The song's inclusion in the early scenes in which Laurie Strode catches a ride with her pot-smoking friend Annie only makes it all the more authentic.
The song is, in fact, a fantasy scenario of death too young. With its references to Romeo and Juliet, it uses love as a great connector to the afterlife.
The song would continue to sneak into horror projects, including the Wes Craven tribute/satire Scream (though covered by Gus) and of course in Rob Zombie's remake of Halloween in 2007.
Additionally:
• Stephen King's The Stand was in part inspired by the song, and the track features prominently in the miniseries adaptation for television.
• There's a Mutton Birds cover of the song cover in Peter Jackson's The Frighteners from 1996.
Also of note:
• The B-Side of the single release is called Tattoo Vampire.
• The song's highest position on the Billboard Hot 100 was 12.
• The track's producer David Lucas is the one who played cowbell. His other claim to fame is as one of advertising's greatest jingle writers, having created "Catch that Pepsi Spirit" and "G.E. We Bring Good Things to Life."
• The song was on the charts during the start of a spree of "Son of Sam" murders by real-life serial killer David Berkowitz. It would be a year before Berkowitz was apprehended.
