The Crazy History Behind "The Alabama Song" 

More doors content please, love this stuff

Dude, your editing is insane! Your videos are some of my favorites to watch because it’s straight eye candy for me.

The moment in "The World's End" when they're all heading around town avoiding the evil robots with a Drunken Paranoid Uniform March to Alabama Song is my favourite use of this song ever

Ray Manzarek was a GOAT. Always loved that his keyboard work on Hyacinth House was inspired by Chopin's Polonaise in Ab Major 🎹

Weird thing is this wasn't just a deep cut on an album. They played this live a lot. Usually like the second or third song of the show. I always wondered if it was kind of their warm up, get in synch and set a mood song. They obviously enjoyed playing it or they would have dropped it out of the set list in later years. It wasn't a hit the people expected.

8:49 minor mistake, Jim died in 71 not 70.

morrison died in 71 not 70 but other than that this is on point!!! haha love the doors. so much to talk about with them as a microcosm of the psychedelic era

When I was a kid I used to get night terrors so my mum bought me a Bowie singles CD collection, which I played every night in order to get to sleep. I have vivid memories of listening to Alabama Song again and again on loop, it was on that fine line between enthralling and terrifying.

This song turned me on to the Doors and made me listen to them which quickly made them my favorite band. I never heard chord changes like that before

Great video. Plan to use it in class. It's important to keep in mind that Morrison and Manzarek were film school students, and were likely versed in avant garde theatre of the 20th century (similarly, the Living Theatre in NYC at the same time was inspired by Arnaud's Theatre of Cruelty). One slight correction is that Brecht couldn't have been subject to scrutiny by Sen. McCarthy if Brecht left the U.S. in 1949. McCarthy rose to prominence in 1950. It's more likely that Brecht encountered opposition from the self-censorship by Hollywood due to the Hays Code.

I love the duality in this song, how different the verses are than the chorus. It sounds like a medley, but it's not. Bowie doing this song live is probably the best version.

This album is a masterpiece

alabama song is one of my favorite doors tracks, this was a super fun video for me also can we talk about how the city of mahogany is literally just las vegas

I can't wait until more people get interested in classic rock and roll. Your channel is a great resource, thank you!

So many great artists have played Weill/Brecht. Such an important part of modern music. "Lotte Lenya Singt Kurt Weill" (1955) is a favourite of mine. In German, of course.

The doors Music is intellectual, charismatic, mesmerizing and able to grab your spine and shake it.

this song is so nostalgic, my mum used to play it all the time when i was wee. i used to think it was creepy 💀

You truly have the best music history videos out there, I really look forward to your uploads. Your editing is insane, you are a great storyteller, and I am always intrigued

Man, imagine my surprised to find out that Bertolt Brecht wrote "Mack The Knife". Like, I didn't come into this video expecting to think about Mac Tonight-which, I mean, it's entirely my fault that I did, but y'know.

As children in the late 80’s, my sister and I had made up a dance to this song and loved to perform it. The carnival-like sound appealed to us although we had no idea what it was about. Same with the Beatles’ Maxwell’s Silver Hammer and a few Cheech and Chong songs. Fun times

i absolutely love these well edited obscure and interesting stories from musical history.

Love your content! About Mack the Knife, it even made its way to salsa. There is a masterpiece by Rubén Blades called Pedro Navajas, that builds on Mack the Knife with a jazzy experimental salsa vibe. I think it's crazy how you can trace a line between Weill and Brecht and salsa. It goes to show how far-reaching their influence is.

great video, as always! i absolutely LOVE that you included shoutouts to David Bowie and Nina Simone!

From Ray’s autobiography. It was all totally Dorothy’s idea. “Dorothy had a record of Bertolt Brecht & Kurt Weill’s ‘Threepenny Opera’ with a couple of cuts from ‘Mahagonny’ at the end of the disc. It was an original cast recording from 1932. It was her kind of music. … … one day Dorothy said, “why don’t you guys do ‘The Whiskey Bar’? As long as you’re doing other people’s material, you might as well do Brecht and Weill too. “ Early in Chapter 7 So Dorothy is the MVP.

The Doors'first album is one of the best 1st record, and one of the best of rock history. The first time i listened it, i listened it over and over the entire night. I don't thank you, my "The Doors period" will start again 😀

As a moody teen in the 80’s, I absolutely *loved* The Doors!

1920s kids were already hip to this.

"Mahogany: A place of wealth and debauchery built by criminals in the middle of the desert"... So basically Las Vegas

This was the first song, by chance, that I heard of the Doors. I immediately fell in love with the keyboard and guitar tone. And I heard for the first time that rare but exquisite sound that seemed to be made with bells... a marxophone. Together with the subtle touch on the drums and Jim's vocals, they make this song a psychedelic carnival.

I love the visuals in your videos, this is straight eye candy

One of my favorite Doors songs - I've been a fan since '80. I did not know this. Thank you.

I had absolutely no clue that this was a cover

Clicked as soon as I saw Jim Morrison in the thumbnail

This song is so good. So is your video quality and editing. Keep it up! Can't wait for more Doors music!

Great Video and Greetings from Berlin, in walking distance to the "Volksbühne", the place where Bertholt Brecht plays performed back then, around 100 years ago.

It’s no coincidence that the Alabama song was also used in the movie “the worlds end” which is about accomplishing a bar run!

I was just watching The Doors' PBS show and then this pops up. Great! Thanks, Polyphonic!

Ohhh wow! I didn't know the origin of this song! Just gives you a deeper appreciation for it. My Mother and Father loves this song. Enough to see them super drunk singing along with it as they dance through the night. For sure, I'll be showing this video to them.

I never even knew it was a cover! Fantastic video

Thank you for super well done graphics that accompany story.

I love your videos, and it’s so crazy to see you almost at 1 million!! Been watching some 100k, so this is an unbelievable milestone! You deserve it all, awesome stuff man

great job.. I've been a big doors fan since the 70s ..and got to work on a community theater of 3 penny opera.. thank you

I grew up in Alabama!!!!! Loving it!

Always wondered about this song after hearing it a zillion times in the 1980s due to my friend being a hardcore Doors person, thanks for the context.

This song was the first song by the doors I heard and it got me into the doors, I remember when I first heard ray’s keyboard I was instantly in love, 5+ years later and I am still in love

So well done...thank you

My favorite use of the song is in The World's End from 2013. I won't spoil the plot, but when the 5 main characters realize that they're in massive danger. They have to pretend that to pretend that they're still doing their bar crawl to survive. Cue the Alabama Song, the perfect song to sum up 5 gentlemen who are trying to pretend that they're not in danger. Yet it's clear as day that they know what's going on.

This was a connection and a topic of which I was pretty much entirely ignorant. I'd heard the Doors version of the song, of course - and I believe I'd heard Bowie's too. But I had no idea whatsoever of the whole Weil/Brecht background. Astonishing! Thank you for the lesson.

I loved learning more about this song now I think I need to look into this man's plays.

Brecht's Mack the Knife too from the threepenny opera which they prolly covered only once in Stockholm 68 and the boot is FIRE !!!!!! lol there it is

Check out a rare Hal Willner produced album called “Lost In The Stars - A Tribute to Kurt Weill”. It includes performances of Weill’s music by artists including Sting, Tom Waits, Richard Butler of the Psychedelic Furs, Marianne Faithfull, Todd, Rundgren, and a host of others. If you were serious music collector, grab a copy, you can also find it on iTunes.

Beautifully done, appreciate you Polyphonic

Another great and informative vid from you on one of my favorite bands (also a big fan of Kurt Weil's music). One small note, Morrison died in '71 not '70 but, that aside, nice work my man. Keep em coming!

Dagmar Krause's versions of Brecht/Weill (and Hanns Eisler) are some of my favourite recordings ever.

Very cool, I know a stupid amount of rock trivia and did NOT know this. Thank you!

I don't think anyone has ever reviewed this song called broken arrow by Buffalo Springfield. It was on their 2nd album. It sounds like it has a hidden meaning behind it, and it'd be cool if you guys could do a video about it.

I had no idea this song was so old. Great album and their cover is classic

The irony of this song starting off as a poem, and Jim Morrison, starting off as a poet has not escaped me. It seems destiny that they were determined to meet each other to tell the story for generations to come. Thank you.

Great video. The editing is so on point and the content js equally interesting 🤝🏻

thank you for covering Berthold Brecht. He was a genious

Classic Polyphonic move right here, bring people/the algorithm in with a title and thumbnail about a classic rock band, then use that as a segue to something overtly political and lesser known. Great video, Noah!

Thanks for this video - I've been intrigued by this song since first hearing the Bowie version - a minor hit in the UK oddly - I never really knew what it was about (and assumed - it seems wrongly - that the english lyrics were a much later translation). From there I discovered songs like Mack the Knife and foiund out the lady with the deadly pointy shoe in that Bond film was part of this world. Somehow discovered Jacques Brel along the way too.

Check out the cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "On The Hunt" by "The Obsessed". Scott Weinrich nailed it.

A terific essay! One note tho: Morrison died in '71, not '70. That being said, a great effort! As a Doors fan for 40 years, you gave an education!

Remember that Jim & Ray were film students. I'm sure they know all about the derivation of the song. Cool video!

I get so happy when people post about the Doors! This is a wonderful video! :D You always make the coolest videos!

Jim Morrison pointed at Ray manzerek once and said see that guy, he IS the doors. Ray was a genius and every bit the intellect Jim was. He was the one guy who knew Jim's trip...freedom was all jim about plain and simple

One of my many favorite songs by the Doors. I had no idea of the history of it. When I was still singing, it was a part of my Karaoke List. It wasn't exactly a crowd pleaser, but I didn't care, it was fun to sing. I was aware of the Doors and "Hello I Love You" from the 60's, but never listened to a full Doors album until 1973. Wow...50 years ago this year.

I love how you cover the context and history I didn't know about the music I love but also introduce me to new music. Keep it up!!

Same with Spanish Caravan, the guitar intro is a classic arpegio. Same with Riders in The Storm is a take from Ghost Riders in the Sky. A lot of Doors music was way for Morrison to release his poetry.

Fantastic video essay. I had no idea the connection with Mack the Knife.

Wonderful production, as always, Polyphonic!

Oh I know that album. I listened to it plenty of times. The big highlight for me is "End of the Night". It is one of my favorite Doors songs. It is a fine example of creepy but beautiful. I just listened to it shortly before watching the video. It is on a RU-vid playlist of songs by various artists. The song has a great scene in the Oliver Stone movie. It is where Jim has an affair with Patricia. Lets just say that scene and similar scenes got me excited. This movie is R rated for a reason. The Alabama song is great too. It is one of my mom's favorite Doors songs. It is so catchy. I didn't know Doors were psychedelic. I would describe the music as weird, creepy, beautiful and shamanic. Interestingly Pink Floyd had its origins in psychedelic music. Then it move one into being the main band for prog rock. The Doors and Pink Floyd are two of my favorite bands. They even go together in my mind. Both bands are very weird, but they are very good. They go off and do their own thing. Being so different really makes these bands stand out from their contemporaries. My biggest musical guilty pleasure is Lady Gaga. She is a more modern musician. She works the same way. Oh my gosh! Those outfits. The sixties is the best decade for music. There was so many varieties, and the music overall was so amazing. Psychedelic was around during that time. I didn't think it was one of the better musical styles at the time. It was a bit too weird and funky. My top favorite band was the Beatles. They were the top famous band of the sixties. They did a variety of music. Personally I thought they did their best music right before their psychedelic phase. Three of my favorite albums are from the time. There is Beatles For Sale, Help! and Rubber Soul. I think the band jumped the shark after Revolver. After that the psychedelic phase started. The later music was good but not as good. I will give it this. Another one of my favorite albums is Magical Mystery Tour, and that was psycadelic. I also like the movie a whole lot. It is my biggest guilty pleasure of movies. I just had a whole new appreciation for psychedelic music. The Doors and Pink Floyd were awesome bands. They had thier connection to psychadelic music. So I can appreciate that two good things happened from that kind of music. There is also a fun fact. The Beatles had Sgt. Pepper as thier first psychadelic album. They made lenty of album before. Pink Floyd had their debut album called Piper at the Gates of Dawn. This new band started out with a psychadelic phase of their own. Interestingly both psychadelic albums were produced in the same music studio at the same time. That is cool that there is such a connection. Alabama Song is so goofy. I had no idea there was so much history and meaning behind it. The story about the German musicians and playwrights is interesting. In America, hippies were getting all upset about the Vietnam War. So they had protests. Part of that became protest music. Oh I just come up with a more modern example. I was a teenager back during the W. Bush presidency. There was the war in the Middle East. There was protesting against that. I personally was against it too. Funny enough, I was more in tune with the music that was popular with my peers. I still enjoyed some oldies though. One contemporary album I enjoyed was American Idiot by Green Day. I used to play that CD a lot, especially when doing housework. My favorite song was "Wake Me Up When September Ends". That album plus the use of CDs makes me feel old. I am so ancient. That album was a protest against the war in the Middle East. So there are two cases where a war sparked protest music or just protest art in general. The Nazis of WWII is perhaps the most notorious regime of history. So if anything will provoke protest, it is this one. There are examples of movies where the bad guys are either Nazis or thinly veiled parallels of Nazis. That kind of story is protesting against such a regime. Such movies are things like Indiana Jones, Capitan America, Star Wars and Harry Potter. It is nice to know that not all Germans are bad fascists. After the fall of the Nazis, Germany has made strides with suppressing such activities. It has laws against things like displaying the swastika and denying the Holocaust. There is also a Germain movie with thinly veiled Nazi bad guys. This movie is called Felidae. It is great that there were other Germain artists that protested the Nazis in their art. When I thought of this, I got a brilliant idea. There is a Doors song that fits the Nazis perfectly. It may even fit better than the original meaning. The new meaning is not exactly literal but it is close. It refers to the killing that the Nazis did. I did Google things to look up lyrics and find major German cities that Nazis were involved in. I tweak the lyrics a little to be about Nazis. The lyrics are violent and gruesome. So I do give a warning. This video briefly showed Martian Luther. That is another German guy. He protested against the Catholic Church. More specifically he criticized the greed and hypocrisy of the pope and other high ranking priests. There was a weird practice where priests can grant a better afterlife if they get paid. It seems like a bribe to me. That does go along with the Alabama Song being about debauchery. In more recent times there are scandals where clergy members commit child abuse. I am putting "child abuse" very lightly. Catholic clergy is especially plagued by such scandals. So I thought there was a way to tweak the lyrics of Alabama song to be about crooked Catholic priests. The lyrics may sound like swearing, but they aren't. There is a literal Hell as in the realm of the Christian afterlife.

There's a really interesting version by Georgia Brown on her album "Georgia Brown sings Kurt Weill" from 1962. It's got a weird early 60's orchestration and strange vocal timing in parts. I'm not really musically literate enough to describe properly, but it's worth checking out at least to hear the difference in interpretation between 62 and 67. I found the album while looking through used vinyl and knew nothing about it, but it looked interesting enough and was worth getting. I love that Bowie "Baal" ep as well. It sounds really great, really cranked up.

Love your videos man, this was great

I have a fun compilation of Weill songs called "September Songs" that includes a David Johansen cover of this song, but I do love the Doors version best.

One tiny little correction: Jim died in 71, not 70, as you briefly said in the video. Other than that, fantastic video as a lifelong Doors fan myself.

My first experience with this song was the Manson cover, but man there is so much more than i first thought!

I have listerned to The Doors since they first came out in the 1960s - love em - I had absolutley no idea of the connection between The Doors and Kurt Wiel, Brect et al. Thanks for that - you live and learn. PS - IF you are interested in the Weimar Vibe check out Philip Kerr's Bernnie Gunter books - the Sam Spade of the 3rd Riech, VERY atmospheric and full of obscure details like the Sing Sing Nightclub/ Caberet with its own electric chair to give the patrons a 'bit of a shock'. Strange but true.

I had no idea the Alabama song was a cover song.. Fascinating.. Side note : The City of Mohogany sounds just like Las Vegas.

Probably the best record out of all their albums. This says a very lot and it's because all their albums are excellent. Now that I look back, not realizing it at a younger age, and The Doors are definitely before my time. But in the amount of time they were together making albums and it wasn't a very long time, between 67-71? Right, six years. And The Doors, Strange Days, Waiting for the Sun, The Soft Parade, Morrison Hotel, and LA Woman. These were all great albums that you could listen to from front to back and enjoy every song. So every album was good! So to say that their debut album was the best imo says a hell of a lot! And looking back, they were definitely one of the best bands to ever come out of America hands down! They were very consistent, and with great material every time. Doing in a matter of 5 years what most bands still have never achieved.

Awesome vid. Would love a minidoc on LA Woman and the Doors getting back to their roots as a band after the drug-induced tumult of Jim's addiction

Love the doors, plase make more content bout em!!

I LOVE THE DOORS HAUNTING TWIST ON THERE VERSION OF THE TUNE I LOVE THIS SONG!!! VILE WAS A TRUE ARTIST OF HIS TIME AND WE SEE ONLY TRUE!!!!ARTIST WILL IMPACT THE FUTURE!!!!!!!!

i'd love to see a video about your top albums of all time or something!

More about Weill please. Fascinating figure in 20th century music.

Amazing video! Please make one on "Desolation Row" by Bob Dylan

Excellent choice and background. Thank you for doing this.

“The Soft Parade” is the strangest in my opinion.

Man the first time I heard this song the first thing in my head was “damn this is a good drinking song”

You are incredible at what you do! Love you work! Thank you.

You’re simply insanely good at what you do! Thanks so much and warm greetings from 🇩🇪! ❤

More about “the end” please. That song is so interesting.

I'm German, and I did not know this! Thanks for reaching out to non-Anglo cultures and back to other periods of time ♥ EDIT: You should really credit Elisabeth Hauptmann for this. She has been behind a lot of Brecht's supposed genius, never grabbing attention, instead being taken advantage of by Brecht sexually and artistically. An experience women all too often share up to the present day. We should at least honour her memory. Still, a great video!

I never noticed til now the way you move some of the cuts btwn still images. Subtly effective 😃 Almost all of this info was a surprise to me. Had heard of epic theatre & the Weimar scene but basically just that - 'heard of' not 'knew about.' when I heard Alabama Song, it felt anachronistic and like a genre departure, but I had no idea it wasn't a Doors original. One of those things where you learn the truth and it's like "oh duh"

For more info, check out the book 'The Partnership: Brecht, Weill, Three Women, and Germany on the Brink' by Pamela Katz.

Someone showed me the Doors version, saying it always creeped him out and I immediately went "that's Brecht and Weill!" despite only being familiar with a handful of songs from Threepenny Opera. Did some digging and the Lotte Lenya recording i found was significantly creepier. Showed that one to my brother and he couldn't even sit through the whole song

My Canadian brother has been making straight bangers lately; although he always does🔥

Such a cool story and the video! Thanks!

I like to watch videos on weird things found on the internet. One of the things I've seen on a few of these list type videos is a game supposedly found on the "dark web" (which I don't believe) called Sad Satan. It looks like someone took a maze type game and tried to make it look scary. I don't know, it's pretty silly and you could probably easily find it with a Google search if you wanted. Anyway, the "game" had this weird music on it that was creepy, but kind of sounded familiar. Then, I realized it was The Doors version of Alabama (Whiskey Bar) just slowed way down. Hilarious. 😂