Grim Reaper Of Love

Album: It Ain't Me Babe (1966)
Charted: 81
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • After their previous three singles all hit the Top 30 of the pop charts, The Turtles appeared to be a roll. However this song was to be the first of several flops until "Happy Together" put them back on track.
  • Vocalist Howard Kaylan told Mojo magazine October 2009 the story behind this song: "After 'You Baby' had become our third national hit in a row, we were feeling pretty cocky as a band. The Beatles were doing drugs and experimenting with Indian instruments - we could too. So we did. Al Nichol and Chuck Portz put together this 5/4 jazz raga with ridiculous lyrics and, as a band, we fought for its release. But of course the record was just too weird to be a mainstream hit. In fact, I'm still shocked that it did as well as it did. It broke our cycle of Top 30 hits, and we didn't rebound until 'Happy Together' a year later."

Comments: 2

  • Seventhmist from 7th HeavenI closed my eyes but I still got the clap.
  • Adam from West Palm Beach, Fl"Close your eyes when you clap..."
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?

Did They Really Sing In That Movie?Fact or Fiction

Bradley Cooper, Michael J. Fox, Rami Malek, Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow and George Clooney: Which actors really sang in their movies?

Harold Brown of War

Harold Brown of WarSongwriter Interviews

A founding member of the band War, Harold gives a first-person account of one of the most important periods in music history.