Peace Frog

"Peace Frog" is a song by the Doors, which was released on their fifth studio album Morrison Hotel in 1970. Guitarist Robby Krieger explained that the music was written and recorded first, with the lyrics later coming from poems by singer Jim Morrison.[1] Although the song was never released as a single in the US, it was issued as the B-side of "You Make Me Real" in France.

For the clothing company, see Peace Frogs.

"Peace Frog"
Cover to French single release
Song by the Doors
from the album Morrison Hotel
ReleasedFebruary 1970 (1970-02)
RecordedNovember 1969
StudioElektra Sound Recorders, Los Angeles
GenreRock
Length2:50
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Paul A. Rothchild

"Peace Frog" was included on the Doors' second compilation album Weird Scenes Inside the Gold Mine, released in 1972.[2]

Lyrics

The song's lyrics were derived from three poems written earlier by Morrison, titled "Abortion Stories", "Dawn's Highway" and "Newborn Awakening".[1][3] The group, however, recorded the music of "Peace Frog" firstly wordless, before Morrison overdubbed his vocals, as Krieger recalled: "I had written the music, we rehearsed it up, and it was really happening, but we didn't have any lyrics and Jim wasn't around. We just said, 'Fuck it, let's record it. He'll come up with something.' And he did. He took out his poetry book and found a poem that fit."[4] The Doors performed the instrumental version at live shows during 1969.[2] The title was originally "Abortion Stories", but at record producer Paul A. Rothchild's request, Morrison changed it to "Peace Frog", as he was afraid that the initial title would create some controversy.[5]

"Peace Frog" features lines inspired by true events surrounding the band's frontman Morrison. The line "Blood in the streets in the town of New Haven" is a reference to his onstage arrest on December 9, 1967, during a live performance in New Haven Arena.[2][6] After the guitar solo, the song enters a spoken word verse with the lines "Indians scattered on dawn's highway bleeding", which describes a highway accident that occurred when he was young.[2][7] Morrison reportedly witnessed dead Native Americans while his family was crossing a desert by road in Albuquerque, New Mexico.[8] He said, "That was the first time I tasted fear. I musta' been about four."[3] Morrison was also referring to the 1968 Democratic National Convention protests with the lyric "Blood in the street/ The town of Chicago".[2]

Critical reception

Unlike the Doors previous album, The Soft Parade, Morrison Hotel received positive responses by critics, and it was widely seen as a comeback in the band's quality.[9][10] "Peace Frog" is also praised as one of the album's highlights.[11] Louder Sound ranked the song among "The Top 20 Greatest Doors Songs",[3] while Ultimate Classic Rock cited it as Robby Krieger's third best track for the group.[12] Krieger himself, included it as one of his personal favorite Doors songs on The Doors: Box Set.[13]

In a positive album review of Morrison Hotel, critic Thom Jerek of AllMusic described "Peace Frog" as "downright funky boogie".[14] Sal Cinquemani writing for Slant Magazine, declared the song as the best track on Morrison Hotel, and "one of the Doors' greatest."[11] Critic Jason Elias wrote that the song is "one of those tracks that will constantly amaze." He praised Robby Krieger's "bluesy lines" and Ray Manzarek's "eerie keyboards add to the chaos as usual."[15] Tony Thompson said that it is one of the Doors' greatest songs despite the "slightly absurd" title, and that it received radio airplay despite not being released as a single.[2] Hartford Courant critic J. Greg Robertson regarded the music and lyric to be "magnificent."[16]

Personnel

The Doors

Session musicians

  • Ray Neapolitan – bass guitar[18]

References
  1. Mayhew, Jess (June 17, 2016). "Robby Krieger Explains the Story of 'Peace Frog'". Reverb. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
  2. Thompson, Tony (2021). The Doors: Every Album, Every Song. SonicBound. pp. 69–70. ISBN 978-1789521375.
  3. Bell, Max. "The 20 Greatest Doors Songs". Louder Sound. No. 16. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  4. Paul, Alan. "The Doors' Robby Krieger Sheds Light — Album by Album". Guitar World. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  5. Krieger, Robby (2021). Set the Night on Fire: Living, Dying, and Playing Guitar with the Doors. Hachette. pp. 264–265. ISBN 978-0316243544.
  6. Weidman, Richie (2011). The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 196. ISBN 978-1617131141.
  7. Davis, Stephen (2004). Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend. Ebury Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-09-190042-7.
  8. G. Gaar, Gillian (2015). The Doors: The Illustrated History. Voyageur Press. p. 12. ISBN 978-1627887052.
  9. "The Doors Check Into the Morrison Hotel". PopMatters. October 9, 2020. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  10. Weidman, Rich (2011). The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 159. ISBN 978-1617131141.
  11. Cinquemani, Sal (April 18, 2007). "The Doors: Morrison Hotel". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  12. Rivadavia, Eduardo (January 8, 2016). "Top 10 Robby Krieger Doors Songs". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  13. The Doors: Box Set (Liner notes). The Doors. Elektra Records. 1997. 62123-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. Jerek, Thom. "The Doors: Morrison Hotel – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  15. Elias, Jason. "The Doors: 'Peace Frog' – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  16. Robertson, J. Greg (March 11, 1972). "Best of the Doors...and Worse". Hartford Courant. p. 16. Retrieved March 13, 2022 – via newspapers.com.
  17. Gerstenmeyer, Heinz (2001). The Doors - Sounds for Your Soul - Die Musik Der Doors (in German). BoD – Books on Demand. p. 117. ISBN 978-3-8311-2057-4.
  18. Manzarek, Ray (1998). Light My Fire: My Life With the Doors. New York: Putnam. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-399-14399-1. ... 'Roadhouse Blues' as did Lonnie Mack on bass. Ray Neapolitan played bass on all other cuts.
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