The Doors, The End - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

#thedoors #theend #jimmorrison
“The End”. The end of what? This song is a dramatic and perhaps even grotesque exaggeration of a philosophical concept. But through it, Jim Morrison explores this idea of THE end from several different angles.
Here’s the link to the original song by The Doors:
• The End
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Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
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Credits: Music written and performed by The Doors
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[@johnscott33]

WOW, Thank you. You're the first reaction channel I've seen that actually addressed the meaning of the song. It's very deep and completely messed up. But very real.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Not the first but most do the top 40 garbage crap

[@Sirala6]

Oedipus Wrecks

[@alnelms3416]

Athentic response ....love ya!

[@johnscott33]

@@Sirala6 Oedipus Wreck No Doubt. It's flawed Freudian BS, But I think He knew that.

[@BaronSpamedi]

Err, it's Oedipus Rex (Oedipus the King). It's an ancient Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. He touches on the themes of Oedipus Rex once or twice in the lyrics but most of it is just unrelated 'trippy' imagery because it sounded cool when he said it, as far as I can tell.

[@patricknelson5151]

One of the greatest film openings ever is the opening to Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now.” You see military helicopters flying over the Vietnamese jungle (actually the Philippine jungle) while “The End” plays. Just as Morrison sings “This is the end…”, the entire jungle explores into flames. Yet all you hear on the soundtrack is the Doors. It is a truly unforgettable moment.

[@aisle_of_view]

"Saigon..."

[@mirandak3273]

I agree it’s a powerful usage. I also think it has the sense of heaviness and foreboding that Amy picks up. Added is that the weight of thick southern humid air is definitely in the Apocalypse Now visuals of the jungle moved by a breeze.

[@mirandak3273]

Mixolydian

[@orcaflotta7867]

Yes. I guess that's the image most of us have in mind whenever that song plays.

[@normandduern2413]

It's not just the opening of the film: it's the once-in-a lifetime concomitance of an epic song (epic by rock standards), an epic film (only 2001 is in this league in films of that epoch), and a still mind-bending and gut-wrenching novel from another century, Conrad's Heart of Darkness. Both the novel and the movie express an extreme 'end' - the ultimate pit of darkness of the human heart (or is it perhaps the Dark Night of the Soul, or both?) - which Coppola managed to pair with the only rock song ever composed that could accompany it and do it justice. It's about the end of all that matters and. indeed, of all that is. It suggests that all of existence could pass into nonexistence; that nothingness could triumph over existence.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

This is psychedelic music in its purest form; the eastern scale, the organ, the timbre of Jim Morrison’s voice…..just oozes atmosphere.

[@bongodave13]

Yes. They take you on a trip, for sure.

[@bongodave13]

Robbie's playing sounds almost like a sitar. The rhythm is fluid, adaptive, ready to go off in any direction at any time. The words paint several weird scenes. The Doors were at their best when you didn't know what to anticipate. They didn't always know what to expect, either. The mark of a great psychedelic band.

[@foookboiDatMan]

The greatest American rock band ever and will never be duplicated.

[@shelteredshaman5992]

Well said. First acid trip looped this all night in a dark room......January of 1996. Jim at his peak transcedence A few years later, drunk at a house party, and happening upon some clean acid....i went out to my truck and played this on the cd player and stared at the near full moon. Jim felt very much alive during that....i knew in my bones at that moment spirits were a real as anything and that i was aware of an ancient ecology without end, despite the cold sober everday perception of meaningless id come to know

[@seelenwinter6662]

î only say: dark room, weed, a good drink and a lot of time to listen that song.... and you will learn to fly....^^

[@america1st721]

an hour long deep dive into a song that was released 60 years ago is exactly what morrison wanted.

[@DQ-su6qf]

The Doors were getting a lot of bad press in 1971..I wanted to tell Morrison that 50 years from now people would still be listening to their music and that it was timeless, unfortunately when I arrived at The Doors Office on Santa Monica Blvd where they were recording LA Woman Morrison had just left…oddly enough I was in Paris in September of 71 where I visited Morrison’s grave at Pete Lachaise..

[@feliciaecheverria]

Yes!!!

[@davidvilla4504]

Acid Song . Hypnotic

[@CahtodeRay]

Wow. How did you know them / what was your connection, or were you just a superfan?

[@america1st721]

@@CahtodeRay no, I have common sense and logic.

[@mojorider8455]

Oh, forgot to add that John Densmore drumming on this is fantastic, where he accents things, his dynamics, going louder and then pulling back and just gently riding a cymbal, etc...

[@mightyV444]

He's really getting the most out of his rather modest kit! Quite remarkble indeed! 😀👍

[@jasonosmond6896]

Densmore was the unsung hero of the song (and band!). He had to anticipate all the noodling improvisations of the other band members, accentuate them with his own, and then reel them all back in when it was time to return to the main structure of the song.

[@rrrayrrray]

Densmore is SO underrated!!

[@richardo5951]

Agreed. What I love is how Densmore throughout plays so as to serve the song. These guys listened to each other and created an intruiging musical conversation. This music retains its power all these years later.

[@noother964]

Once again Amy's insights are deep and valuable! It's amazing to think that this song came out just four years after "Please please me" by The Beatles. The artistic explosion of rock music, the creative limits it crossed so quickly, is difficult to grasp! As for "the end", I tend to believe that it can mean any intense transformative state that, although fearsome, sad or stressful, in some ways it's a creative part of life, a "friend" of sorts -maybe the ultimate one. As a piece of art... I believe it 's a landmark in 20th century music, showcasing a song as a transformative ritual in itself.

[@briangriffin5524]

The Beatles reinvented themselves over and over again. Few bands went through such dramatic changes in such a short time.

[@lucasrocha7571]

Perfect comment yours

[@noother964]

@@briangriffin5524 Indeed they did, and they changed music forever. I mentioned their song as some kind of a landmark that may separate old time rock'n'roll from what we consider as more "modern" rock.

[@peterhughes8699]

@@noother964 great comment. I feel the same about this timeless classic of western music :)

[@silvanorossi6416]

One of the most haunting and beautiful songs ever written

[@jbear4662]

A master piece. The doors music stands the test of time, they sounded like no one else. They where popular but they where so much more then a pop band.

[@CelticSpiritsCoven]

They should have made songs without their stupid organ. It's like country music.... like seriously guys, please make at least ONE song without the stupid steel guitar. Get my drift? Oh, and the lyrics and drugs were dumb too. Annoying. No masterpiece, just a drug fueled band making uninteresting music.

[@jamesewanchook2276]

agreed!

[@lanerussell7958]

For me, the most rewarding aspect of this series is seeing the ideas and emotions passing across Amy's face, knowing that this is the first time she's hearing it. The raising of her eyebrows, different facial expressions, the communicate emotions than seem to mirror those that I felt when I first heard this decades ago. Her eyes tell the story that I really want to hear.

Same thought occurred to me. She could have gotten I role in a Bergman film

[@Mark-bw1wx]

🤔.....😂😂😂😂

[@sirsancti5504]

I started to watch because of it. I stayed because of her remarkable knowledge and interpretation. (I may not agree with, but when people tell me their "why", I listen to them).

[@DoctorFatman]

I've noticed that Amy seems to like gradual introduction and “weaving” of instruments, and based on that, I really can't recommend “Echoes” by the great Pink Floyd enough. It's almost 24 minutes long, in true prog fashion, but it doesn't feel overlong at all. I find the composition amazing in how it feels like it's telling a great tome's worth of story with just music: establishing musical relationships, changing them, separating them, creating moments of despair, fear, and reunion with old friends. In my personal opinion, it's Pink Floyd's magnum opus, and I feel like Amy would enjoy it a lot.

[@splitimage137.]

Amy LOVES Pink Floyd and I'm sure Echoes is on the list. But I'm hoping for something really special: An entire Dark Side Of The Moon analysis!

[@helenespaulding7562]

Oh yes…Please please do Echoes!

[@marcelmarceau2526]

The ‘Live in Pompeii’ version please!

[@JokerInk-CustomBuilds]

Echoes is brilliant... as marcel mentionnes the Pompeii version is awesome!

[@Bob-us9di]

I'd add my support to 'Echoes' as well... from an album sadly almost forgotten.

[@1byte4]

I think the blue bus was referring to the war draft busses that would collect the teens for vietnam. " The blue bus, is calling us".

[@mickeyshooter5298]

No, it was a blue school bus which shuttled UCLA students for outings to the beach and elsewhere. Basically a school shuttle before school shuttles.

[@noradeclark9283]

No it was the blue bus that picked the boys that got drafted to their boot camp destination. @@mickeyshooter5298

[@dennislockhart7678]

The city of Santa Monica's buses were two-tone blue.

[@shiva1742]

Robbie Kreiger was an accomplished flamenco guitarist and you can hear it much of the time in his work with the Doors, as well as the drone like sound of the influence of Indian music at that time, as others have noted. Those high pitched sounds you are trying to identify at the beginning are a set of chimes which some drummers can mount on their drum kit. Ask Karl about those. There are quite a few percussion add-on that can be added to a drum kit. Also, you may be hearing the sound of a Tamborine on the 2 and the 4, which Jim played along with often.

[@mojorider8455]

yes, I definitely thought there was an Indian feel to it as well.

[@jameswarner5809]

That the high pitched strumming sounds like the guitar strings plucked either beyond the bridge or between the nut and the tuning keys. Maybe it's a combination of strings and chimes.

[@mightyV444]

@@jameswarner5809 - I'd just posted a similar comment before coming across your one and am sure that's what's happening there; Most likely between the bridge and the tailpiece of Krieger's SG, as the plucking is very even, which would be harder to achieve on the headstock.

[@shawngross5420]

I always thought this song had a kind of East Indian flavor. The electric guitar sounds like a sitar to me. Very hypnotic. I have heard this song many times, and I sang along while listening, but when Amy paused, it felt like, "Oh, back to reality", in an interesting way. Snapped out of an altered state of consciousness. The Doors did so many drugs, I am getting a contact high through the notes 56 years later!

[@mojorider8455]

def agree about that Indian feel to it.

[@norbertorosado6016]

Agreed! The guitar gives me Middle Eastern or Indian vibes also. I feel like the tambourine adds to that sound as well.

[@petermcminn9508]

Yes, eastern but also the blending with Kreiger's tex-mex riffs seems a perfect marriage.

[@gforce4063]

Krieger genius

[@picherk]

I hadn't considered the heat and humidity theme before, though it might well be there in the sense of the Indian subcontinent. I hear far less Southern, Latin, Caribbean or "Oriental" influence than the popular rock sound of that time -- the music of India with the influence of the sitar, which the guitarist imitated well. All this reminds me of the Ganges.

[@JohnLancaster-b5x]

Just fantastic drumming by Densmore.

[@lucasrocha7571]

This is my favorite song of all time. Thank you for that Amy. I've been following you since the beggining and I'm so glad your channel is progressively getting the love and acknowledgment it deserves

[@Leo-s5w9l]

I have not listened to this in quite some time, I think we forget how mesmerizing a ballad it is, truly masterful work

[@YerpDerp17]

Same actually. As a teen I used to smoke so much weed and listen to this in the dark with headphones. lol I am in my mid 30's now and probably haven't heard this song in a decade or more. 15 seconds in I found myself closing my eyes and going back to that place. It's so hypnotic, and I urge anyone who hasn't to listen to it with headphones.

[@FLAK.O3]

Love this song it’s my lullaby

[@frankasturino3416]

I really enjoyed your interpretation and analysis of this song. The guitarist Robbie Krieger had previously learned how to play the Indian sitar and also flamenco guitar. This is where the exotic eastern sound comes from. Another excellent Doors song you should review is The Soft Parade. I know that you would really appreciate it.

[@RousiakisMakis]

yeah the sofr parade, abso-funky-lutely. goes beyond classic.. the Celebration of the Lizard, with all its parts and glory, would also be a gret thing to go afterwards...

[@craigcaine1000]

This song is not for the faint hearted, deep, dark and somewhat disturbing but pure genius both instrumently and lyrically. It was said Jim loved to explore the dark side, at times he could be a madman one minuet then have the charm of a Southern Gentleman the next. The Doors were all about masterfully crafting and building a song into a climax of intense chaotic disarray and mayhem only to bring you back to sanity in the next verse. Please check out The Soft Parade and Not to Touch the Earth, you won't be disappointed

[@lathedauphinot6820]

“I am the Lizard King… I can do anything.”

[@kelvinkloud]

its stark material, id agree. but I'm not sure dark fits. its more brutal honesty. he's picking up the culture's rock & hes watching the ant wars.... the song concludes w/ a declaration for indiv freedom to seek & face this truth w/ the added strength of insight.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Definitely not top 40 garbage radio played mindlessly every 20 mins

[@macfilms9904]

A few things - obviously the music is influenced by Indian raga music - I'd say that's the biggest musical influence. Jim was a big reader & his lyrics often were influenced by literature. The "killer" sequence is obviously a sort of reference to Oedepis Rex - also of note is that where Jim was an idol to the drug culture of the 60's, his father was Admiral of the US naval fleet operating off the coast of Vietnam - while the war was raging - his father's naval jets bombing people of that land - I think that colors this song (and note that Francis Ford Coppola began his Vietnam war epic "Apocalypse Now" with this song) - that relationship Jim had to the war might color some of the lyrics in this song. I'd also say that I think this song presages the dissolution of the "hippy" scene - the end of peace & love and darkness to come - the final scene of which was the Rolling Stones playing Gimme Shelter at Altamont with the Hell's Angels murdering a man in front of the stage. Jim was like Kurt Cobain - a brilliant, but painfully shy artist saddled with the idea of being "the Voice of a Generation" - the weight of which dragged (or at least contributed strongly) to their deaths at age 27 - neither of them wanted that boat-anchor of a role and rejected it.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Wow…I did not know about Jim’s father. Holy Cow. What a psychic burden on a son who did not share his fathers beliefs.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

It’s been decades since I’ve listened to this song. I never really connected with it’s true power. Thank you Amy, once again: Seeing it through your eyes gave me an entire new level of appreciation of it as a piece of musical art.

[@longago-igo]

Yes, was surprised that she didn’t pick up on the Indian influence.

[@StanEngland]

I was just about to post on 'expecting a sitar'.

[@mickeyshooter5298]

Jim was, in my opinion, far more intelligent and talented than the likes of Kurt Cobain. I cannot wrap my head around a direct comparison.

[@thomassharmer7127]

It does roughly follow the outlines of a classical Indian raga; stating a thematic template that shapes the mood and pattern of the whole piece and developing melodically and rhythmically improvisatory sections that each return to the main theme - transformed in intensity by what has gone before - then gradually climbing to a frenetic climax. But instead of encapsulating ideas of spiritual ecstasy or a search for the eternal, I agree that this is a sustained meditation on the descent into nihilism. It is often true that when all sense of meaning, purpose and relationship has gone from the soul, the psyche can try to find some sense of release in empty sexual excess and angry violence, often self-destructive but in the worst-case scenario, directed towards others, or even society as a whole. Where I would beg to differ is that this “beastly” state does not represent that of the animals. Yes, of course, sexual drive and aggression is evident in animal behaviour, sometimes wild and intense and mostly unsentimental. But it is always linked to purpose - mating, hunting, defense - and it is typically brief and always contextual. Animal instincts are triggered and suppressed by environmental signals such as times and seasons. Animals in the wild are not typically wantonly destructive nor are they addictively lustful. Freud was wrong, the uncontrolled "Id" and Oedipal urges are not the natural expression of or inheritance of Nature. It is human beings who can uniquely and tragically descend into such a psychically chaotic state, because we are not automatically controlled and directed by an environment, at least not the physical environment anyway. Our essential link to higher values such as familial love and nobility of spirit must come from some environment that is higher than ourselves. I enjoyed your thought-provoking analysis, as you can see! :-)

[@letsgomets002]

Write a book already !!!

[@michaelgrabner8977]

This song sets the vibe of the Anti-War movie "Apocalypse Now" through the entire movie. It´s like if Francis Ford Coppola the director, author and producer of that movie has built his movie fully on purpose both visually and psychologically around that song.

[@briangriffin5524]

Not all of The Doors songs are dark and gloomy. There was a lot of wit and humour in their music. My favorite album is Morrison Hotel with Roadhouse Blues, Land Ho, Queen of the Highway and Maggie McGill.

[@paulmartinson875]

I love this band. The album I listen to lately is " An American prayer "

[@cloudshad0ws]

LA Woman is their best album IMO.

[@laurabrevitz3944]

Not a bad album in the lot. I also like both Morrison Hotel & L.A. Woman.

[@foookboiDatMan]

@@paulmartinson875the ghost song goes hard and that has my favorite version of roadhouse blues and it’s live. If you know the studio recording then listen to it and the freestyle he hits is nasty. Feeds off the crowd. Just amazing

[@paulmartinson875]

@@foookboiDatMan absolutely 💯

[@ClockMonsterLA]

When it comes to the lyrics, I think it helps to remember that this era of The Doors, and Jim Morrison in particular, was heavily influenced by the Beat poets who embraced irrational, surrealist word salad as a form of artistic expression.

[@rrab605]

Yes to this. Spontaneous free verse probably genesis of many of those stanzas.

[@cloudshad0ws]

Also LSD and mescaline.

[@kelvinkloud]

its should be remembered blake too.... hes actually morphing modern beat techniques w/ classical symbolist poetry of blake & whitman... wh/ only gives it more power.

[@superharuhifan]

​@@4thlinemaniac356wat

[@thesoundpurist]

really appreciate you dont' interrupt every 15 sec to rewind 20 seconds before none stop like most of reaction I've seen. You know how to listen, which is rare from my perspective. Thank you.

[@RaysDad]

Thanks for taking such a deep dive into a difficult and rewarding work of art.

[@scott3744]

Oh man... if you've only heard When the Music's Over and The End, you have a *LOT* of incredible Doors music to discover ahead of you 👍😁

[@LuddyVonBeat]

It's an Indan style music Amy, not so much Spanish, that is why you said correctly it sounded hippie. I would recommend you listen to 'The Crystal Ship' next, a short song but one of the most beautiful of all time. You'd appreciate his singing.

[@shiva1742]

I love that one too. As well as Ship Of Fools.

[@steveryniker8077]

At 29:10, one of the best descriptions ever from a reaction channel on how music can feel! Bravo

[@realchilldude1271]

25:15 Those higher pitches are still the guitar I think, it sounds like he is picking the strings, on the neck, before where the fretboard starts, it sounds like hes sweeping a pick gently over that section, possible while turning a tuning knob to drop to a lower pitch, i play guitar and that sounds like an electric guitar, being played in the formentioned way, so its actually just two instruments, the electric guitar and the drums! :)

[@mikemclaughlin3306]

This song always reminds me of charming a cobra...... "the sway" is mesmerizing..... that, and the opening of apocalypse now

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

This song demonstrations the different sides of Jim Morrison, the singer-poet and the actor and the hedonist-drug user. Of all the works by the Doors it's one of the most challenging along with The Celebration of the Lizard. The Doors for me is perhaps the most psychedelic bands as well as the the most original of the 60s. Thank you for taking the risk of listening to this piece.

[@reliantncc1864]

It's so different from the radio-friendly works like "Love Her Madly." I love that the Doors have that kind of range. It's also remarkable how early they managed this. It's got shades of prog rock, but prog was in its infancy back then. Basically prog was only King Crimson and the Moody Blues when this album came out. The paragons of prog, like Yes and ELP, hadn't got going yet.

[@cubstransplant1361]

His voice was amazing. Powerful, haunting, melodic, tender…so much came through

[@TrianglesAndCircles]

The first time I heard the song it sounded so foreign and distant but it occupied my mind in a gentle way for the most part and then chaotic for a few chapters before the story took me to the path upon which I began the journey.

[@jeremyworkman5104]

These guy's had a gift for using music very atmospherically, as well as having the wisdom to use silence as a part of it as well. Their toolbox included the influence of bebop jazz, classical, Latin music, blues, and for the song in question we have an obvious Eastern influence. Lyrically, being as well read as Morrison was adds yet another complexity... He drew inspiration and often references things from literature... Novels, surrealist/beat poetry, philosophy, mythology, world history and theater. You may sometimes hear a lyric and wonder what on earth could the meaning be? When the reality of it could be, it's something taken from or inspired by Kerouac's On The Road, or Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Huxley's Brave New World, etc etc and rather abstract to the song and it's contexts. I particularly loved your analysis of the explicit portion, the hostility, it symbolizing the end of love and I truly believe you're on the money here and on your way to having an understanding of how deep James Morrison was.

[@timothyfoley3000]

Amy, the guitar part is very Sitar sound, which was very popular among exploratory guitarists in the 60's. Listen to East- West by Butterfield Blues Band. ( Michael Bloomfield )

[@XCaliKev]

👍🤠 Let me tell you a story about the recording of this masterpiece. When recording they wanted to capture the feeling of when they played live. Tried a couple times but just couldn’t get it. So the band took Jim out and got his head in the right place. Came back that night to try again. Studio dark with one candle burning. Starting playing and this is that take, straight through no edits. So basically one take. Amazing talented musicians.

[@rosskendall3310]

And tell the rest of the story. After Morrison got done with the recording process, he took a fire extinguisher and hosed down the studio. Why? Your guess is as good as mine. I compare it to The Who destroying their instruments on stage, which I feel is an act of stupidity. I say that because after working in studios and knowing what studios cost and outboard gear doesn't take kindly to that sort of abuse.

[@sirsancti5504]

About the who and their destruction: it is said they were inspired by a painter (forgot his name, sorry) that destroyed all his paintings as a protest against the nuclear threat of the cold war. (In a sense like.. "What's the point of all this, if you are willingvto destroy everything, anyway?"

[@surfersilver6610]

@@rosskendall3310 ok challenge accepted. My guess? The recording session was so good, the band was on fire making it so HOT that Jim thought the studio was going to burn down the whole building so he doused it, thus saving the building so he's a HERO! Stay away from drugs children...Just Say NO! 😬

[@elskeletor3566]

​@@rosskendall3310He spray it down because the song was on fire and so was the recording of the song and that equipment was sprayed.

[@mickeyshooter5298]

He was out of his mind on acid when he came up with a great deal of this track. 10,000 micrograms, to be exact, if the rest of the band are to be believed. This is…an incredible amount. The man was enlightened

[@briangriffin5524]

If you grew up in the 1960's you would know that the musical influence during the intro is from India. A lot of musicians of the 60's picked up that influence, that exotic sound. It's worth mentioning, Ravi Shankar played the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 introducing the hippies to the sitar and eastern music. George Harrison would teach himself to play the sitar.

[@grahammcbean6362]

George got a lot of tuition from Ravi himself.

[@mickeyshooter5298]

Several of the doors had gurus, also. Aspects of Indian culture were spread all throughout the popular culture of the 60s.

[@CharlyDS]

Oh what a song. I used to listen to it a lot as a teenager. That whole first album. These days I'll prefer When The Music's Over and their second album, but what a trip The End is. Jim used to say that there was not enough chaos in music (which applies a lot to the current corporate world of today) - and that he created such chaos in The Doors and the band put an order to that chaos. The End ticks all the boxes.

[@westtexas7]

The Psychedelic era of great rock 66-72 was such a great time in history for the youth of that period. The music is the best ever put out.

[@jazzmandolin5004]

John Densmore needs to commended for his drum work for the Doors. Big epic sounds and arrangements being held together with excellent sub division on a very basic drum kit according to today's standards.

[@stevenblock9712]

This song and Apocalypse Now were really made for each other. I can't imagine any other music being so right for that movie.

[@ModTrash]

The original release did not contain the expletives, or they were actually so deeply buried in the mix you could not hear them. It wasn't until many years later this version was released, and the swearing was brought in my opinion too much into the fore. Really enjoying your videos, keep up the good work. I would suggest 'Cream' as another late 60's band to try. Three of the greatest musicians of that era.

[@paulsto6516]

And it's been so many years, listening to the original, that the repair work seems out of place.

[@DENVEROUTDOORMAN]

Nope Poco stop the Wimpy Queen

[@immortalserito774]

Is there a YT video with the original mix? Can't seem to find one.

[@paulsto6516]

@@immortalserito774 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gYbLgaOpjcqVbrM&ab_channel=estreewamin I don't know if the URL will post, but I found this on YT channel estreewamin. It was posted 10 years ago. It wasn't the simplest search. My search phrase was - the doors the end censored

[@keithlatham4500]

​@@paulsto6516Agreed. I had to go back and listen to my LP to make sure wasn't hearing things. It's there, but it's so deep in the mix it's virtually invisible.

[@midkingsteve]

This was brilliant, Amy. I've seen many people discuss this song, musicians and listeners, fans and non-fans, and I've known this song since I was a teenager. You're break-down was different. You successfully tackled subtle nuances and larger themes in a way that was atypical and poignant. Many people try to place this song in a box of their own understanding, whether it be cold and logical dissection or purely emotional. And they often miss the point, in my mind. You were able to describe what's happening musically and what role the music plays, as well as look at how that relates to the music from a standpoint of not knowing yet, and trying to get into the WRITER'S mind. - What did this person want to convey to us?? - I see sooo many people shoot this song down as being either ambiguous and pointless, or exalting it in its free flowing mad-like emotional states (aka don't overthink it just feel it). But you, I feel, very successfully said, 'well here's what would make sense in marrying the structure and execution of the song with the hard-to-read and emotionally difficult themes and words', and you absolutely nailed it. There is more than meets the eye going on here, and it takes a fresh perspective of a new listener who is both highly trained in musical interpretation and highly intelligent yet has no personal stake in what this song means or should mean culturally to existing listeners, and without needing to say 'this is a great song', or 'this is terrible', but rather 'here's simply what it seems to be doing'. I just can't say enough about how refreshing and enjoyable this was.

[@Iron-Bridge]

Well said. I was thinking as well how me as a non musical vocabulary possessing and non musically trained person would miss things like a person who can't read seeing words as meaningless squiggles. Whereas she would notice these things. The difference between expertise and merely having an uninformed opinion.

[@steveullrich7737]

Exactly Amy did a wonderful and erudite analysis of this song and in "the end" left it open for interpretation.

[@heartoftherose]

Thank you.

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Wonderful and thoughtful comment! Thank you for taking the time to share it!

[@mickeyshooter5298]

The Doors music tends to attract a bit of an unusual, outcast-esque, yet highly intelligent type of individual. It is music for the different.

[@jaybeliever1479]

One thing to remember is that this was the time of much psychedelic drug use. They conjured up all kinds of strange ideas and images in the mind of the user. Since Morrison was a heavy user of alcohol and drugs, I expect that they had a lot to do with the unusual lyrics in many of his songs, and no doubt, his death at only 27. Thanks for the video.

[@guystephens2881]

you can thank his herion addicted common law wife for that. some say pamela hid it from jim . they went out to a club that night . one story is that he thought it was coke and snorted a big line . guess we will never know . people around jim said he was excited for release of la woman . only drinking at the time.

[@dougsha]

Please learn about dancing to rock music. Bring in an expert to teach you various styles and the history of rock dance. You'll understand the music at a much deeper level if you dance to it. You'll also discover why some rock songs repeat a riff for a long time. It's to let the dancers get into a groove. Love your channel

[@shiva1742]

YES! Let's not get too much into our heads over song lyrics. Rock started out as simple music to DANCE to. Some of my favorite songs I have no idea what they are about - I just like the way they sound. Hence, I was never a Bob Dylan fan. As the joke goes about the kids' reviews of songs on "American Bandstand" , "It had a good beat and you could dance to it".

[@matthewgarrison-perkins5377]

The Trio of songs I listened to through turbulent emotional times that reset me to the middle once again. I started with Hey You by Pink Floyd, then The Cure, Disintegration and then The End by the Doors. This trio kept me alive several very dark times. Music is so utterly powerful.

[@outsidethewall8488]

Wow, what a trio of songs - never would've thought to pair them but now I'm definitely going to try - thank you for sharing!

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

I would never think to turn to those songs in times of emotional darkness……I would fear they would put me over the edge rather than save me. I am sincerely glad that they helped you, however.

[@matthewgarrison-perkins5377]

@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 I may be an outlier, but the more pain I feel in the music, the more I empathize and self reflect. And that understanding that others suffer just as much if not more than I feel at the time, drags me out and brings me up out of the doldrums.

[@D0sTKhan]

In Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" the protagonist imagines rivers as snakes winding through far away lands. its about exoticising remote lands and the exploitation of the east and south by the West. This song gave Apocalypse Now its soundtrack and the film was an adaptation of Conrad's novella.

[@steveullrich7737]

The guitar sound you heard was Robbie Krieger tuning his guitar to sound like a sitar which as you noted gives it a eastern vibe. The repetitive nature of music with the sitar and organ sounds act like a repetitive mantra to induce a trace-like relaxing state You should listen to their song "Soft Parade". Thanks for your interpretation of this classic rock song.

[@mmgreen31]

I always wonder if ‘ride the snake to the lake…the snake is long 7 miles’ was a reference to Mulholland Dr. Back I the days when drivers would race all the way to the pacific.

[@comettail1]

Really a wonderful and brilliant response, amazing for a first listen. I was 17 when this album came out, and I related to this song in the context of a “bad” LSD trip, but it could have been a response to any trauma that brought an end to innocence and ordinariness. The Doors’ next album, Strange Days, extended this mood of alienation and longing, often in beautiful ways.

[@shelteredshaman5992]

The painful end of childhood... but a hint of something majestic to follow the loss

[@ze6464]

Soundtrack - Apocalypse Now is a 1979 American epic vietnam war film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola .

[@peterliljeholmen5703]

Indeed. Apocalypse Now was loosely based on the book Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad but with the setting moved from Congo/Africa to the Vietnam war. ‘The End’ formed a perfect apocalyptic sound atmosphere to the napalm bombings of the Vietnamese jungle setting in the into of the film. A must see film…

[@soldierbluewood8335]

the string sounds you hear have always reminded me of delicate windchimes....just my take of course...emulated on the organ synth that Ray Manzarek plays... Robby Krieger is using a slide...Jim loved the slide sound so much he wanted Robby to use it on all their songs...as I understand it...

[@gelynch52phPH]

Morrison's father was an admiral in the US Navy & partially responsible for the misreporting of the Gulf of Tonkin Incident that accelerated the Vietnam War. Morrison was always protesting that situation and his father's responsibility.

[@soundsfromthewestcoast9939]

I think that Vlad made a big mistake in providing notes that quote the lyrics - definitely takes away from their impact on first listen.

[@FelixCouples]

This is a very intense and emotional song. I tend only to listen to it once every several years despite loving it. "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" brings home the abject permanence of death. It is so absolute that one can't help but be uncertain. What I like about the music is how it FEELS so uncertain. Imagine being given a large dose of acid and unexpectedly awakening in a dark jungle with predators about. You are anxious because your outcome is uncertain. I can't help but uncomfortably contemplate death listening to this song. "The undiscovered country, from whose bourne no travel returns, puzzles the will, and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others we know not of."

[@peterliljeholmen5703]

The interpretation of the lyrical content - end of friendship, end of family and end of love, sends me clear connections to the state and fate of Pink’s mind in The Wall… And it clearly indicates what the end, or absence, of those precious things does for a human being. The bitter end is approaching unless you manage to break through the wall. Great breakdown of this song and I’m waiting patiently for the next ‘chapter’ of The Wall saga… 😅

[@Vort317545]

Amy should take a deep dive into Pink Floyd’s early work. “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” live at Pompeii. She’ll love it! It would also be very insightful to hear her opinion!

[@Vort317545]

Amy’s videos are very informative, insightful, deep intellectual look into music as science and art, Very valuable and interesting. Especially from one into Professionally Trained Classical Music. But, I’m surprised too! Amy reacts as if she’s never heard rock music before like it is a foreign language to her :) No radio in the house when growing up? :( I know in my case my love of Classical and Masters came out of being a fan of Rock. I started listening to and fell in love with the Art of Musicians' craft in general and that would eventually lead me to appreciate Bach Mozart and the rest. In any case Amy you Rock! :)

[@VirginRock]

Check out the 10K video video for more background

[@joeyanez9338]

I loved the doors as a young beginning musician. I find myself going back & enjoying their art till this day

[@DanielSnyder-bz8kp]

The bass on this song was not a guitar. It was done with a Fender Rhodes piano bass, a small 2 and a half octave keyboard. The Doors only used this on some of the songs on their first 2 albums and all live performances.

[@LeeKennison]

Great reaction, analysis, and interpretation on a fun one to interpret (many possibilities). Enjoyed your interesting take on the three parts (end of friendship; end of family; end of love/humanity). For me, both the lyrics and the music always sounded like they were coming out of the subconscious parts of his mind, through altered states (drugs, dreams, mystical experiences). My take has always been that it is about death and the end of pain, which is very poignant considering his premature death. But I also really like your take on it. The guitar to me sounds very sitar like. The music and spirituality of India was influencing many musicians at this time. Carlos Castaneda books delve into these altered mental states.

[@boroborable]

conflict of the unsolvable. pure poetry.

[@keithdonald6583]

That was the best definition of this song yet . I finally respect Morrison’s genius with these lyrics ..The end of the qualities that define humanity .

[@garyluciani1082]

The end of the qualities that define humanity, may be why Francis Ford Coppola used this song as the audio focal point at the beginning and end of Apocalypse Now.

[@absinthedream9668]

I don't find anything about this band 'Hippie', Morrison was like an electric beat poet dressed in black leather not the flowers in your hair type. Weird Scenes Inside The Gold Mine.. what a great line and metaphor for LA

[@thijsvmilligen]

The high ringy harp like sound in the beginning is the guitar being played behind the bridge or behind the nut where there is a very short string length left that is not “supposed” to be played but sounds really nice as an effect.

[@mojorider8455]

that's what I thought as well...

[@jktolford8272]

Yes. Found that sound by accident as a kid, just fooling around while learning guitar. The trick is finding when to use it.

[@theyearoftherat]

One of the best bands of all time and the greatest frontman of all time. It's believed that on Jim's last night on Earth in Paris, while he was listening to The Doors records, that this was the last song he heard. Ray Manzarek has said in an interview that the blue bus Jim references is an Egyption solar boat (which the Egyptians believed their pharaohs would travel through the underworld on after death). This song is almost certainly about death. He had a fascination with it. "Jim just had this fascination with death. He always wrote about it. So in a way, he probably got what he wanted." - Robbie Krieger to Fox News

[@timothyfoley3000]

Pink Floyd Echoes Amy! Echoes...

[@Johno144]

Many of us know this song, but what some may not realize is that The Doors' many iconic songs and not songs but recorded jam sessions. They vibe. Every recording is different. Live they are in a free flow state of unconscious music. Jim was a poet first and and a singer second. That why the lyrics perhaps are not linier. They are different poems placed in the vibe of the song.

[@moorec1053]

You mention the Intro having a 'Latin Feel' to it. The guitar player, Robby Krieger, played Flamenco guitar before joining The Doors

[@sunnyvaletrailer]

Ah yes, O’Dippus. One of the most important figures from Irish tragedy.

[@ynotbmale5218]

For the mood think of Tennessee Williams or Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Fall Of The House Of Usher”. Both men were Southerners and the song has that weight of a grand old house with ghosts and skeletons in the closet. ‘He took a face from the ancient gallery.’ And thus the first Goth song.

[@kimn9802]

I've always thought of that line referring to the use of masks in ancient Greek theatre /tragedies.

[@jasongress8764]

The ancient face section is a psychedelic version of the Greek tragedy of Oedipus.

[@JoanneTelling1]

Those sounds are Robbie Kreiger tinkling his guitar strings above the nut at the top of the guitar neck.

[@paulmorris8762]

I loved the way it was used in the movie "Apocalypse Now" which was mind blowing moviw to start with

[@mrysedeers]

in my opinion, it is poetry wrapped in music...just sayin':)

[@stefan_becker]

This is going to be interesting 😅 Personally I'd recommend the awesome live version from Hollywood Bowl.

[@victoriagill1588]

This is gorgeous. Thank you. I think you would really enjoy Johnny Greenwood's gorgeous additions to modern musical composition. Radiohead's How to Disappear Completely, Nude or Weird Fishes or just to be crazy Sail to the Moon ❤ Edit: you have dipped into many of their influences and several of their fellow (past) record label. I don't know how you haven't found Radiohead yet.

[@richardcurley5798]

Love you, BUT……where’s the balance of The Wall????

[@dlondon1144]

Beautiful music!" The tinkling noise was a simple wind-chime. I think you missed the Indian sitar. It draws heavily on Indian/Asian influences. This was a meaningful anthem for US Soldiers in Vietnam especially because of those influences.

[@wprobe]

This song is prominent in the movie apocalypse now and your interpretation fits this movie even more then how I took it well done

[@BeastrealDT]

The song starts off very is ethereal, then hypnotic, becomes frenzied and then returns to limbo. Jim Morrison never thought of himself as a singer, but as a poet. Lyrically, listen to The Doors, "Not To Touch The Earth". ✌️

[@dlbdlb3919]

Morrison's lyrics are not meant to be connected or figured out, they are to take you on a ride for you to get in touch with your emotions.

[@rapidfirerob4]

Please listen to The Allman Brothers Band- In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed, an instrumental from the album At Fillmore East, one of the greatest live albums ever recorded. Lots of harmonies.

[@audiophileman7047]

Welcome to the world of The Lizard King, Amy. I found your analysis and your feelings about The End to be quite interesting. Friendship, family, and love breaking down and book ended by the surrender to the feelings of despair. I believe that the lyrics to The End are best understood in the context of Jim Morrison's life, fascinations, and love of great classic literature. I see the progression in the song building from the ending of a romantic relationship to tragic, epic breakdowns in human connections. Despite this painful darkness, Morrison speaks of unlimited freedom and travel through California to an ancient lake that holds the secrets of life. Thank you for your wonderful review, you've added some important insights to a song that I've admired for many decades. 👍👍👍

[@unacceptablemichaelroberts7462]

The killer awoke before dawn (Imagine being a teenager who has been abused) He put his boots on (making a decision to stop his father) He took a face from the ancient gallery (remembering a incidence of abuse) And he walked on down the hall He went into the room where his sister lived, and then he (to remember why he is doing what he is doing) Paid a visit to his brother, and then he (to remember why he is doing what he is doing) 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" (thus saving my brother and sister from you) "Mother? I want to..." (that is a question, why did you allow it? and what is to be done with you?)

[@alldayadventures5418]

Many Amazing tunes from the Doors, too many to count.

[@RafaelSilva-bb7nm]

Glad you said out of place! Even the guitar is tuned D-A-D-G-B-D! Something like a D#sus b9! May be that´s the meaning of the song "Out of place"!

[@fatimaerdogan8193]

The "pling-pling" in the intro sounds like plucking the strings between the saddle and the mechanics. I think, the sound is inspired by Indian music (common in that time): The guitar is in bright close to the sound of a sitar, and when the organ enters, it even makes a "sitar-drone" except for the occasional trills. Also the bending guitar starts like a sitar riff, but bends out of the expected scale. An obvious choice to put under a violent scenario in a film about civil war. And indeed it was used so in Vietnam War film.

[@hackbyte]

If you ask me, for another real good song in nearly the same league.... Child in Time by Deep Purple and Riders on the Storm by The Doors Both are imho very complex, not only in parts of the lyrics ... but as a performance overall. ;)

[@clintonsmith5163]

I believe that she already reacted to Child in Time.

[@Menisis1]

I dont know if this has been suggested to you yet but you must checkout Riverside. They are a Polish Band with a very unique sound. I'd like to suggest the song 'Escalator Shrine' from the album 'Shrine of New Generation Slaves'. From what I've seen in your reaction videos I think you'll enjoy it..

[@michaelfaklis8169]

Jim Morrison is a beat poet, much like Alan Ginsburg, Michael McClure, and others. Ray Manzarek on keyboards says down a beat much like a bass or bongos in a smoke-filled coffee house. In fact, Ray Manzarek played keyboards with Michael McClure reciting his poetry around the year 2000.

[@orionclouds3741]

The End is one of my favorite Doors track, Very psychedelic rock, kind of spiritual magical Organ melody keep place between groovy warm slow ryhtem in my ears and must not forget the post modern art of Jim Morison Singing.

[@joke8952]

There is Toronto 1967 live version of this song on YT👍

[@radone5896]

Ray Manzarek for me was the star of the music for The Doors, able to craft delicate to very complicated keyboard parts while playing rhythmic Bass parts with the left hand at the same time. At the beginning Ray was the one playing all the Bass parts for the Doors. Ray even covered the vocals when JIm was passed out at a few concerts. 'Riders on the Storm" is also a great affecting moody song that much better showcases Ray's talents and contribution to The Doors great success and is probably listened to much more than this song by fans.

[@mikes9305]

Remember how dominant the Vietnam War was in the consciousness of the young generation in 1967, when this came out... The references to a desperate land, "The West is the best," and the overall tone of the song must be connected with that environment. Parts of the song faces death, both individual and collective. The middle part puts us in the midst of a murderer. The war tended to be seen in both these terms. And we still today face the risk of a nuclear war end, whether deliberate, accidental, or through escalation and brinkmanship. 😓😢

[@FelixCouples]

There is a live version/video of The Doors performing The End around 1968 in Toronto. Check it out, it's an amazing video with great sound.

[@SamSteinig]

It was actually in August '67

[@spaceshiplewis]

For me it's hard to remove this song from the influence of Apocalypses Now and in general, "un-innocence" of man in war (not unsurprising as Jim was anti-war). PTSD, death, killings and the barbarism that takes hold of humankind during and after war. Death is a friend that would take away all that strife, guilt, trauma, depression, and hardship, not to mention the ridicule, rejection, and hate (which was probably dealt by fans of The Doors and other hippy-landers). Of course PTSD, trauma, depression, death, hardship ridicule, rejection, and hate is something not just soldiers face but everyone so that hits hard in people. Definitely a difficult song to react to as it hits differently for everyone. It feels like a feeling of a meaning.

[@robertdubin5850]

As already alluded to, this is quite an atmospheric piece. Jim was obviously a brilliant poet and his soothing voice made songs such as this delectable.

[@josephdamiani4692]

Another great song bt the Doors to interpret would be the Soft Parade..

[@chriseckert613]

I loved your take on the song reflecting the death of love, of family and of any reason for human existence. I had always listened to this song from the perspective that Jim Morrisson had a death wish due to the way that his life played out. Maybe I was also too influenced by the Oliver Stone movie as well. Anyway, this was one of your greatest and deepest reactions. Before the "music is over", you will reach 200K subscribers and beyond. Cheers!

[@surfrunnerd8457]

A totally "out there" perspective. Jim went in a very short time from living homeless on Venice Beach to being an international rock star. Perhaps if he "struck a deal" with "an entity" he knew his time was short and he knew the end would come and when it actually would occur. The 27 club. As the time grew close, he left the band, went to Paris to prepare for his death. According to Pam, the night of his death, they listened together to the first Doors album, he retired to the bath late at night, and perhaps that's where he waited for the end to come. The deal?: rock stardom in exchange for his soul. The Faustian Bargain.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Morison obviously was comfortable with very uncomfortable themes. The song itself has many. Even Morrison said he picked up on additional meanings each time he heard it. The song certainly has an ominous tone: “children are insane”, “danger on the edge of town”, “weird scenes” and even a horrific version of the Oedipus and Electra themes expressed. Morrison may be the singer but is not the speaker in the various scenarios presented. Some have said that the song portrays a negative critique of Western society, i.e. the lines “the west is the best”, which is obviously sarcastic in nature as well as the statement “lost in a Roman pain of wilderness”, which is the line that kicks off the third verse. But you're wasting your time if you try to break it all down to make exhaustive thematic connections. I'd suggest watching Morrison sing this live, such as at the Hollywood Bowl in '69. Finally, Francis Ford Coppola brought images to a horrific interpretation of this song in the Colonel's death scene in Apocalypse Now. Highly disturbing, but if you've got the desire, a fascinating film.

[@ghost79ish]

Great video! I believe the high plucked sound are just the guitar strings above the nut or below the saddles. Not tuned to anything particular usually, just a chimey textural effect that isn't exactly uncommon on electric guitars in particular.

[@LukelearMissile]

Yeah, my thoughts, too. I seem to recall Brian May also did something similar in Bohemian Rhapsody, for emphasis on the "sends shivers down my spine" lyric.