Behind the Lyrics - The Doors: "Break on Through"

(Photo Credit - thedoors.com)

My husband and I were in the car this past weekend when a bulletin board sign caught my attention - "Imagine what art the world could have if artists were supported?" Now, I did not catch who endorsed this sign, but it did get me thinking. We had a long discussion about it leading to none other than Jim Morrison of The Doors.
 

So, many rock stars take on that life not because it is what they want, but it is an avenue to get where they desire to go. For example, Jim Morrison published two books of poetry in 1969, and he was beginning to move away from the rock scene when he died of the ripe young age of 27. Two volumes of poetry. That isn't something that one just writes overnight, even someone as talented as Jim Morrison. So, this leads me to wonder - how many other artists are out there doing something they do not enjoy and leading them into dangerous issues -- drugs and the like -- to get to a happier end goal?

For example, let's look his lyrics to "Break on Through"

The Doors - "Break on Through

"You know the day destroys the night

Night divides the day
 Tried to run
 Tried to hide
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side, yeah
 We chased our pleasures here
 Dug our treasures there
 But can you still recall
 The time we cried
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side
 Yeah
 C'mon, yeah
 Everybody loves my baby
 Everybody loves my baby
 She get high
 She get high
 She get high
 She get high, yeah
 I found an island in your arms
 Country in your eyes
 Arms that chain us
 Eyes that lie
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through, ow
 Oh, yeah
 Made the scene
 Week to week
 Day to day
 Hour to hour
 The gate is straight
 Deep and wide
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through to the other side
 Break on through
 Break on through
 Break on through
 Break on through
 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
 Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah"
 

 Something important to note is the idea of the beginning lyrics - "Tried to run / Tried to hide", but he "break on through to the other side". It is this idea that he didn't want the rock and roll lifestyle that "night divides the day", creating a barrier between him and everyone else. But, he had an opportunity, and so, he "break on through to the other side".
 
 With the second verse, we see, "We chased our pleasures here / Dug our treasures there /
 But can you still recall / The time we cried / Break on through to the other side". They did, they made it, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a sacrifice and stress, but now, he keeps stressing that they have to keep on going "to the other side".

 Now, many folks might read the lyrics hinting at a woman and think - oh this is a relationship song. That is the beauty of lyrics and words -- there can be multiple meanings, but I like to think of it as "she" being the rock star lifestyle. "Everybody love my baby" makes me think of the idea that most people think being a rock star would be pretty sweet, but he follows this with - "Arms that chain us / Eyes that lie". Just as a woman can be beautiful and alluring, so can the rock life, but then, it just won't let go, so Morrison repeats - "Break on Through yeah yeah yeah". And I wish for him, rest from his rock and roll life.
 

Until next time.