About the song
“The End” is an epic song by the American rock band The Doors, featured on their self-titled debut album released in 1967.
Background:
- Writer: Primarily written by Jim Morrison, with contributions from the other band members.
- Inspiration: Morrison initially wrote the lyrics as a farewell song to his girlfriend Mary Werbelow, but they evolved into a much darker and more complex piece.
- Evolution: The song went through multiple transformations during live performances at the Whisky a Go Go club, eventually reaching its final form on the album.
- Oedipal theme: A controversial spoken word section near the end of the song, often interpreted as an expression of Oedipal desires, caused the band to be fired from the Whisky a Go Go.
Lyrics:
The lyrics are poetic and often ambiguous, open to interpretation. Some key lines include:
- “This is the end, beautiful friend”
- “The end of laughter and soft lies”
- “Ride the snake, ride the snake to the lake, the ancient lake, baby”
- “Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill” (repeated in the Oedipal section)
Themes:
The song explores various dark and complex themes:
- Loss and farewell: The opening lines set a melancholic tone of finality and goodbye.
- Death and mortality: The lyrics allude to the inevitability of death and the end of all things.
- Psychological darkness: The song delves into the depths of the human psyche, touching upon themes of madness, violence, and Oedipal desires.
- Transformation and rebirth: The journey imagery suggests a process of transformation and the possibility of rebirth after destruction.
Impact:
“The End” is considered a landmark song in rock history, known for its innovative structure, poetic lyrics, and Morrison’s haunting vocal performance. It has been covered by numerous artists and featured in films like “Apocalypse Now,” further solidifying its cultural significance.
Video
Lyrics
This is the endBeautiful friendThis is the endMy only friend, the endOf our elaborate plans, the endOf everything that stands, the endNo safety or surprise, the endI’ll never look into your eyes again
Can you picture what will beSo limitless and freeDesperately in need of some stranger’s handIn a desperate land
This is the endBeautiful friendThis is the endMy only friend, the end
It hurts to set you freeBut you’ll never follow meThe end of laughter and soft liesThe end of nights we tried to die
This is the endThis is the end