we thought we would create a mini soundtrack for those to help. Sometimes you need to hear your feelings reflected back to you in order to feel a bit better about them. To hear your thoughts out loud can make them seem a little silly or less scary. Indeed, these are three classic rock songs that predict the end of the world.

[RELATED: 3 Classic 1990s Disney Songs that Continue to Spread Joy]

“It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” by R.E.M. from Document (1987)

This frantic, motormouth song from the Athens, Georgia-born indie rock band puts a bit of a positive spin on the concept of the end of the world, at least from a sonic perspective. It’s not dour or melancholy. Rather, the band almost seems to celebrate it, as if it’s saying we should throw a party as disaster strikes hits. On the track, which resembles Bob Dylan’s, “Subterranean Homesick Blues,” lead vocalist Michael Stipe offers a giant list of people, places and things, almost as if he’s cataloguing the entire world before an event like an earthquake takes it. On the song he sings,

That’s great, it starts with an earthquake
Birds and snakes, and aeroplanes
And Lenny Bruce is not afraid

Eye of a hurricane, listen to yourself churn
World serves its own needs
Don’t mis-serve your own needs
Speed it up a notch, speed, grunt, no, strength
The ladder starts to clatter
With a fear of height, down, height
Wire in a fire, represent the seven games
And a government for hire and a combat site
Left her, wasn’t coming in a hurry
With the Furies breathing down your neck

“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” by Blue Oyster Cult from Agents of Fortune (1976)

This song, which hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, attempts to mark the death of all of us. But looking in the eye of the end, says the band Blue Oyster Cult, we should not be scared. We should not, as frontman Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser  sings, fear the reaper. But why? Why should people not fear the one who is set to take us into the afterlife? Well, says Roeser, because love exists and eternal love persists. That is why things like the seasons don’t fear death. Sings Roeser,

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

“The Four Horsemen,” by Metallica from Kill ‘Em All (1983)

This hard rock song is about the end of the world and the fabled Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The Bible’s New Testament predicts that when the end of the world is coming, there will be four horsemen who descend upon the world. They represent Conquest, War, Famine and Death. So, of course, the Los Angeles-born heavy metal band took this idea as a theme for a dark song. And on it, lead vocalist James Hetfield offers,

The horsemen are drawing nearer
On leather steeds they ride
They’ve come to take your life
On through the dead of night
With the four horsemen ride
Or choose your fate and die
Oh, yeah

You have been dying since the day you were born
You know it’s all been planned
The quartet of deliverance rides
A sinner once, a sinner twice
No need for confessions now
‘Cause now you’ve got the fight of your life

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