About the song
“The End” by The Doors is a haunting and mesmerizing track that captures the band’s dark, poetic vision. Featured on their 1967 debut album, “The Doors,” this song stands out as one of the band’s most ambitious and controversial works. Written by lead vocalist Jim Morrison, the song spans nearly 12 minutes and showcases the band’s ability to blend rock, blues, and psychedelic elements into a powerful and cohesive piece.
“The End” begins with a slow, hypnotic instrumental introduction, featuring Robby Krieger’s ethereal guitar work, Ray Manzarek’s haunting keyboard melodies, and John Densmore’s delicate drumming. Morrison’s deep, brooding voice soon enters, delivering lyrics that are both surreal and deeply personal. The song’s narrative is enigmatic, filled with vivid imagery and existential musings that reflect Morrison’s fascination with death, rebirth, and the human psyche.
The song’s lyrics are perhaps its most compelling aspect. Morrison’s words are rich with symbolism and open to various interpretations. Phrases like “This is the end, beautiful friend” and “Lost in a Roman wilderness of pain” evoke a sense of finality and introspection. The song reaches its dramatic peak with a controversial and intense spoken-word section, often interpreted as an Oedipal journey, that pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable in mainstream music at the time.
Upon its release, “The End” quickly became one of The Doors’ most talked-about songs. While it never charted as a single, its impact was profound, both in the context of the album and in the band’s live performances. “The Doors” album itself was a commercial success, reaching number two on the Billboard 200 chart and solidifying the band’s place in rock history.
“The End” has also found its way into popular culture, most notably in the opening sequence of Francis Ford Coppola’s 1979 film “Apocalypse Now.” The song’s ominous and foreboding tone perfectly complemented the film’s themes of chaos and destruction, introducing it to a new generation of listeners.
For older listeners, “The End” may evoke memories of a turbulent era marked by social and political upheaval. The song’s dark themes and Morrison’s intense performance capture the spirit of the late 1960s, a time when music was often a reflection of the broader cultural landscape. For newer generations, “The End” offers a glimpse into The Doors’ innovative approach to rock music and their willingness to explore complex and controversial themes.
In conclusion, “The End” remains a timeless and influential piece of The Doors’ catalog. Its combination of haunting melodies, evocative lyrics, and Morrison’s powerful delivery make it a standout track that continues to captivate and inspire listeners. Whether you’re revisiting it or discovering it for the first time, “The End” is a profound musical journey that highlights the enduring legacy of The Doors.
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Lyrics
This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end
No safety or surprise, the end
I’ll never look into your eyes…again
Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need…of some…stranger’s hand
In a…desperate land ?Lost in a Roman…wilderness of pain
And all the children are insane
All the children are insane
Waiting for the summer rain, yeah
There’s danger on the edge of town
Ride the King’s highway, baby
Weird scenes inside the gold mine
Ride the highway west, baby
Ride the snake, ride the snake
To the lake, the ancient lake, baby
The snake is long, seven miles
Ride the snake…he’s old, and his skin is cold
The west is the best
The west is the best
Get here, and we’ll do the rest
The blue bus is callin’ us
The blue bus is callin’ us
Driver, where you taken’ us ?The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on
He took a face from the ancient gallery
And he walked on down the hall
He went into the room where his sister lived, and…then he
Paid a visit to his brother, and then he
He walked on down the hall, and
And he came to a door…and he looked inside
“Father ?”, “yes son”, “I want to kill you”
“Mother…I want to…fuck you”C’mon baby, take a chance with us X3
And meet me at the back of the blue bus
Doin’ a blue rock, On a blue bus
Doin’ a blue rock, C’mon, yeah
Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, killThis is the end, Beautiful friend
This is the end, My only friend, the end
It hurts to set you free
But you’ll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end