Songs of supernatural aren’t that uncommon

With the eclipse three days behind us, there are lingering thoughts about the way many cultures and societies saw these celestial events as omens or divine messages or evidence of supernatural forces at work.

People could be alarmed or excited or confused (not too unlike society as a whole these days). Some cultures would bang drums to ward off evil; some would make music to welcome whatever god they believed was causing the eclipse.

These days, we’re far too sophisticated and world-wise to believe in such things. But we still have music and, for some of us, it helps clear the ghosts and cobwebs in our heads. So with that in mind, here are some songs that play with the idea of the supernatural and otherworldly things. We’ll stay away from overtly black- metal bands such as King Diamond, Ghost, Opeth and Cradle of Filth.

“Don’t Fear the Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult. Death’s a comin’ but — hey! — it ain’t so bad. You could also add BOC’s “E.T.I.” (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence) or “Godzilla” or “Nosferatu” … wait, I’m detecting a theme here.

“Ogre Battle” and “Fairy Feller’s Master- Stroke” by Queen. First song has … well … ogres. Second song is based on a painting by Richard Dadd, who painted it while in an insane asylum. It’s filled with fairies, satyrs, magicians and creatures.

“Trick of the Tail” by Genesis. The singer mentions humans that “got no horns and they got no tail” and “a city of gold that lies in the deep distance .” On the same album, there’s a song about “Squonk,” a creature that turns into a puddle of tears when captured.

“Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac. Stevie Nicks indulges her fantasies about a Welsh witch.

“Cynthia” by Blue Rodeo. Guy asks girl to go out to a lake where they’ll “watch the spaceships, maybe they’ll take us on a trip.”

“Bark at the Moon” by Ozzy Osbourne. Actually, Ozzy barks at pretty much everything.

“Moon Over Bourbon Street” by Sting. He wrote the song after reading Anne Rice’s “Interview With a Vampire,” which was set in New Orleans.

“Kelpie” by Jethro Tull. A kelpie is a water spirit. Also “Jack-in-the-Green” about a forest spirit.

“Black Sabbath,” “Iron Man,” “St. Vitus Dance,” “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” … oh heck, take your pick from Black Sabbath.

Other obvious ones: “Black Magic Woman” by Santana, “I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, “Witchy Woman” by the Eagles, “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Ghost Riders in the Sky” by Vaughn Monroe.

Shawn Ryan