Hyacinth House

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"Hyacinth House"
Song by the Doors
from the album L.A. Woman
ReleasedApril 1971
RecordedDecember 1970 – January 1971
StudioThe Doors Workshop, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length3:10[1]
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)The Doors[1]
Producer(s)

"Hyacinth House" is a song written and performed by the Doors. It appears on the band's final album with frontman Jim Morrison, L.A. Woman (1971). Its lyrics were written by Morrison, while the music was composed by keyboardist Ray Manzarek.

Composition and recording[]

"Hyacinth House" was recorded on a four track tape machine;[2] contrary to all the other songs on the album which were recorded on a professional-quality 8-channel recorder.[3] Morrison recorded his vocals on the studio's bathroom.[4][5]

As with the other songs on L.A. Woman, the album liner notes list the track's songwriters as the Doors;[1] the performance rights organization ASCAP shows the writers as the individual Doors members.[6] However, the music has also been attributed to keyboardist Ray Manzarek, which references Frédéric Chopin's Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 during the organ solo,[5][7][8] and the lyrics to Morrison, while he was at guitarist Robby Krieger's beach house.[8][9]

Lyrics[]

The title along with some of the lyrics, refer to the mythological Hyacinth, who was a beautiful youth and lover of the Greek god Apollo.[5] According to the myth, Apollo accidentally killed Hyacinthus in a discus throwing contest when the latter ran to catch Apollo's discus in an effort to impress the god. After the unfortunate death, Apollo refused to let Hades claim the youth. Rather, from Hyacinthus blood, Apollo created the hyacinth, a plant with a fragrant cluster of flowers.[5]

"Hyacinth House" includes many lyrics surrounding Morrison's upheaval about his personal life and relationships. The line "someone who doesn’t need me", refers to his troubles with girlfriend Pamela Courson.[8] According to Krieger, the line heard in the song's bridge: "I see the bathroom is clear" is a reference to an occurrence when Morrison's friend Babe Hill left the studio's bathroom so Morrison could use it to record his vocals.[5] Krieger has also noted that the line "To please the lions" was inspired after Morrison was in Krieger's house and saw a baby bobcat that he had owned.[8][9] Doors' drummer John Densmore said about Morrison's interpretation and lyrics: "He was re-examining, but not with regret. Toward the end, Jim said, 'Probably next time, I'd be a little solitary, Zen gardener working in his garden.' I don't interpret that as a regret, but he had a hunch."[9][10]

Reception[]

"Hyacinth House" has received several comments by critics. In a PopMatters review of the 40th Anniversary edition of L.A. Woman, Nathan Wisnicki commented that Morrison’s delivery of "Hyacinth House" "is a bit lethargic and flaccid, and there’s still some laughable lyricism."[11] The Doors FAQ author Richie Weidman, described it as "one of the strangest Doors' songs ever recorded."[5]

Critic Ryan Leas of Stereogum who ranked L.A. Woman the second best Doors album, praised the song saying that is "secretly one of the Doors' finest songs" and that it "still fits into the universe of L.A. Woman."[12] Densmore acknowledged the song as one of Jim Morrison's "saddest songs".[9]

Personnel[]

Per 2007 reissue of L.A. Woman CD booklet:[1]

The Doors

Additional musicians

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Botnick, Bruce (2007). L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary edition CD booklet). The Doors. Rhino Records. R2-101155.
  2. ^ Paul, Alan. "The Doors' Robby Krieger Discusses Some of the Best Tracks on Reissued L.A. Woman Album". Guitar World. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  3. ^ Bell, Max. "L.A. Woman and the last days of Jim Morrison". Teamrock.com. Retrieved September 3, 2020.
  4. ^ Davis, Stephen (2005). Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend. Penguin Publishing Group. pp. 395–396. ISBN 978-1-59240-099-7.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Weidman, Richie (2011). The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 189. ISBN 978-1617131141.
  6. ^ "ACE Repertory: Hyacinth House (Work ID: 380142130)". ASCAP. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  7. ^ McLee, David (2003). Legacy: The Absolute Best (CD booklet). Rhino Records. R2-73889.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Allen, Jim (April 19, 2016). "The Story Behind the Songs of the Doors' Last Hurrah, L.A. Woman". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Weiss, Jeff (January 19, 2012). "L.A. Woman: Track List". LA Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  10. ^ Smith, Rob (April 19, 2021). "The Doors' L.A. Woman: The Story Behind Each Track". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  11. ^ Wisnicki, Nathan (May 6, 2012). "L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary Edition)". PopMatters. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  12. ^ Leas, Ryan (July 29, 2015). "The Doors Albums From Worst to Best". Stereogum. Retrieved August 21, 2020.

External links[]

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