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The Doors: The Complete Lyrics
This book consists of magazine and newspaper articles, interviews, record reviews, excerpts from books, and other material related to the history of The Doors, to whose memory it is dedicated.This book consists of magazine and newspaper articles, interviews, record reviews, excerpts from books, and other material related to the history of The Doors, to whose memory it is dedicated.
208 pages, Paperback
First published September 30, 1991
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About the author
Danny Sugerman
10 books74 followersDaniel Stephen Sugerman (aka Danny) was the second manager of the Los Angeles based rock band The Doors, and wrote several books about Jim Morrison and The Doors.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 26, 2007
I am a huge fan of the Doors. Not only are they great in their own right, but no one else sounds the least bit like them so every time I listen to them they sound fresh and innovative. While they were part of the counter culture movement that characterized so many bands in the late sixties, they had a unique style that steered clear of the flower-child, kumbaya, anti-war act that so often evokes the strange emotional hybrid of irritation and boredom.
Jim Morrison gets a bad rap as a poet. While most people respect the Doors as a whole, Morrison’s lyrics are often criticized as juvenile and dramatic, only to be appreciated by college-age experimental druggies or the local acid casualty burnout. Sure, there are times when he gets a little carried away. I can do without the whole “Celebration of the Lizard” nonsense and things like riding the snake and his obsession with death. Bob Dylan was much better at capturing the voice of disillusioned baby boomers, but while Dylan put into words what everyone was thinking, Morrison found truth in what you hadn’t yet thought. Consider how he taps into frustration following awe as a man witnesses a beautiful woman in “Hello, I Love You:”
Sidewalk crouches at her feet/Like a dog that begs for something sweet/Do you hope to make her see you fool?/Do you hope to pluck this dusky jewel?
Sometimes I have no idea what he’s talking about but the words are so poignant that I don’t even care. In one of my favorite Doors songs, the title track from The Soft Parade, Morrison screams
The lights are getting brighter/The radio is moaning/Calling to the dogs/There are still a few animals/Left out in the yard/But it’s getting harder/To describe/Sailors/To the underfed.
Now I have no idea what this has to do with a parade, much less a soft one, whatever that is. But Morrison’s words and emotion behind them give me chills every time I hear that song.
For all his talent and charisma, Morrison needed Robby Kreiger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore just as much as they needed him. Morrison’s persona vaulted them all to fame, but without a vehicle for his words he might have been just another down and out poet wandering the streets of Venice, California. Lest you think this is just a book about Jim, remember that Kreiger wrote both the music and lyrics to some of the Doors’ biggest hits including “Light My Fire,” “Love Me Two Times” and “Love Her Madly.” The book also includes several articles written over the last 40 years that give a more complete picture of the band.
Jim Morrison was a poet who took on his role as rock star with great reluctance. He moved to Paris in March of 1971 to escape the excesses and attention of stardom and to work on his poetry. Unfortunately, the grips of alcoholism had dug in too deep and he died less than four months later at only 27 years of age. He was a poet first and a reluctant rock star second, and while his career with the Doors may have ended, surely his poetry would have continued. Perhaps then he would have written himself out his experimental stage and would have been remembered for more than his on-stage antics.
Now let’s get some tacos.
Jim Morrison gets a bad rap as a poet. While most people respect the Doors as a whole, Morrison’s lyrics are often criticized as juvenile and dramatic, only to be appreciated by college-age experimental druggies or the local acid casualty burnout. Sure, there are times when he gets a little carried away. I can do without the whole “Celebration of the Lizard” nonsense and things like riding the snake and his obsession with death. Bob Dylan was much better at capturing the voice of disillusioned baby boomers, but while Dylan put into words what everyone was thinking, Morrison found truth in what you hadn’t yet thought. Consider how he taps into frustration following awe as a man witnesses a beautiful woman in “Hello, I Love You:”
Sidewalk crouches at her feet/Like a dog that begs for something sweet/Do you hope to make her see you fool?/Do you hope to pluck this dusky jewel?
Sometimes I have no idea what he’s talking about but the words are so poignant that I don’t even care. In one of my favorite Doors songs, the title track from The Soft Parade, Morrison screams
The lights are getting brighter/The radio is moaning/Calling to the dogs/There are still a few animals/Left out in the yard/But it’s getting harder/To describe/Sailors/To the underfed.
Now I have no idea what this has to do with a parade, much less a soft one, whatever that is. But Morrison’s words and emotion behind them give me chills every time I hear that song.
For all his talent and charisma, Morrison needed Robby Kreiger, Ray Manzarek and John Densmore just as much as they needed him. Morrison’s persona vaulted them all to fame, but without a vehicle for his words he might have been just another down and out poet wandering the streets of Venice, California. Lest you think this is just a book about Jim, remember that Kreiger wrote both the music and lyrics to some of the Doors’ biggest hits including “Light My Fire,” “Love Me Two Times” and “Love Her Madly.” The book also includes several articles written over the last 40 years that give a more complete picture of the band.
Jim Morrison was a poet who took on his role as rock star with great reluctance. He moved to Paris in March of 1971 to escape the excesses and attention of stardom and to work on his poetry. Unfortunately, the grips of alcoholism had dug in too deep and he died less than four months later at only 27 years of age. He was a poet first and a reluctant rock star second, and while his career with the Doors may have ended, surely his poetry would have continued. Perhaps then he would have written himself out his experimental stage and would have been remembered for more than his on-stage antics.
Now let’s get some tacos.
April 19, 2020
Finally knowing the actual lyrics to all their songs. Awesome stroll through memory lane
July 14, 2020
If you know, you know.
June 16, 2024
Pretty good! I loved getting a better look at all the lyrics and I loved the included unreleased poems at the end, they were beautiful :3
June 11, 2018
Mmmmm... Simple, The doors.
This book are amazing, I could predict, the main and secundary characters are very well developed, i couldnt put it down, amazing book.
This book are amazing, I could predict, the main and secundary characters are very well developed, i couldnt put it down, amazing book.
April 5, 2009
Another of the lets' jump on the 'bandwagon' of dead/past celebrities and sweep the reader along in a tidal wave of wild outrageous tales about the subjects in question.
Sugarman did have a solid front row seat many times, but he doesn't bring much new or adds any insights of great value to the story of Morrison,Manzarek,Densmore, and Krieger.
Sugarman did have a solid front row seat many times, but he doesn't bring much new or adds any insights of great value to the story of Morrison,Manzarek,Densmore, and Krieger.
January 2, 2010
If you like classic rock n roll, and were alive during this period, you love Jim Morrison and the Doors then you will like reading the meaning behind his poetry! this book also gives the words to their songs.
November 29, 2015
A must for any Doors fan. Filled with the complete lyrics including an American Prayer. Includes forward from Danny Sugerman and rare interviews. There are lots of color and black and white photos of the band. I continue to be impressed with the timeless poetry of Jim Morrison.
August 2, 2008
Got to love those scadelous biographies...
Wait, Jim Morrison drank a lot??? Stunning!
OK, there's not much to do 300 miles from the nearest port!!
Wait, Jim Morrison drank a lot??? Stunning!
OK, there's not much to do 300 miles from the nearest port!!
March 13, 2013
this book would be better if all the lyrics were correct - it is a great to have an original copy though - Jim's words are so moving - a good buy for any poet
January 7, 2016
Were well done Photo book which good and interressting infos about jim and the doors by the doors favourit writers danny sugerman
June 9, 2022
Edición bilingüe. Para mi la mejor edición que he visto de las canciones o poesías, mejor dicho, que he visto de Jim Morrison. Un 10/10.
May 5, 2008
Incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews