When the Music's Over

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For the Peter Robinson novel, see When the Music's Over (novel).

"When the Music's Over"
Song by the Doors
from the album Strange Days
ReleasedSeptember 25, 1967
RecordedMay and August 1967
StudioSunset Sound Recorders Hollywood, California
GenreArt rock,[1] acid rock
Length11:00[2]
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)The Doors[2]
Producer(s)Paul A. Rothchild

"When the Music's Over" is an epic[3][4] rock song by American rock band the Doors which appears on their second album Strange Days, released in September 1967.

Origin[]

Like several other songs from their second album Strange Days, it was composed before they had a record contract, being performed and elaborated in the middle of 1966 at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles.[3] One such gig was captured on the 2012 re-release of the record and film Live at the Hollywood Bowl. A performance from 1970 was released in 2018 on the Live at the Isle of Wight Festival 1970 album. Rolling Stone magazine quoted Doors member John Densmore as saying, "playing that song was intense. I had to take a deep breath before playing it, because it’s not a little three-minute pop ditty."[5]

The final album version was recorded in September 1967. Morrison wanted the song to be recorded live in the studio without overdubs. However, after being absent from the original studio session for the better part of 24 hours, he found that the band refused to re-record the song, and he was persuaded to have the vocals recorded on top of the original take (which had keyboardist Ray Manzarek on vocals).[6]

Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, explained about his solo: "That solo was really a challenge because the harmony is static. I had to play 56 bars over the same riff.[7] Manzarek has stated, that he was inspired by Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man", while composing the organ intro.[8]

Structure[]

The song can be divided into five parts,[9] where the fifth returns to the lyrics and theme of the first.

  1. "Turn Out the Lights/Dance on Fire"
  2. "Cancel My Subscription"
  3. "What Have They Done to the Earth?"
  4. "Persian Night"
  5. "Return to the Main Themes"

Lyrics[]

According to author Stephen Davis, the lyrics 'When the music's over, turn out the lights' originated from a comment made by the owner of the London Fog, a Los Angeles music venue where The Doors played late night live shows early in their career.[10] Davis also points out that the passage starting with the line "what have they done to the Earth?" is an early example of environmental themes in rock music.[11]

References[]

Citations

  1. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20160311144734/http://cosmik.com/aa-january02/golden_age4.html
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Strange Days (Album notes). The Doors. New York City: Elektra Records. 1967. Back cover. EKS-74014.CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Weidman, Rich (2011). The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-017-5.
  4. ^ "The Doors Posts". September 8, 2017. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  5. ^ Grow, Kory (February 20, 2018). "See Doors' Epic 'When the Music's Over' at Isle of Wight Festival". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  6. ^ Davis 2005, p. 201-202.
  7. ^ Paul, Alan. "The Doors' Robby Krieger Sheds Light – Album by Album". Guitar World. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  8. ^ Manzarek, Ray (1998). Light My Fire: My Life With the Doors. New York: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-399-14399-1.
  9. ^ Davis 2005, p. 198.
  10. ^ Davis 2005, p. 104.
  11. ^ Davis 2005, p. 166.

Sources

  • Davis, Stephen (2005). Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend. New York: Gotham Books. ISBN 978-1-59240-099-7.

External links[]

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