The End

Jim Morrison, Albert King

About The End

"The End" is an epic song by the American rock band the Doors. Lead singer Jim Morrison initially wrote the lyrics about his break up with girlfriend Mary Werbelow, but it evolved through months of performances at the Whisky a Go Go into a much longer song. The Doors recorded a nearly 12-minute version for their self-titled debut album, which was released on January 4, 1967."The End" was recorded live in the studio with no overdubbing. Two takes were recorded, with reportedly the second being used for the album. It was the last song the original group performed at their last concert on December 12, 1970, at The Warehouse in New Orleans. 


Year:
1998
16:29
3,738 
#6

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This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of ev'rything 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 strangers 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
There's danger on the edge of town
Ride the king's highway
Weird scenes inside the goldmine
Ride the highway West baby

Ride the snake
Ride the snake
To the lake
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 calling us
The blue bus is calling us
Driver, where you taking 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 walked on down the hall
And he came to a door
And he looked inside
Father?
Yes son
I want to kill you
Mother, I want to...

Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
Come on, baby, take a chance with us
And meet me at the back of the blue bus

This 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-aca

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Jim Morrison

James Douglas "Jim" Morrison (December 8, 1943 – July 3, 1971) was an American singer-songwriter and poet, best remembered as the lead singer of Los Angeles rock band The Doors. Following The Doors' explosive rise to fame in 1967, Morrison developed a severe alcohol and drug dependency that culminated in his death at the age of 27 in Paris. He is alleged to have died of a heroin overdose, but as no autopsy was performed, the exact cause of his death is still disputed. more »

1 fan

Written by: Alexandria Rae Koehler, Kathryn Sarah Goodman, Monica Cassia Grzymkowski

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Genre
The song "The End" is considered a prime example of psychedelic rock – a genre associated with non-traditional song structures, sophisticated lyrics, and elaborate production.
Band's Original Composition
"The End" was one of the first songs that The Doors wrote collectively as a band. The tracks ​were crafted shortly after Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, John Densmore, and Robby Krieger formed the band in 1965.
Album Appearance
The song appeared on the band's debut, self-titled album "The Doors," released in 1967. It was never released as a single but still managed to become one of the band’s signature songs.
Song Duration
Clocking in at over 11 minutes long, "The End" is the longest track on the album, and because of its duration, it was initially regarded as not radio-friendly.
Oedipal Section
The song gained notoriety for its controversial Oedipal section. The lyrics, as interpreted by many, make a reference to the Greek tragedy of Oedipus, a story about a son who kills his father and marries his mother.
Banned by BBC
Because of the controversial lyrics, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) initially banned "The End."
Use in Movies
The iconic director Francis Ford Coppola used "The End" during the opening and closing scenes of the 1979 movie "Apocalypse Now." Since then, it has been used in film and television numerous times.
Recording Process
During the recording of "The End," the lights in the studio were turned off except for a single candle burning, allowing Morrison to take the band on a "journey."
Live Performances
Due to its length and intensity, "The End" was not regularly performed live in its entirety by The Doors. However, on occasions when it was played, it usually marked the end of the band's set.
Commemoration
Rolling Stone magazine has included "The End" at number 336 in their '500 Greatest Songs of All Time,' praising its hypnotic, understated instrumental theme, and grandeur.
Evolution of the Song
According to various band members, "The End" evolved from a simple goodbye song to a complex piece with the addition of the Oedipal section. The boundary-pushing nature of its subject matter and execution became a staple of the band's work in the future.

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