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.