When the Music's Over

"When the Music's Over" is an epic song[3][4] by the American rock band the Doors, which appears on their second album Strange Days, released in 1967. It is among the band's longer pieces, lasting 11 minutes.

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

"When the Music's Over"
The original handwritten lyrics to "When the Music's Over" (on the left)
Song by the Doors
from the album Strange Days
ReleasedSeptember 25, 1967
Recorded1967
StudioSunset Sound Recorders, Hollywood, California
GenreArt rock[1]
Length11:00[2]
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)The Doors[2]
Producer(s)Paul A. Rothchild

Origin

Like several other tracks from their second album Strange Days, the song was composed before the group 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 1967. Jim 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] Morrison recorded his vocals in one single take.[7]

Guitarist Robby Krieger would later explain the difficulty of his guitar solo: "That solo was really a challenge because the harmony is static. I had to play 56 bars over the same riff."[8] Manzarek has stated, that he was inspired by Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man", while composing the organ intro.[9][10]

Structure and lyrics

The song can be divided into five parts,[11] 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"

According to music journalist 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.[12] 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.[13]

References

Citations

  1. Pipes, Rusty (January 2, 2016). "The Golden Age". Cosmik.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  2. Strange Days (Album notes). The Doors. New York City: Elektra Records. 1967. Back cover. EKS-74014.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. Weidman 2011, p. 192.
  4. Matijas-Mecca 2020, p. 79.
  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, pp. 201–202.
  7. Baltin, S (February 13, 2016). "Doors Members Robby Krieger and John Densmore Reunite for All-Star Tribute to Ray Manzarek". Billboard.com. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  8. Paul, Alan. "The Doors' Robby Krieger Sheds Light – Album by Album". Guitar World. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  9. Kubernik, Harvey (February 12, 2022). "Ray Manzarek on the Doors' 6 Studio Albums: The 'Lost' Interviews". Best Classic Bands. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  10. Manzarek 1998, p. 78.
  11. Davis 2005, p. 198.
  12. Davis 2005, p. 104.
  13. Davis 2005, p. 166.

Sources

  • Davis, Stephen (2005). Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend. New York: Gotham Books. ISBN 978-1-59240-099-7.
  • Manzarek, Ray (1998). Light My Fire: My Life With the Doors. New York: Putnam. ISBN 978-0-399-14399-1.
  • Matijas-Mecca, Christian (2020). Listen to Psychedelic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre. Hardcover. ISBN 978-1440861970.
  • Weidman, Richie (2011). The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-017-5.
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