The curious thing about the _The Doors_ is that they're always being re-discovered by younger people who are looking for something different than the current pop hits. Jim Morrison, with all his faults, managed to write some timeless, fascinating lyrics that, even today, compel listeners to pay close attention. He performed these songs with his band, without any musical training whatsoever. One day he just decided he wanted to be a singer, he wanted to bring his poetry to life, and yet, he never took any singing lessons. I find this rather amazing - and inspirational. I suspect people will still be listening to _The Doors_ 100 years from now. Thanks for posting this. Now consider giving _The Crystal Ship_ a listen.
Yeah it's very timeless feeling and sounding. They seemed to have let their minds roam in the ancient Halls of our consciousness and found all those rooms you aren't supposed to go into. The abyss is real. They knew some stuff. You can just feel it. But yeah, great stuff. This was awesome 👌
@@L33Reacts Yeah, I agree. They paint a surreal portrait of a land filled with light and dark shadows. Like balancing between the delightful and the dreadful. More than most rock bands of their era, _The Doors_ music seems to have these weird, built-in psychological triggers - like a cocktail drug made from a combination of their music, lyrics and vocals. It's actually what they were trying to do - and in this song, and also _When The Music's Over_ they achieved this effect.
I totally agree, that's what happened to me when I was 16, in 1992, and discovered the Doors, (and Pink Floyd). The Crystal Ship is my favourite Doors song, but the live version of When The Music's Over comes close.
@@L33Reacts I remember reading an interview with Jim Morrison years ago where he said the band's name was shortened to The Doors from The Doors Of Perception. Their music can open some doors if you let it.
Robert Plant once said that this might just be the best song ever written. In addition to the avant-garde/free form music, the lyrics themselves have multiple meanings...from an individual's lament about their own demise, to the end of a societal/cultural epoch during the turbulent sixties. Morrison was a true visionary and talented poet as well.
well said. the meaning is multi layered and scale up to mesh the story on several concurrent levels. it takes flight, then comes back down to the beach again, in the last stanza. plant's since of phrasing was certainly influenced by morrison. ditto bono, bowie & iggy. morrison was inconsistent moreso then those guys. but when he was dialed in on his A game, no one, incl those talents could evoke mood and palpable danger and suspense like morrison. goth and punk before both were created.
It was during the first thirty seconds at a screening of APOCALYPSE NOW in 1979 - Jim Morrison’s somnolent intonation of “This is the end” over napalm in the trees - that at 19 I became damn-near obsessive over the film itself, and a confirmed Doors fan for life. I wrote about the film for our college paper, and it wasn’t enough. A year or two later Rolling Stone published an article on the Doors then-revival featuring a shirtless Morrison on the cover (!) along with the tagline “He’s hot, he’s sexy, and he’s dead,” offering-up pretty conclusive proof that I wasn’t alone in being late to the party. Fast-forward thirty years, and I’m the Payroll Manager at a local casino. (Yeah, life is weird.) Discovering that my lead processor, who was about my age, was a fellow Doors fan, I’d given her a copy of their debut album as a peace offering - didn’t work; we were destined not to get along - and against my better judgment we were playing “The End” in the office when one of the kids, who couldn’t have been more than twenty, perked-up with, “The Doors, cool!” I gave him a long stare and condescended, “C’mon, man, you can’t possibly know who The Doors were.” He returned my stare and said, “Jim Morrison. The Lizard King.” Every generation has its own thing, and that’s mostly for the best - but the great stuff endures.
it is a break up song wh/ initiates the protagonist to seek & exam his own self, freedom & place w/in a culture through wh/ he is operating w/in. the break up is what starts the vision quest. each stanza after scales up to see it on a higher & deeper level then just himself or even his time. it examines the entire cycle of the culture & civliz itself. the snake is time, fate & power. 7 miles=7k year. ie., the birth of the West in ancient greece & rome. ... notice at the end of the song, it returns back to the break up. he has now seen his vision & understands the soil on wh/ he stands. it isnt about death. rather examining death, trauma & even cultural fall, but how to find self sustaining freedom from it. to seek anew.
The opitome of an Oedipus Complex song. Many acid trips were taken with this song back in the late 60's. Believe me I know. The lyrics can be disturbing, but the vibe of the song still remain with me to this day, and I'm 71 years old. Good choice young man. Great song!
More than anyone else, Morrison embodied the bacchanalian spirit of the pagan celebrant with his passionate, wild revelry. He is like the avatar of the Dionysian aspect originally described by Nietzsche in "The Birth of Tragedy", and later referenced by Rush in "Hemispheres".
it may be. he certainly understood the draft & was much more aware of what was going on in nam in '66 well before it upramped by '68. he talked to his siblings & his father was in the middle of it as a top naval officer.... but its hard to know for sure. morrison loved blake symbolism. the blue bus may also converge w/ the snake as the passage way to death, implied by the snake metaphor.... listen close, the snake, is the dna genesis of western culture. each of the 7 mile was 1k years. hes dating it back to the times of the birth of Rome, then across the passage of time thru europe, over the shores, to the west (weird scenes inside the gold mine), then to his present modern LA empire. the west on the precipice. notice he mentions the snake sinking into the ancient lake. that is meant to say, the West was near its fall. the cycle was almost over. ancient rome to fallen USA empire. the ancient lake, the pacific. the edge of western culture, LA. the end in chaos, wars abroad & civil war w/in.... thus the blue bus, may be the passage way to death. blue, the sea. cycle completed. the fork in the road. go down w/ the ship or reject the order (hence the oedipal section in the song) & declare indiv freedom for self sustainment, post fall. the end isnt a death song. just an examination of it but a way beyond it.
Check out the finale to Francis Ford Coppola's 1978 dystopian Vietnam epic Apocalypse Now featuring a violent and pyrotechnic 'The End'. Still sends chills.
the took one of jim's poems about the weight and price of being in the war & putting it on the cutting floor. sheen reads it.... in the directors cut, you can see it. morrison wrote that poem.... copolla knew jim in college and was friends and admired his talents. its why he used the end in the film & it has so much power. if jim had lived, he probably wouldve been involved in the film in some capacity. francis also knew, jim grew up military & his own father was a top officer himself.
Jim delivered his dark green reptilian lyrics in a kind of trance, like an oracle. John's drumming is outstanding. What a great drummer he was. We used to listen to this over and over trying to transcribe the lyrics, looking for meaning. The meaning could only be discerned in an altered state. This song has retained its power over time, it still blows my mind to pieces
you dont need drugs. its actually in the jospeh campbell, book of Danial, william blake symbolist wheel house. sure drugs go w/ a vibe and song like this, but, if you understand how hes using metaphor here, it starts to become clear, he was actually drawing out a very lucid trace & vision of the arc of the western civilization. from ancient rome to modern LA media empire. the 7 mile snake is the 7k continuum of western culture from its egytian/roman acient dna to the presesnt modern media empire. the west on the precipice. protaganoist vision triggered by the trauma of break up. spurs a vision quest of self realization & ones place in this culture. then the last stanza back to his lover, proclaiming his vision & declaring breakage from this cultural fall & embracing self sustaining freedom. the end of an old way to embrace the brave new one.
They recorded this live in the studio and by most accounts this was take 2 with maybe a few edits and dubs. The "fuck me baby" stuff was on on the 1967 release but much later put back in the mix when they went back to the 4 track source tape and yes their first album was one on 4 track. It shows they played this song hundreds of times live so had it down far before going in the studio. Jim would vamp and add different parts in the middle or not to some parts but the main structure was meant to allow for that. It started off as a love song about Jim's high school girlfriend after they split up.
this is hands down the darkest song Morrison ever wrote and I loved it, thanks for sharing it with all of us. It was on the soundtrack of the movie Apocalypse Now, anyone who has never seen this movie owes it to themselves to watch it but make sure you watch the [ Redux ] version, it has about 20 extra minutes of scenes in it.
I've watched the "Redux" version, and the extra scenes are a waste of time IMVHO. Going to that plantation was an needless detour. That's why Mr. Coppola took it out of the theatrical release. It didn't add anything of substance to the movie, just time.
thank you for your thoughts I am of the opinion the plantation scene gave a little more perspective on how the war affected people in general but no matter what version you watch it was and still is a awesome movie.@@bobschenkel7921
thank you for your perspective, I always enjoy a healthy discussion from intelligent people like yourself. Like you said it just added a little more information about how the war affected peoples lives.@@Hartlor_Tayley
notice how morrison sings it... arguably the most dramatic gifted singer in re to creating mood. he put major tone & embedded meaning into his phrasing of lyrics. this is song as much like an actor on stage in an intense scene as it is someone singing a song. its why it has such mood & cinematic scape. morrison doesnt get enough credit for that. a few others (like bowie) could also do this. but morrison was arguably the first & still the best imo.
Simply a masterpiece. Not to mention one of the best debut albums, AND album cover photo’s of all time. Swirling ‘60’s psychedelia; what a trip! BTW, the organ seems to grt buried with headphones, but is more prominent with speakers. Either way, it plays with you the whole time while Jim, Robbie, and John deliver the goods.
Yeah the psychedelia was strong with this one lol but I totally dig it. These guys were... connected. With something. It's so utterly captivating at points that its almost otherworldly. Which leads me to believe they were channeling higher forces in their music. Or they just fucking rocked. Either or.
@@L33Reacts some would say darker forces.... not so sure about that.... I feel they were just really good at in sync powerful improv music. great jazz since from band mixed w/ raw power and vision of morrison.
It's available on streaming platforms --- the making of "The Doors" album from the VH1 show "Classic Albums". They interview the surviving members of the band (at the time), friends, managers, producers. They discuss inspiration for the songs and isolate various tracks. Brilliant show.
@rolanddeschain965. Great song! How bout unknown soldier... I moved to the States in 70. My 12 yr old brain was appalled by what was going on in Vietnam, after my very sheltered childhood. The Doors were so good at capturing the horror and the promise of the era!
Good lord I can't tell you how The End made the hair on my neck stand up as a 12 year old in 1967! What a trip. When they played this song live in LA clubs they were sometimes shut down and kicked out. Obviously Morrison's lyrics had a lot to do with it. But the original release didnt have the f*** word, or the live version of "mother, I want to...." because that just didn't happen in 1967. I'm glad you recognize the genius of John Densmore. Take a look at a live video sometime and look at the minimalistic drum kit he used and you will be amazed.
I found The Doors in the early 80s through listening to Echo and the Bunnymen who were heavily influenced by them… their drummer Pete De Freitas was amazing too, John Densmore was a massive influence on my drumming…..if you are not familiar with Echo and the Bunnymen they were a Liverpool based band in the 80s and are still touring , I saw them a few weeks ago in Glasgow and still amazing
Can you imagine what it must have been like seeing them live...?? Keeping Jim on a leash on stage was not an easy thing.. I don't know of any other band that had that issue...!!! Keep on Rocking young sir.
I'm a boomer born in 1959, I saw alot of concerts in the 70,s Led Zeppelin Pink Floyd Fleetwood Mac/ Skynyrd! But my favorite band is Steely Dan since 74😊
had a weird thought the other day what if Steely Dan could have written and composed a piece of music, but for Frank Sinatra to do the vocals on.... the cool would ooze from every note.. sorry weird rant from a fellow SD fan :D
This version of the song has been re-mixed. The original album version had Jim's curse words buried deep in the mix. You might suspect, but you couldn't prove that Jim was cursing, so these songs all got onto the radio.There are a lot of Doors songs with hidden cursing too, which effected the listener in a subliminal way. It's funny and interesting to now hear the cursing exposed. But I prefer the original mixed version. The obscured curses had a more subtle, dream-like effect, confusing, encouraging an out-of-body experience.
agree.... the straight implicit language isnt as powerfully symbolic.... its still raw and powerful. & certainly innovative (no one did that then), but the subtly imo worked better.
I thought this was an interesting read so... At its core, "The End" is a pilgrimage to the boundaries of existence, an audacious exploration of life's terminal edge. The song opens with the line "This is the end, beautiful friend" which immediately sets a somber tone and introduces the central theme of mortality. It evokes a sense of existential contemplation and serves as a reminder of our finite existence. The song's lyrics contain references to the Oedipus complex. Morrison famously sings "Father, I want to kill you, Mother, I want to…," symbolizing a rebellion against societal norms and traditional authority figures of the established order. As the serpent devours its own tail, so too does "The End" suggest a cyclical nature to life and the possibility of regeneration, a renewal of spirit. Through the ashes of destruction, we rise anew. How can one venture into the cosmic expanse without stepping upon the echoes of biblical tales and ancient wisdom? We are "Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain." This alludes to the idea of spiritual struggles and suffering, echoing themes of existential crisis and searching for meaning. Through the darkness and the turmoil, we strive to find solace and enlightenment. In this poetic labyrinth, psychedelic imagery and surreal landscapes are woven like mysterious strands of hallucinatory transcendence. The musical waves carry you on a journey through the vast corridors of the mind. Overall, "The End" can be seen as a multi-layered reflection on life, death, spiritual searching, and transformation/rebirth. It challenges the stagnant norms that suffocate our souls. It is a radical call to freedom, to transcendence, to break the chains of convention and awaken our dormant energies. In attempting to traverse the depths of the subconscious, it invites listeners to embrace the enigma, for "The End" is but the beginning and within lies the key to unlocking the doors of perception. - The Dweller on the Threshold Now that it's done, I've begun to see the reason why I'm here - The Endless Enigma, ELP
Robby Krieger was a student of flamenco guitar before going electric. Add a jazz drummer, a classical/jazz keyboardist and you have a criminally underrated group of musicians. Morrison would not have achieved his mythical status without them.
If you haven't seen it and have, like, 16 hours to kill, I'd recommend checking out the film "Apocalypse Now." The film starts off with this song and narrates a truly nuts opening scene of a man going mad. Martin Sheen absolutely kills it and I can think of no other song to frame the insanity so perfectly.
"The End" is used at the finale of the film "Apocalypse Now" to set the pace and lead us to the "Sacrifice". It is one of the most powerful scenes in the history of film....
A dark masterpiece ahead of its time.. Another early art rock piece to consider might be Jefferson Airplane's "You , Me, and Pooniel" (also from 1967) though it is infused with a bit more hippy nonsense and fun, it is also more abstract in it's composition and harmonies which paved the way for the later Avant Guard movement.
Heard The Doors play this at Asbury Park Convention Hall in 1968, so lucky. That venue is long gone, but The Doors live on. Over the years after Jim died you heard their music less and less on the radio, but it never disappeared. Then in 1991 the (excellent) Doors movie came out, and for the next few years the Doors' music was back on the radio again big time. Back in the 1990 I recall reading a couple of excellent books about the Doors; one was "No One Here Gets Out Alive--a very good read. Portions of "The End" and some other songs refer to an incident that happened when Jim was young. He was on vacation with his family in the southwest (believe it or not, his father was an Admiral in the US Navy) and they drove up to an accident, a vehicle was overturned and there were wounded/dying Indians on the road. That incident stuck with Jim throughout his (short) life, and I think it was the genesis of the southwest desert imagery in "The End" (when he refers to the ancient lake, it is likely the former Lake Bonneville), and also the genesis of his "Shaman" persona. Question for L33--I had previously asked for your paypal address but lost it, could you provide it again?
I've heard all kinds of... conspiracies... about his father. My grandpa was a master chief in the navy. Also 31st degree Scottish rite. He knew some SHIT. He never divulged anything while he was alive. But man, I read morals and dogma as a kid (I was very advanced lol) and it shattered my very narrow, Christian world views. Definitely confirmed a lot of things I felt were off in the Bible. But alas, those days are long past. I'll definitely check out that book. Sounds facisnating.
@@L33Reacts morrison was of scots blood also. his lineage goes back to scotland. his father grew up in the south as many scot irish did & do. they were the first to go into the applch pre revl b/c they didnt get along w/ the brits. first to volunteer to also fight brits. scots like mysticism & vigilant indiv freedom. meager food for souls forgot... you should listen to the doors song, WASP. its explores that lineage. the maiden w/ wrought iron soul.
@L33Reacts the doors had a regular gig at the Whiskey-a-gogo before they had an album out. This song was part of their set and originally a 3 minute song about faded love. They got fired the night Jim came in obviously peaking on something. This longer version was the result Jim was a genius in so many ways because he read everything. His family lived just outside DC when he was in high school. He once did a book report that his teacher that was totally made up because she had never heard of the book. It turned to be a book in the library of congress and is the only copy of the book known to exist.
Great, epic, Doors psychedelia and the Vietnam war as a backdrop for many when this came out. Tremendous tune, we cleaned a lot of Brown Columbian on that album cover! For another Doors epic, try When the Music's Over, more magic from this incredible band. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶
This is the song where you knew these boys were just a little different. What a way to "End" your first album. If you have seen the Francis Ford Coppola film "Apocalypse Now", this song plays over the first ten or so minutes, with helicopter sounds blended in, and Martin Sheen having a tough time in a Saigon hotel room. One of the most original songs in Rock history.
Ton son Nhut - off the plane and into the belly of the beast . THE END - “ the blue bus , driver where you taking us “. When I showed up at Oakland Induction center , it was the blue bus that took us to the airport.
I'm surprised you haven't already heard "Riders on the Storm." It was one of their big hits and played on the radio all the time at least when it first came out. If you haven't heard it, you don't know what you're missing. My other suggestion is "The Soft Parade." Both are major pieces like "When the Music's Over" and "The End." So is "Light My Fire."
The Doors could induce a trance or incite a riot and at times did both. Strongly recommend reading Morrison's poetry. The story goes that the first time they performed The End at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollyweird everybody in the place, customers, bartenders, waitresses, became mesmerized and stopped what they were doing until the song ended.
The Oedipal references is still shocking today. It makes me wonder how they got away with that back in the day? To me, I said it before and I’ll say it again, Densmore is criminally underrated as a drummer. He’s absolutely brilliant here and throughout their catalog of songs. Of course, Jim kind of garnered all the attention and sometimes the brilliance of the players in the band was overlooked at the time. It’s good that we can go back and re-examine the music and bring some of that brilliance into focus.
its power was staggering... people forget, this song as played here was in full form, played live for a couple of weeks in the LA summer of '66 at the influential club, the whisky a go go. no one, except maybe the velvet undergrd was in the doors zipcode in the summer of '66. when they played odines in nyc in late '66 w/ warhol, edie, nico & other nyc music hipsters and journalist, people were blown back in their seats. the doors brought not only a dark heavy vibe but power depth.
Check out Densmore's book "Riders On The Storm." He talks about his percussive influences. BTW: There's an 18-minute live version from New York of the "The End" that kills. Peace on earth.
John Densmore is probably one of the most overlooked drummer's in rock history. He just tears it up on this! Talk about being in the right place at the right time, these 4 guy's were a perfect compliment to each other. And Bruce Botnicks engineering is overlooked also. Personally, I can do without the f bomb's that were not included in the original version, reason being we all knew what was happening anyway, adds to the mystery or something. " When The Music's Over" next up?👍👍👍👍
I cannot think of this song anymore, without thinking of the opening of the movie Apocalypse Now. For us who lived during the Vietnam war, that song, and that opening scene, are a perfect metaphor for the time when it seemed that sanity had died. Little did we know what was to come in this century. Here’s a link to that opening scene. Incredible movie. Incredible song. The Combination is greater than the sum of its parts. ua-cam.com/video/E-QefTioe3I/v-deo.htmlsi=ZPVgnFHqjD5iWS7y
Two of the greatest debut albums of all time came Out the same year and very much represent their coasts: The Doors (West Coast) and The Velvet Underground and Nico (NYC). The Velvet Underground and Nico are very different in that they are riding subways to score heroin and Jim is riding the snake and the blue bus. Two albums representing similar themes but very representative of their locales. Two brilliant albums.
agree.... the both were created in the same time period (spring-summer of '66). no one was in their zipcode the summer thru fall of '66. warhol, nico & edie got to see them live too at odines, fall '66, nyc. that was as landmark a show as in july when he played the whisky w/ van morrison.
You don't really get this song until you've read the lyrics. It's Jim Morrison as Oedipus Rex and you may want to know what all the eff words were about.
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As a bartender, I put this song on the jukebox after last call, and kicked everyone out when the song ended.
Did the airstrike help remove the last customers? (If you know, you know...)
Apocalyptic!!.......
sounds like a dream job
This is why "Apocolypse Now" won the Academy Award for best soundtrack in 1979.
The curious thing about the _The Doors_ is that they're always being re-discovered by younger people who are looking for something different than the current pop hits. Jim Morrison, with all his faults, managed to write some timeless, fascinating lyrics that, even today, compel listeners to pay close attention. He performed these songs with his band, without any musical training whatsoever. One day he just decided he wanted to be a singer, he wanted to bring his poetry to life, and yet, he never took any singing lessons. I find this rather amazing - and inspirational. I suspect people will still be listening to _The Doors_ 100 years from now. Thanks for posting this. Now consider giving _The Crystal Ship_ a listen.
Yeah it's very timeless feeling and sounding. They seemed to have let their minds roam in the ancient Halls of our consciousness and found all those rooms you aren't supposed to go into. The abyss is real. They knew some stuff. You can just feel it. But yeah, great stuff. This was awesome 👌
@@L33Reacts Yeah, I agree. They paint a surreal portrait of a land filled with light and dark shadows. Like balancing between the delightful and the dreadful. More than most rock bands of their era, _The Doors_ music seems to have these weird, built-in psychological triggers - like a cocktail drug made from a combination of their music, lyrics and vocals. It's actually what they were trying to do - and in this song, and also _When The Music's Over_ they achieved this effect.
I totally agree, that's what happened to me when I was 16, in 1992, and discovered the Doors, (and Pink Floyd). The Crystal Ship is my favourite Doors song, but the live version of When The Music's Over comes close.
@@L33Reacts I remember reading an interview with Jim Morrison years ago where he said the band's name was shortened to The Doors from The Doors Of Perception. Their music can open some doors if you let it.
They will be listening to the Doors 1,000 years from now...
This song and Apocalypse Now - the most perfect pairing of song and movie.
Robert Plant once said that this might just be the best song ever written. In addition to the avant-garde/free form music, the lyrics themselves have multiple meanings...from an individual's lament about their own demise, to the end of a societal/cultural epoch during the turbulent sixties. Morrison was a true visionary and talented poet as well.
well said. the meaning is multi layered and scale up to mesh the story on several concurrent levels. it takes flight, then comes back down to the beach again, in the last stanza. plant's since of phrasing was certainly influenced by morrison. ditto bono, bowie & iggy. morrison was inconsistent moreso then those guys. but when he was dialed in on his A game, no one, incl those talents could evoke mood and palpable danger and suspense like morrison. goth and punk before both were created.
Looking back to Los Angeles in the 60’s things were quite interesting on a number of levels…
It was during the first thirty seconds at a screening of APOCALYPSE NOW in 1979 - Jim Morrison’s somnolent intonation of “This is the end” over napalm in the trees - that at 19 I became damn-near obsessive over the film itself, and a confirmed Doors fan for life. I wrote about the film for our college paper, and it wasn’t enough. A year or two later Rolling Stone published an article on the Doors then-revival featuring a shirtless Morrison on the cover (!) along with the tagline “He’s hot, he’s sexy, and he’s dead,” offering-up pretty conclusive proof that I wasn’t alone in being late to the party.
Fast-forward thirty years, and I’m the Payroll Manager at a local casino. (Yeah, life is weird.) Discovering that my lead processor, who was about my age, was a fellow Doors fan, I’d given her a copy of their debut album as a peace offering - didn’t work; we were destined not to get along - and against my better judgment we were playing “The End” in the office when one of the kids, who couldn’t have been more than twenty, perked-up with, “The Doors, cool!” I gave him a long stare and condescended, “C’mon, man, you can’t possibly know who The Doors were.” He returned my stare and said, “Jim Morrison. The Lizard King.” Every generation has its own thing, and that’s mostly for the best - but the great stuff endures.
LOL. You went there. You can't imagine the 1967 music scene. And this was from their DEBUT album. All great songs.
Mad geniuses ...
1967, the magic musical year!
Morrison initially wrote the lyrics about his breakup with an ex girlfriend. Parts of the lyric are based on the story of Oedipus.
it is a break up song wh/ initiates the protagonist to seek & exam his own self, freedom & place w/in a culture through wh/ he is operating w/in. the break up is what starts the vision quest. each stanza after scales up to see it on a higher & deeper level then just himself or even his time. it examines the entire cycle of the culture & civliz itself. the snake is time, fate & power. 7 miles=7k year. ie., the birth of the West in ancient greece & rome. ... notice at the end of the song, it returns back to the break up. he has now seen his vision & understands the soil on wh/ he stands. it isnt about death. rather examining death, trauma & even cultural fall, but how to find self sustaining freedom from it. to seek anew.
Jim is at his best here❤ thank you for your love of this amazing band ❤
The opitome of an Oedipus Complex song. Many acid trips were taken with this song back in the late 60's. Believe me I know. The lyrics can be disturbing, but the vibe of the song still remain with me to this day, and I'm 71 years old. Good choice young man. Great song!
Very few people know that the Doors did not have a bass player. All bass lines were filled in with the keyboard.
This was quite an epic ride!!
He came to a DOOR was no coincidence
Early Trance music
Want this played at my funeral. Why not!
More than anyone else, Morrison embodied the bacchanalian spirit of the pagan celebrant with his passionate, wild revelry. He is like the avatar of the Dionysian aspect originally described by Nietzsche in "The Birth of Tragedy", and later referenced by Rush in "Hemispheres".
Drunk on passion. Dancing around the fire until the sun came up. Old ghosts dancing in our light
THE BLUE BUS was the Army Bus being sent around to collect drafted young folks...
it may be. he certainly understood the draft & was much more aware of what was going on in nam in '66 well before it upramped by '68. he talked to his siblings & his father was in the middle of it as a top naval officer.... but its hard to know for sure. morrison loved blake symbolism. the blue bus may also converge w/ the snake as the passage way to death, implied by the snake metaphor.... listen close, the snake, is the dna genesis of western culture. each of the 7 mile was 1k years. hes dating it back to the times of the birth of Rome, then across the passage of time thru europe, over the shores, to the west (weird scenes inside the gold mine), then to his present modern LA empire. the west on the precipice. notice he mentions the snake sinking into the ancient lake. that is meant to say, the West was near its fall. the cycle was almost over. ancient rome to fallen USA empire. the ancient lake, the pacific. the edge of western culture, LA. the end in chaos, wars abroad & civil war w/in.... thus the blue bus, may be the passage way to death. blue, the sea. cycle completed. the fork in the road. go down w/ the ship or reject the order (hence the oedipal section in the song) & declare indiv freedom for self sustainment, post fall. the end isnt a death song. just an examination of it but a way beyond it.
@@kelvinkloud bro dont bogart what youre smokin.... pass that shit already!
I have wondered about that for forever!
@@kelvinkloud👏🏼🤌🏼
Check out the finale to Francis Ford Coppola's 1978 dystopian Vietnam epic Apocalypse Now featuring a violent and pyrotechnic 'The End'. Still sends chills.
the took one of jim's poems about the weight and price of being in the war & putting it on the cutting floor. sheen reads it.... in the directors cut, you can see it. morrison wrote that poem.... copolla knew jim in college and was friends and admired his talents. its why he used the end in the film & it has so much power. if jim had lived, he probably wouldve been involved in the film in some capacity. francis also knew, jim grew up military & his own father was a top officer himself.
I love how you can hear the studio in the recording
I was lucky enough to see them in Germany in 1968. The opener was Canned Heat. One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen. Even took pictures.
Holy cow you should memorialize that in writing. How extraordinary!
"People are strange when you're a stranger.
Faces look ugly when you are down."
...When you're alone..
First Doors song I ever heard
I always think of the movie Apocalypse Now when I hear this song.
Jim delivered his dark green reptilian lyrics in a kind of trance, like an oracle. John's drumming is outstanding. What a great drummer he was. We used to listen to this over and over trying to transcribe the lyrics, looking for meaning. The meaning could only be discerned in an altered state. This song has retained its power over time, it still blows my mind to pieces
you dont need drugs. its actually in the jospeh campbell, book of Danial, william blake symbolist wheel house. sure drugs go w/ a vibe and song like this, but, if you understand how hes using metaphor here, it starts to become clear, he was actually drawing out a very lucid trace & vision of the arc of the western civilization. from ancient rome to modern LA media empire. the 7 mile snake is the 7k continuum of western culture from its egytian/roman acient dna to the presesnt modern media empire. the west on the precipice. protaganoist vision triggered by the trauma of break up. spurs a vision quest of self realization & ones place in this culture. then the last stanza back to his lover, proclaiming his vision & declaring breakage from this cultural fall & embracing self sustaining freedom. the end of an old way to embrace the brave new one.
Wow, really great description! 🦎 👑
They recorded this live in the studio and by most accounts this was take 2 with maybe a few edits and dubs. The "fuck me baby" stuff was on on the 1967 release but much later put back in the mix when they went back to the 4 track source tape and yes their first album was one on 4 track. It shows they played this song hundreds of times live so had it down far before going in the studio. Jim would vamp and add different parts in the middle or not to some parts but the main structure was meant to allow for that. It started off as a love song about Jim's high school girlfriend after they split up.
this is hands down the darkest song Morrison ever wrote and I loved it, thanks for sharing it with all of us. It was on the soundtrack of the movie Apocalypse Now, anyone who has never seen this movie owes it to themselves to watch it but make sure you watch the [ Redux ] version, it has about 20 extra minutes of scenes in it.
I've watched the "Redux" version, and the extra scenes are a waste of time IMVHO. Going to that plantation was an needless detour. That's why Mr. Coppola took it out of the theatrical release. It didn't add anything of substance to the movie, just time.
Redux sucks!!! Stick with the Theatrical Cut.
thank you for your thoughts I am of the opinion the plantation scene gave a little more perspective on how the war affected people in general but no matter what version you watch it was and still is a awesome movie.@@bobschenkel7921
thank you for your perspective, I always enjoy a healthy discussion from intelligent people like yourself. Like you said it just added a little more information about how the war affected peoples lives.@@Hartlor_Tayley
no matter what version anyone watches it's still a awesome movie to see and the soundtrack was incredible, thanks for your point of view.@@jefmay3053
"Evil carnival jig..."
Perfect description, lol...🤣
I thought it felt appropriate as well 😅 🤣
"Evil carnival jig" is good. Made me laugh. I've heard this 10,000 times and sounds better every time. Thanks for the great channel brother. ❤❤❤
Hahaha glad you enjoyed my friend. That was definitely the vibes I was getting there 🤣🤣
"The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on" with that guitar in the background ,always raises the hair the back of my neck.
notice how morrison sings it... arguably the most dramatic gifted singer in re to creating mood. he put major tone & embedded meaning into his phrasing of lyrics. this is song as much like an actor on stage in an intense scene as it is someone singing a song. its why it has such mood & cinematic scape. morrison doesnt get enough credit for that. a few others (like bowie) could also do this. but morrison was arguably the first & still the best imo.
The Doors recently put out an archival live album where Jim dedicates The End to a newlywed couple in the front row.
Definitely 'Riders on the Storm'!
My favourite Doors song.
Had it in my head this morning before watching this.
Check out 5 to 1 by the Doors. One of my favorite Doors songs.
LA in the mid- to late- 60s must have been wild.
Absolutely nuts, probably .. I wish I could have seen it lol
It was. Cars, beach, music, weed, psychedelics and really, really bad smog. Really bad.
Simply a masterpiece. Not to mention one of the best debut albums, AND album cover photo’s of all time. Swirling ‘60’s psychedelia; what a trip! BTW, the organ seems to grt buried with headphones, but is more prominent with speakers. Either way, it plays with you the whole time while Jim, Robbie, and John deliver the goods.
Yeah the psychedelia was strong with this one lol but I totally dig it. These guys were... connected. With something. It's so utterly captivating at points that its almost otherworldly. Which leads me to believe they were channeling higher forces in their music. Or they just fucking rocked. Either or.
@@L33Reacts some would say darker forces.... not so sure about that.... I feel they were just really good at in sync powerful improv music. great jazz since from band mixed w/ raw power and vision of morrison.
This was their first studio album with their big hit 'Light My Fire' and 'The End'.
Weird, I remember doing Acid (California sunshine) and listening to this with my mates..... Crazy days Indeed. Loving your channel brother.
Glad you enjoy it my friend! This music makes it worth every second. Sounds like the good ol days 😁
I read somewhere that this Doors album shared the charts with the Beatles’s Sgt. Peppers album in 1967…what a year!!!
It's available on streaming platforms --- the making of "The Doors" album from the VH1 show "Classic Albums". They interview the surviving members of the band (at the time), friends, managers, producers. They discuss inspiration for the songs and isolate various tracks. Brilliant show.
Check out 'The Soft Parade'.......A song worth reacting to or just listening to in your spare time. So much Talent Demonstrated in this dynamic song.
Sorry to miss this live.
So many memories around this cut.
The soundtrack of 67 - warm beer , hootches , LZ English . This always brings it back
When the Music's Over is a favorite too.
Yea January 1967, amazing! Back when new musicians dared to try... begged to differ... were willing to break down the barriers...
5 to 1 baby, 1 in 5, no one here gets , out alive
@rolanddeschain965. Great song! How bout unknown soldier... I moved to the States in 70. My 12 yr old brain was appalled by what was going on in Vietnam, after my very sheltered childhood. The Doors were so good at capturing the horror and the promise of the era!
Good lord I can't tell you how The End made the hair on my neck stand up as a 12 year old in 1967! What a trip. When they played this song live in LA clubs they were sometimes shut down and kicked out. Obviously Morrison's lyrics had a lot to do with it. But the original release didnt have the f*** word, or the live version of "mother, I want to...." because that just didn't happen in 1967. I'm glad you recognize the genius of John Densmore. Take a look at a live video sometime and look at the minimalistic drum kit he used and you will be amazed.
I found The Doors in the early 80s through listening to Echo and the Bunnymen who were heavily influenced by them… their drummer Pete De Freitas was amazing too, John Densmore was a massive influence on my drumming…..if you are not familiar with Echo and the Bunnymen they were a Liverpool based band in the 80s and are still touring , I saw them a few weeks ago in Glasgow and still amazing
Can you imagine what it must have been like seeing them live...?? Keeping Jim on a leash on stage was not an easy thing.. I don't know of any other band that had that issue...!!! Keep on Rocking young sir.
When Syd Barrett fronted Pink Floyd, things must have been weird, maybe not at first, but as he got sicker.
I bought this album when I was 12, on the strength of Light My Fire radio airplay. This song scared me enough to not play for a long while!
jim morrison is one of a kind
Simply irreplaceable.
I'm a boomer born in 1959, I saw alot of concerts in the 70,s Led Zeppelin Pink Floyd Fleetwood Mac/ Skynyrd! But my favorite band is Steely Dan since 74😊
had a weird thought the other day
what if Steely Dan could have written and composed a piece of music, but for Frank Sinatra to do the vocals on....
the cool would ooze from every note..
sorry weird rant from a fellow SD fan :D
This is the soundtrack to the movie Apocalypse Now. It provides a brilliant backdrop to Jim's lyrical mind. A definite must watch for all. 🙏🎶
The Doors by Oliver Stone is a must see (if controversial) movie.
This version of the song has been re-mixed. The original album version had Jim's curse words buried deep in the mix. You might suspect, but you couldn't prove that Jim was cursing, so these songs all got onto the radio.There are a lot of Doors songs with hidden cursing too, which effected the listener in a subliminal way. It's funny and interesting to now hear the cursing exposed. But I prefer the original mixed version. The obscured curses had a more subtle, dream-like effect, confusing, encouraging an out-of-body experience.
agree.... the straight implicit language isnt as powerfully symbolic.... its still raw and powerful. & certainly innovative (no one did that then), but the subtly imo worked better.
I thought this was an interesting read so...
At its core, "The End" is a pilgrimage to the boundaries of existence, an audacious exploration of life's terminal edge. The song opens with the line "This is the end, beautiful friend" which immediately sets a somber tone and introduces the central theme of mortality. It evokes a sense of existential contemplation and serves as a reminder of our finite existence. The song's lyrics contain references to the Oedipus complex. Morrison famously sings "Father, I want to kill you, Mother, I want to…," symbolizing a rebellion against societal norms and traditional authority figures of the established order. As the serpent devours its own tail, so too does "The End" suggest a cyclical nature to life and the possibility of regeneration, a renewal of spirit. Through the ashes of destruction, we rise anew. How can one venture into the cosmic expanse without stepping upon the echoes of biblical tales and ancient wisdom? We are "Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain." This alludes to the idea of spiritual struggles and suffering, echoing themes of existential crisis and searching for meaning. Through the darkness and the turmoil, we strive to find solace and enlightenment. In this poetic labyrinth, psychedelic imagery and surreal landscapes are woven like mysterious strands of hallucinatory transcendence. The musical waves carry you on a journey through the vast corridors of the mind.
Overall, "The End" can be seen as a multi-layered reflection on life, death, spiritual searching, and transformation/rebirth. It challenges the stagnant norms that suffocate our souls. It is a radical call to freedom, to transcendence, to break the chains of convention and awaken our dormant energies. In attempting to traverse the depths of the subconscious, it invites listeners to embrace the enigma, for "The End" is but the beginning and within lies the key to unlocking the doors of perception. - The Dweller on the Threshold
Now that it's done, I've begun to see the reason why I'm here - The Endless Enigma, ELP
When the music's over & The Soft Parade. Much more powerfull & interesting.
One of the few songs whit Doors I like ,Riders on a storm is my favorit.
Goosebumps, still, after all these years.
Robby Krieger was a student of flamenco guitar before going electric. Add a jazz drummer, a classical/jazz keyboardist and you have a criminally underrated group of musicians. Morrison would not have achieved his mythical status without them.
Next: Not To Touch The Earth
I love the smell of napalm in the morning. Now you need to watch Apocalypse Now based on Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Cinematic peak.
I've seen it many times. It's one of my favorite war movies.
If you haven't seen it and have, like, 16 hours to kill, I'd recommend checking out the film "Apocalypse Now." The film starts off with this song and narrates a truly nuts opening scene of a man going mad. Martin Sheen absolutely kills it and I can think of no other song to frame the insanity so perfectly.
Hands down my favorite Doors song
This was a song in the 70s Vietnam classic movie "Apocalypse Now." The Doors and Jim Morrison were like no other Band.
"The End" is used at the finale of the film "Apocalypse Now" to set the pace and lead us to the "Sacrifice". It is one of the most powerful scenes in the history of film....
its also in the opening credits..
@@ripvanwinkle2002 Yes, leading into the Napalm drop
@@ripvanwinkle2002 Catskill Mountains?
@@robinreiley1828 i dont understand the question lol
@@ripvanwinkle2002 RIP Van Winkle is a tale from the Catskill Mountains of New York. I was wondering if that's where you are from
Read the old Greek Tragedy Oedipus. Imagine Morrison's mother shock the first time he sang it live with her in the audience.
A dark masterpiece ahead of its time.. Another early art rock piece to consider might be Jefferson Airplane's "You , Me, and Pooniel" (also from 1967) though it is infused with a bit more hippy nonsense and fun, it is also more abstract in it's composition and harmonies which paved the way for the later Avant Guard movement.
Heard The Doors play this at Asbury Park Convention Hall in 1968, so lucky. That venue is long gone, but The Doors live on. Over the years after Jim died you heard their music less and less on the radio, but it never disappeared. Then in 1991 the (excellent) Doors movie came out, and for the next few years the Doors' music was back on the radio again big time. Back in the 1990 I recall reading a couple of excellent books about the Doors; one was "No One Here Gets Out Alive--a very good read. Portions of "The End" and some other songs refer to an incident that happened when Jim was young. He was on vacation with his family in the southwest (believe it or not, his father was an Admiral in the US Navy) and they drove up to an accident, a vehicle was overturned and there were wounded/dying Indians on the road. That incident stuck with Jim throughout his (short) life, and I think it was the genesis of the southwest desert imagery in "The End" (when he refers to the ancient lake, it is likely the former Lake Bonneville), and also the genesis of his "Shaman" persona. Question for L33--I had previously asked for your paypal address but lost it, could you provide it again?
I've heard all kinds of... conspiracies... about his father. My grandpa was a master chief in the navy. Also 31st degree Scottish rite. He knew some SHIT. He never divulged anything while he was alive. But man, I read morals and dogma as a kid (I was very advanced lol) and it shattered my very narrow, Christian world views. Definitely confirmed a lot of things I felt were off in the Bible. But alas, those days are long past. I'll definitely check out that book. Sounds facisnating.
My PayPal is @L33Reacts
@@L33Reacts morrison was of scots blood also. his lineage goes back to scotland. his father grew up in the south as many scot irish did & do. they were the first to go into the applch pre revl b/c they didnt get along w/ the brits. first to volunteer to also fight brits. scots like mysticism & vigilant indiv freedom. meager food for souls forgot... you should listen to the doors song, WASP. its explores that lineage. the maiden w/ wrought iron soul.
Love psychedelic music! The Stones have one called Aftermath the Beatles have one called #9
@L33Reacts the doors had a regular gig at the Whiskey-a-gogo before they had an album out. This song was part of their set and originally a 3 minute song about faded love. They got fired the night Jim came in obviously peaking on something. This longer version was the result
Jim was a genius in so many ways because he read everything. His family lived just outside DC when he was in high school. He once did a book report that his teacher that was totally made up because she had never heard of the book. It turned to be a book in the library of congress and is the only copy of the book known to exist.
Best debut of all time ❤ you are so good at picking up on stuff❤
The American Prayer album is a must for you.
Jim was obssessed with THE END, the other side and he go there quick.
Great, epic, Doors psychedelia and the Vietnam war as a backdrop for many when this came out. Tremendous tune, we cleaned a lot of Brown Columbian on that album cover! For another Doors epic, try When the Music's Over, more magic from this incredible band. Enjoy! 🎵🎸🎤🎹🎶
🌸 the song is a Trance.................
This is the song where you knew these boys were just a little different. What a way to "End" your first album. If you have seen the Francis Ford Coppola film "Apocalypse Now", this song plays over the first ten or so minutes, with helicopter sounds blended in, and Martin Sheen having a tough time in a Saigon hotel room. One of the most original songs in Rock history.
Ton son Nhut - off the plane and into the belly of the beast . THE END - “ the blue bus , driver where you taking us “. When I showed up at Oakland Induction center , it was the blue bus that took us to the airport.
The best doors song ever period
I'm surprised you haven't already heard "Riders on the Storm." It was one of their big hits and played on the radio all the time at least when it first came out. If you haven't heard it, you don't know what you're missing. My other suggestion is "The Soft Parade." Both are major pieces like "When the Music's Over" and "The End." So is "Light My Fire."
What a finale to their debut album
The Doors could induce a trance or incite a riot and at times did both.
Strongly recommend reading Morrison's poetry.
The story goes that the first time they performed The End at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollyweird everybody in the place, customers, bartenders, waitresses, became mesmerized and stopped what they were doing until the song ended.
The Oedipal references is still shocking today. It makes me wonder how they got away with that back in the day?
To me, I said it before and I’ll say it again, Densmore is criminally underrated as a drummer. He’s absolutely brilliant here and throughout their catalog of songs. Of course, Jim kind of garnered all the attention and sometimes the brilliance of the players in the band was overlooked at the time. It’s good that we can go back and re-examine the music and bring some of that brilliance into focus.
This song scared the shit out of people when it was first released.
its power was staggering... people forget, this song as played here was in full form, played live for a couple of weeks in the LA summer of '66 at the influential club, the whisky a go go. no one, except maybe the velvet undergrd was in the doors zipcode in the summer of '66. when they played odines in nyc in late '66 w/ warhol, edie, nico & other nyc music hipsters and journalist, people were blown back in their seats. the doors brought not only a dark heavy vibe but power depth.
You were not expecting that hey!!
Check out Densmore's book "Riders On The Storm."
He talks about his percussive influences.
BTW: There's an 18-minute live version from New York
of the "The End" that kills.
Peace on earth.
You should do Soft Parade and Peace Frog!
John Densmore is probably one of the most overlooked drummer's in rock history. He just tears it up on this! Talk about being in the right place at the right time, these 4 guy's were a perfect compliment to each other. And Bruce Botnicks engineering is overlooked also.
Personally, I can do without the f bomb's that were not included in the original version, reason being we all knew what was happening anyway, adds to the mystery or something. " When The Music's Over" next up?👍👍👍👍
Have a good trip !
Buckle up for this ride on Jim's blue bus. RIP JIM AND RAY
Check out the opening scenes from apocalypse now it will give you another perspective
I cannot think of this song anymore, without thinking of the opening of the movie Apocalypse Now. For us who lived during the Vietnam war, that song, and that opening scene, are a perfect metaphor for the time when it seemed that sanity had died. Little did we know what was to come in this century. Here’s a link to that opening scene. Incredible movie. Incredible song. The Combination is greater than the sum of its parts.
ua-cam.com/video/E-QefTioe3I/v-deo.htmlsi=ZPVgnFHqjD5iWS7y
I proper chilled listening to this. Thanks man 👍🏻
We ALL had this album. Where's the shroooms? 😊❤
The beginning of Apocalypse Now... crazy good
Zappa has a parody on this song. It is called "Tiny sick tears". Look it up.
sets the mood music :)
Two of the greatest debut albums of all time came
Out the same year and very much represent their coasts: The Doors (West Coast) and The Velvet Underground and Nico (NYC). The Velvet Underground and Nico are very different in that they are riding subways to score heroin and Jim is riding the snake and the blue bus. Two albums representing similar themes but very representative of their locales. Two brilliant albums.
agree.... the both were created in the same time period (spring-summer of '66). no one was in their zipcode the summer thru fall of '66. warhol, nico & edie got to see them live too at odines, fall '66, nyc. that was as landmark a show as in july when he played the whisky w/ van morrison.
Also on my funeral playlist 😂
maybe check out" Roadhouse Blues"
If you havent done " Pinball Wizard" somewhere, I wish you would. You would love it! Oh yeah The Who. Every one of their sings is profound.
Great great song
You don't really get this song until you've read the lyrics. It's Jim Morrison as Oedipus Rex and you may want to know what all the eff words were about.