Classical Composer Reacts to THE DOORS: THE END | The Daily Doug (Episode 813) 

A knowledgeable, personable, pleasant and chill composer sparking a bowl to enjoy The End and taking us along on the journey. A perfect start to my weekend, thank you, Doug.

Can’t hear this without thinking of the opening minutes of “Apocalypse Now”.

This is more than just music, it is poetry, it is storytelling, it is art.

“When the Music’s Over” is another Doors long song you’d like.

John Densmores drumming on this track is fantastic.

"it's like they waiting around for Jimmy to do something" ... nailed it! I saw a doc once where Robby Krieger said that they never knew what Jimmy would do. they'd just keep playing.

Everyone always talk about Jim, but when I hear The Doors I always first think, damn, they are so tight! They were amazing band.

The “fucks” were removed from the mix on the album version. They were restored for use in Apocalypse Now and the uncensored version is now far and away the most popular because it represents what they originally intended.

It’s John Densmore who blows my mind on this track-and I’m a guitarist and aficionado of guitar. All those different percussive sounds, timed so perfectly. Also, I love how you said, ‘It’s like they’re waiting for Jim to do something.’ Oh, boy, ARE they ever. This song was written to hypnotise, to seduce the psyche, if you will, then to turn lose Jim’s Shadow upon the audience when they are most vulnerable. It’s really quite a violent thing to do to a person on psychedelics, who doesn’t know what to expect. The brilliance, though, is that the moment of shock turns into a chaotic celebration, and if you TRUST Jim to be your guide, and you DON’T try to maintain your ego, your control, whilst you’re riding with Jim’s Shadow, you’ll find your Shadow has also been liberated, and if you let yourself dance with it, you will integrate your Shadow and be healed. In the mid-90s till the early 2000s, I was a frequent user of LSD and psilocybin. On my university campus, I was called the ‘Acid King’, due to the heroic quantities I’d been known to consume, due to the enormous amounts I always had on hand, but also due to the fact that i was literally more comfortable under the influence of LSD than I was when ‘sober’ (by which I mean ‘not on psychedelics’. I don’t think I spent more than an hour TRULY sober from age 15 till age 28. I learned nearly everything I knew about navigating the psychedelic landscape from Jim Morrison, Ken Kesey, and Syd Barrett (the latter more a sort of a guide where not to step, when entering a psychological mine field.

This is one of The Doors most iconic songs The middle section is a reductive take on Edipis Rex from the Greek story Jim did it for the first time at the Whiskey totally blitzed on 25 hits of acid It's legit info it was in both Ray's and John's books The entire album was recorded on a 4 track console with an auxiliary input and various mic placements Ray and Robby were on the same track when this was recorded maybe that's why you mentioned the instruments banging into each other Great break down and analysis 🧐🤘😎✌️ RIP JIM AND RAY 🙏

Honestly one of my favorite albums of all time! Looking forward to this!

Thanks for sharing this reaction on the doors one of my favorite of the iconic 1960s successful rock bands. The doors actually broke on through to give us and beat progenitors of Prague rock, psych, jazz, rock, poetic folk, and rap. I mean, they just opened up the doors for so many different bands that we love that came in the 70s from England and United States. I love the one of the few of the big iconic bands. I didn’t see live. I was too young but thank you Doris Jimbo you live brother.

Jim played this live while his mom was in the front row. He was a special individual. I was really into them for a long time in the late 70's. Amazing lyricist.

There could hardly be a more appropriate song for you to hit a bowl to.

I really love this song and Riders of the Storm, but the drums and guitar playing in this feels, like they're moving around you.

Man, Robbie is such a talented guitarist. Does he get the recognition he deserves?

Thanks for this. Over the years, I have introduced loads of people to this song. Normally in a very relaxed state. It's always a personal, introspective reaction. This song is just magical.

I really love the keyboard Indian raga that runs all over the song, takes me in another dimension

The Blue Bus in the transit system in Santa Monica, CA, Also UCLA where Jim went to school.

Fucking John Densmore. One of the most underrated drummers ever. For about a year in high school, I don't think I listened to anything except this band.

The song The End became iconic when it was used in the opening of the film Apocalypse Now (FF Coppola), masterfully used in the nightmares and alcoholic delirium of the character Cap. Willard. Speaking of Apocalypse Now, Coppola used the aria Ride of the Valkyries (Richard Wagner) in one of the most epic battle scenes in cinema.

The more it ages the more the song becomes spiritual timeless deep sex and death

can u imagine listening to this in 1967, in between a Monkees number and a Beach Boy's ...?

The song is perfect for apocalypse now it emulates a journey into madness just like the movie

Love this song, I'm a bit late for the premier but you can bet it is all in when I get back from work!!!

This is a very, very, very special song. The Beatles, the Who, the Rolling Stones, nobody had this level of poetry and profundity. The Doors have fallen out of knowledge somehow, making them underrated. What a world we live in when the Doors are underrated! Well, listen and weep. Knowledge is king.

This is on my pre-planned funeral playlist.

Hey man this should be a beauty... Hopefully we get to see the Shaker and one of your lovely glass pipes

The mix is the way it is in order to make sure that it still sounded good on mono audio systems. Stereo was pretty new at this point, and this mix converts down to mono very very well indeed. The same with "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" - The original mix, which I grew up with, had what I thought was a strange mix, until I put headphones on and switched the amp into mono. Every instrument came through perfectly, no weird phasing issues. Same thing with this album by The Doors.

All the instruments are playing different songs and overlayed with Jim's lyrics. You should watch the ONLY time they played on Ed Sullivan. Moonlight Drive was his first poem/song, he sang it to Ray Manzerik when he bumped into him walking down the beach. He wanted to make films but Ray talked him into creating a band. Do you know his history, his father was a Navy Commander during Vietnam which made him split. Jim was a crazy reader that's why his lyrics are so deep.

I've done all the calculations and The Doors are my favorite band of all time.

Me heart just dropped when you said Jim isn't here to talk about this anymore. You'd think I'd be over it by now. If you enjoyed the storytelling aspect, let me highly recommend the live in New York track "Celebration of the Lizard" for another loooong Doors track. Thanks as always for your insightful reactions!

Even though I was a huge Doors fan in my younger age, I have never heard this version. Oh boy, what a ride.

This song will be forever entwined with the opening scene of "Apocalypse Now". Perfect song for a complex movie.

What I like most about The Doors' music is their perspective on the end of stages, there are many endings, the end of childhood, the end of a romance or simply ending up accepting something, it gives me a perspective of why we strive to achieve certain things

One of the greatest songs ever written. Nobody had ever heard anything like it before. The whole album is a masterpiece.

Great storyteller: Mark Knopfler. From 4 minute songs about making out down by the Thames in London to the sprawling, century-spanning gorgeousness of ‘Telegraph Road’, and the deeply emotional ‘Brothers In Arms’, he’s a master balladeer. Not to even mention his solo albums.

Doug’s face during the &&&& part 😂

The Doors. Incredible !!!

OOoo I love "The End". One of two favourite lomg The Doors songs, "When The Music Over" is the other. Both delightfully long pieces. 11:41 and 11 minutes. (My absolute favourite 'The Doors' track is "An American Prayer" ( a 4 song piece) from the same named album. Incidentally my favourite album as well.) Highly recommended if you dont mind spoken words. Other good pieces from the album: A Feast Of Friends, Ghost Song (Extended)

This song should be part of a masterclass for drummers on how to play cymbals. He’s painting here.

There is a Doors-like Canadian band called THE TEA PARTY from the mid-90s whose lead singer is very Morrison-like. SISTER AWAKE; TEMPTATION; ARMY ANTS; PULSE and ALARUM are the tracks to hear first.

This was originally Jim's showcase number, where he would play with bits of his poetry and improvise on subjects he felt like using. It wasn't until they finally put it down on vinyl on their first album that it solidified into this particular shape.

"No matter how I struggle and strive, I'll never get out of this world alive." ~~~ Hank Williams, 1952 Both the Doors and Pink Floyd put out their first albums this same year, 1967. They sound so similar here, esp. the keyboards.

please do more doors tracks they will surprise you with their variety of styles

Thanks for the content as always. Always a fan of your analysis. Got one thing for you. The fact that i didnt find a video of you reacting to Gentle Giant saddens me but makes me excited for the possibility of it coming in the future 😉 if you're ready for possibly the most Prog band thats ever progged I'd highly recommend Provocation, the opening track of The Power and the Glory. That album, in my opinion, is them at their peak. But also their live videos are amazing. You'll have so much fun picking these geniuses musical brains apart. Also they collectively play around 30 instruments and their live performances are fun to watch and a musical spectacle to see. Thanks again for your content and knowledge!

👍Seen them perform in 68 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. Only thing that came close that year was Iron Butterfly at the ASU activity center. 🚜🤠🐂

"You set that 10 minutes ago" Fantastic! I almost tossed my coffee ✌🏻😄

Such a classic song. A group of us went camping for a week many years ago and there was a freight train line across the river from where we camped. I brought my CD player and a bunch of batteries. Over the week, every time The End came up in a mix, a long train would come by and shake the river valley. It was very surreal, though the weed, alcohol and Psilocybin definitely had a lot to do with the effects of that "trip." Good times. Out of curiosity Doug, when in September 2023 did you do this? I was in Paris in September of 23 with my wife for our 25th Anniversary and we visited Jim's grave. It still has a fair number of people visiting his grave after all these years. RiP Jim. RiP Ray

Masterpiece indeed, one of the great, haunting epics they came up with. Another is When The Music's Over, another amazing jam and more of Jim Morrison being his genius, eccentric self. Enjoy! 🔥🎵🎤🎹🎸🎶🔥

Love your musical analysis more than anything. The way the chords and arrangements work. That's what I'm here for. That and you smoking that there pipe.

Doug, do you want a story-song? Here's a perfect Thanksgiving treat: "You can get anything you want at ALICE'S RESTAURANT" - Arlo Guthrie, 1967

This song, used at the opening of Apocalypse Now, is the most perfect bend of movie and music ever created/

The best American rock band.

35 years ago this was the last song one of my friends listened to. RIP, X. Maybe we'll meet again. I'd like that.

I can practically see and smell the incense smoke floating up to the ceiling. 😆 They actually got fired from a club for singing the "real" words to this. I can't hear this without hearing parodies of it. Flo and Eddie riffing on the snake and the lake with The Mothers at the Fillmore East, and The Gizmos' "Chicken Queen" -- "Chicken? Yes, queen? I want to... buck-a-buck-a-baaawk! " 😂

First heard this and the Doors in my fav war movie of all time Apocalypse Now

Excellent touch Doug, in lighting up to the very beginning of this epic, psychedelic virtuoso. As a die hard Doors fan, I’d lost track of how many times I’ve done the same ( occasionally with the addition of a whiskey and cola, naturally 😆). But the haunting music of this tune along with Jim’s voice and bizarre poetry is just mesmerizing. Great review of this legendary song 👏. And I’m sure others have told you, but seeing Apocalypse Now is an absolute must. I can tell you without question, ‘ The End ‘ is enough of a reason.

' Ray's organ, just noodling around in the background'. But, in this track I think it acts more like just a drone, as you'll find in various musics around the world.

LA County Metro busses were blue during the time Jim was singing. "The Blue Bus is calling us" is an elegant way to say "let's catch a Bus!"

This is the ultimate Doors song. Nothing sets an atmosphere like this!

"Never get out of the boat!"

This song is so much more impactful live. The simple sonic foundation allows for fantastic improvisation both lyrical and musically. For example, check out the live version on the 'In Concert' compilation.

I love the fact that you don't stop the music while commenting, unlike many others. I love that you took a hit of that thing there. Have you seen The Doors movie? Of course, the song lyric was edited for the "Mother, I want to f*** you!" One of the iconic songs of the 60's, no question. Great analysis, cool video.

I was 13 when this came out, stereo was kinda new so lots of early stereo recordings were created from mono recordings so instruments were in L or R,. Many musicians preferred to listen to the mono recording.

Ah this just takes me back. I think we're about the same age, I think I've got a couple of years on you. We used to take acid & smoke spliffs & bust out my mate's parent's vinyl & just get into it. Or we would go out in nature, sometimes take the boom box ha. I'm glad I have my psychonaut era to look back on

Dude I’m 39 how have you never heard this?

Interesting to have listened to The End the week it came out and getting you are hearing it new 55 years later. It alters between D Doric and Ionian and Mix

5 to 1 or unknown soldier are also very worth a listen

This song was also featured on the sound track of the classic movie "Apocalypses Now" .

Heard this magnificent song live, 69 in Cleveland 2nd row 5$ ticket best concert ever., pure sensuality, what ever happened to our music?

July 4th 1991. My best friend and i ended planned a bush party for the 4th of July. Plans fell through, and we ended up just hanging out by a natural spring a mile deep in the woods, dinking and listening to music. I wasn't a partier in high school and was pretty drunk. This song came on, and i gave him my interpretation of the lyrics, then it started raining. He was spooked and we packed it up and went home. I dont remember what i said, but our relationship changed that night. I miss him

This is a special song. Mystical, completely new.

The Blue Bus I believe was the bus that took our boys to Vietnam.

I have been listening to a lot of different music for 50 years. I admit my bias for Jim Morrison, however I think Jim's improvisational vamping, waxing poetic is in a stratosphere way above, or maybe from way down deep within than anybody else. The band's ability to create, compose improved, spontaneous music that captured the feelings expressed by Jim and his vamping is in the same stratosphere. They never had any idea when Jim would start vamping, what he was going to vamp, how long he was going to vamp, but they were able to sync to him in way I believe can only be spiritual. One epic from The Doors I would recommend is called "The Celebration of the Lizard." The piece is about 17 minutes. The greatest album of Jim and The Doors vamping is on an Album called "An American Prayer by Jim Morrison with Music by The Doors." I would highly recommend it if you really want to get a deep dive into Jim's psyche. Thanks Doug for your effort and experience.

Time to listen to the great Roy Harper "when an old cricketer leaves the crease" is a good place to start.

For a song that doesn't move much musically, hanging on that D chord, it really kicks. Jim's Oedipal poetry telling a 'killer' story.

A bold choice, Doc. I was never a huge Doors fan, but when they hit it, they really hit it. I never cared much for the radio hits, but the back streets stuff, "The Soft Parade", "Moonlight Drive", and this one. It always makes me think of the movie and how Jason Patric really should have played Morrison. Really glad to see this one come up. That'll shake up a few sleepyheads.

The "scene" with the mother is very explicit if you look at the 1991 film (the Doors - Oliver Stone). The patron into the bar is disturbed too!

1983.....2 am.....dim lit room.....this song on cassette listening through headphones.........while on acid😎😶‍🌫️

When you sparked that bowl, I subbed! Doors 4-Ever 🤘

I had the original album in 1967 when I was 14, long before Morrison became history and long before Apocalypse Now totally iconized this song. I wore that record out listening to it. All those F words were mixed out of the original release, but they have since been remastered back in.

Truly disturbing track. And just three years earlier, we were bopping to “She Loves You, Yeah Yeah Yeah”…

Think I forgot. This was played on the radio a lot. End they didn't censor. They kind of ad-libbed when they play this at Whisky a Go-Go. Manager got all freaked out and fired them on the spot. He said he would have no one singing on his stage about effing his mother. Lol You know what I liked about then? No one got hurt feelings over words. 🚜🤠🐂

Doug you should do The Celebration of the Lizard(live) The song epitomizes the doors cultural mystique morrison s haunting figures and the band's musical drive to the journey..... bye from Greece....

Hell yeah! Light it up and melt into the song!

Back in the day when bars had juke boxes, I used to wait until I was about to leave. Invariably, the jukebox would have the Best of the Doors in it. I’d throw in whatever money required, punch up this song, and walk out the door. I used to be kind of an asshole. 😂

Ray was a musical encyclopedia, if you find interviews with him on RU-vid he had so much musical knowledge.

Such a groovy band, Cheers Doug 🍃

One of the most epic songs of all time very underrated

There is a live version with more poetry involving a road crash of a bridal party and Jim decaying in a field. But also go and find Frank Zappa's piss take on the end! its very funny!

Johnny Rivers was the house band previous to The Doors. ✌🏻

Dunno if its been mentioned, but this is a remixed version, slightly different from the original mix. Mostly the double time "f*** me baby" part. That was mixed out originally in '66. Recorded to 4-track effectively by Bruce Botnick. Drums/Percussion, guitar, organ with keyboard bass & the vocals. No overdubs, but yes (apparently) edited from 2 takes. I love how the band used to just play and let Jim do his poetry, not knowing what he was going to say or do. The band is truly one entity, feeding off each other. Granted, this studio take was pretty well rehearsed and arranged, I still feel this was quite spontaneous. Check out the live version(s) from Hollywood Bowl 1968 & Felt Forum 1970. Both wonderful performances. And awesome video BTW Doug!!!!! Oedipus Rex... "a man with an odd complex, he appears in Freud's index, 'cos he LOVED his Mother.." (Tom Lehrer, 1965) .Peace.

Hi. You mentioned Harry Chapin as a story song singer/songwriter you appreciate. I love your work. I am Harry Chapin's youngest son. Would be delighted if you got around to doing the 'Daily Doug' treatment to his song 'Sniper'. Trust me. It's quite a ride.

I think I've read that the "blue bus" reference relates to the Vietnam war conscription. Hence the reference in the song "driver where you takin' us?"

saw them 2 times, 1967 and 1969 san diego concourse 3500 seat auditorium.

The ambient sound that are referring to is because it was recorded live. No digital bullshit. It would have sounded exactly like that in live concert. Except for WAY FUCKING LOUDER!!!!!!! I am 68 and was introduced to this stuff at 10 yrs old by my older siblings.....

i wans't expecting ur to take a hit lmao my mans doug be representing

dropping another comment for Komm Susser Tod from Evangelion and Old Stories from Made In Abyss. Anime Orchestral and "Classic Rock" songs. Classics in there own right, and are both breathtaking in different ways.

This song is the essential Doors track. Also have a listen to 'Rock is Dead', where they do a history of rock music from the beginning to the end of Rock. Not as polished but it was all purely spontaneous as the tape reels turned. A unique Doors experience.