Understanding "The End" 

This song reminds us of our existential existence and inevitable death... have you tried Hello Fresh?

The horror… the horror. Best use of any song in a film, hands down.

I'm loving the recent format of playing the song in its entirety and structuring the "essay" so it is always relevant to the current section of the song. Very nice work... keep it up!

I was 15 living in LA in at this time. And started dropping those little purple pills. The Doors were a local group in 1967 but they were having a heavy impact. I saw them early 1967 in an unforgettable performance. I'll never forget it. Morrison was on another level.

The killer awoke before dawn, he put his boots on..

The song that made me fall in love with the doors and psychedelic music generally. A real standalone song, never heard anything else like it.

9:48 so Morrison literally sang "reject society, return to monke". He was truly a genius beyond his time.

“Everyone gets everything he wants.” “I wanted a mission, and for my sins they gave me one.” “Brought it up to me like room service.”

The End is about Hello Fresh. It seems so obvious now.

The End is a song beyond time, you could play it in a thousand years and it would still be ahead.

I met Ray Manzarek once. He was doing a tour with poet Michael McClure. After their performance, Ray did a Q&A session. Someone asked him about that song. According to Ray, the "snake" was the Santa Monica freeway, which is 7 miles long. The blue bus was an actual bus you could pay to ride on. That was the symbolism.

My favourite song of all time, I'll always remember the first time I heard it, watching Apocaylpse Now for the first time, that opening shot, Jim's haunting vocals and Robby Krieger's soft guitar line. Masterpiece.

My favorite song of all time. I’ll never forget the first time I heard it. It was probably 11:00 pm and I was in the car driving home from a friends house, I think I might have been on something, maybe it was just that late, I don’t think I’d be stupid enough to drive high, but it was the surreal thing that’s ever happened to my, driving home, across a desert no less. I was lost in thought, adrift in a sea of my mind. It felt like an eternity, and I couldn’t believe it was only 10 minutes. I’d pay a million dollars to hear this song for the first time again.I almost only ever play heavy metal when on stage, but my band always closes with this song. We usually run it out to 17 minutes or so, we stuck a few new verses on there and added a more complex bass part. I have dealt with loss all my life, I have fought a war in my head against depression, I have visited a state of mind that I wouldn’t wish upon my worst enemies. I lost my best friend to a war just like mine and it changed me. I came back from that place with a revelation, I ask that you head my warning. You only live once, don’t throw it away…please…

My own musical project got its name from this song: the lyric "lost in a Roman Wilderness of pain" struck me and Roman Wilderness was born. Jim's lyricism is unmatched in my opinion, and only the music of The Doors could bring his poetry to life. Thank you for this video, so glad to see my biggest musical inspiration get some love nowadays.

Couldn't it be that where Jim writes "The west is the best, get here and we'll do the rest", he's talking about the american dream and the united states as the "promised land", and how the united states was seen as the ultimate in culture, technology and democracy at the time? Just spitballing ofc.

I wish I could time travel to the late 60's to see them play live

Pretty much one of the best records ever created. The lyrics, the drumline and the VOCALS!

I just watched apocalypse now, perfect timing

A lot of The End’s symbolism draws from The Golden Bough by James George Frazer. The “Roman wilderness of pain” and “ancient lake” are references to the priest of Diana at Nemi known as the Rex Nemorensis. The œdipal concepts also relate to the cycle of mortality and fertility inherent to kingship. Morrison almost quotes The Golden Bough I’m Not to Touch the Earth. It’s a dense book but it’s one of his major literary influences.

The blue bus was literally a bus that ran in LA that took people to the beach

jim morrison actually used hello fresh when he was living in venice...

“The Blue Bus” is the nickname for the city of Santa Monica’s public transit buses. They’ve been called that for over 55 years. Santa Monica is right next to Venice on it’s northern border (if you discount the area called Ocean Park). Whether or not Jim was using the phrase “The Blue Bus” as a metaphor is only something he knows. And it most likely is. Anyway… I LOVE your videos, Polyphonic. These kinds of videos are like hanging out listening to records years ago while stoned and looking for meaning (both deep and face value) within the songs. You put your videos together perfectly. Each one of these kinds of videos is like a magical trip through the words and music of geniuses. Peace, Love & Mushrooms. ✌🏽❤️🍄

This is one of the most terrifying songs I have ever heard, I can't bear to listen it again. But still a psychedelic masterpiece. And haunts like no other

Polyphonics is great it is explained so many different things of American music things that I had no idea were going on... Keep 'em coming brother

1967 was THE year of rock music, when the universe aligned and produced in America a renaissance of musical art. It of course included The Doors' first album in January, but had they released the album weeks earlier, in '66--with The End juxtaposed against the thin pop of the times--there would be no dispute that The Doors were true pioneers in that magical era.

Do “Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers. It’s actually about Gregg’s experience with the music business in LA before the Allman Brothers instead of about a woman. Can talk about him composing it on an ironing board, the Fillmore East version, people yelling Whipping Post at shows, Duane and Berry’s spooky deaths, song’s legacy, Gregg’s history with Cher and many other wives. It’s the birth of Southern Rock, but they hated southern rock and it’s actually closer to prog rock or fusion jazz. It’s in 11/4 time and the most famous version is 22 minutes.

This is completely inspirational for me. Just got laid off from my job of 20 years. That’s an end. A new beginning is presenting itself to me now. How shall I face it? Thanks to this awesome analysis into this song I’ve been listening to all my life, I’m seeing it in a new light. It’s helping me see the existential crisis in front of me, and the courage I must have to reinvent myself.

The video is just as hypnotising as the music!

Thank you for an essay on 'The End". It should be taught in schools for eternity.

As well...I believe "the blue bus" was also a reference to the buses that young men rode when going into the military and possibly die in Vietnam. "The blue bus is calling us / driver where you taking us?" Also a reference to the river styx and the boat's driver guiding you to the other side. Just another lyrical level.

I wish I'd never listened to The Doors' debut album so I could hear it for the first time. Is truly an unbelivable experience

I heard this song for the first time yesterday. Man the song itself is a journey.

Morrison has got to be the most charismatic person in all of music.

This song is such an masterpiece! since im early I can't say something about the vid itself other than that I'm exited for it!

Most videos, documentaries suck when talking ABOUT music. But this is the first actual, useful analysis of a musical composition and its performers i literally ever heard. Well fucking done! Well done! “Manzarek used his organ as a tambura.” Yes and thank you for actually saying something beyond “generic vague bs” Note this man is not telling stories or anecdotes shrouded in generic descriptions. No this is real. Impressed and inspired.

Meditations of a Rockstar. Lost in Roman wilderness of Pain and all of the children are insane. Offers up a philosophical glimpse through the window of Morrison's poetic lyrics. Looking from the past the great rise and fall of the Roman empire and at the same time secretly speaking of America during the bleak Vietnam era. : “Every time I hear that song, it means something else to me ..... but I see how it could be a goodbye to a kind of childhood." ~ Jim Morrison c.1969 The Doors commented further on the so-called soldier’s situation in “The End,” singing that “The blue bus is callin’ us” and asking “Driver where you takin’ us?” The term “blue bus” refers to the buses that took drafted men to basic training, as is mentioned by William Caughey in his “A War Story,” and the apparent ignorance of the soldier asking “where you takin’ us?” reflects what historian James William Gibson explains about the ignorance of what going to Vietnam really meant, that “much [of] war culture [reflected] upon the ‘unreality’ of Vietnam, the sense in which nothing seemed to meet preconceived concepts of rationality” Through its references to an apocalypse, “The End” accurately assesses not only the war in Vietnam, but also how this conflict was reflective of a larger ideological conflict that affected all levels of American society, heralding the end of American society as it was and the development of a new society and national identity. The new American Gothic. The Ends "The Killer awoke before dawn ..." and Riders on the Storm's "There's a Killer on the road ..." of course was Morrison's reoccurring nightmare antagonistic character; professing to Manzarek that he's inspired to make a movie about a hitchhiker killer out on the road. "Because you gotta have some Death." ~ Jim Morrison

I absolutely love the doors one of my favorite bands

20 seconds in... one of your best videos yet! Great editing, great voiceover, great thematic breakdown!!!

Wow, there's some Apocalypse coming on us Now

The first time I heard this song, it was somewhere around midnight. I hated it, but I kept playing it, again and again. I remember how fucking terrified I was. I felt extremely cold eventhough I was covered with blanckets. It amazes me that such a brutal lyric was allowed at the time. This is as dark as metal, but much more haunting.

I really dig your take, Poly. You did a great job of emphasizing the cyclical nature of the song, which I somewhat overlooked until now. This was awesome!

it's depressing that a thoughtful treatise on life, death and Jim Morrison has to be bookended by an ad for a soulless billion dollar revenue multinational corporation that got started as a predatory overseas IP cloning corporation and that prides itself on shark-like coercion. This aggressive hyper-intrusive marketing doesn't just leech off and drain original content, it forces itself into our lives so ubiquitously that we grow up thinking it's normal to live among ads. There's no blame on content creators for wanting to make a buck, but it's a societal flaw that this requires malignant cancerous advertising by amoral corporate grey goo.

My favorite Doors song, thank you for covering this masterpiece for Jim's 50th passing anniversary.

Two masterpieces. The song and this video. Respect.

Amazing analysis dude. I love your videos, always spot on and educating. I had an indescribable moment during a mushrooms trip yesterday when this song came on. The Doors will always be my favourite band. I’ve heard the story of the birth of this song many times before, still incredibly fun to hear it again every time. Keep up the good work, man. Your videos are great ❤️

I remember reading somewhere that the end also represents the loss of innocence of childhood and the birth of manhood. It kinda makes sense if you take the last couple of lines "it hurts to set you free, but you'll never follow me, the end of laughter and soft lies" at some point, we all have to leave the childhood behind, where we had the freedom of laughter, and we're sheltered from reality with little lies

Thank you. I’m so glad you’ve decided to continue your work. Your interpretations of the subjects are always illuminating and your use of this relatively new format, I think, will be a reference for its growth and development. I’m super glad to have had the opportunity to actually hear this in its intended form; I don’t know how the copyright stuff got figured out but, good job on that too!!

Jim Morrison is a great story teller, he make me mesmerized with all his word, every single song is always take me to another imagination 🖤

One of the best musical pieces to be ever put together. Long live the lizard king

This was fu€king awesome!

This has been my favorite song for as long as I can remember. Sad, haunting, questioning yet hopeful. Jim's lyrics were beauty you just don't see in the music of today.

I absolutely adore your song essays, while the song plays in the background. Please more!

This is an actual masterpiece of a video. Thank you so much for making this, truly amazing. Jim was a lyrical genius

With their musical virtuosity, brilliant poetry, and wide-ranging influences, styles and genres tackled successfully, I argue The Doors may be the GREATEST American rock & roll band ever.

Awesome video and writing! Really loving this new format! Mad respect for you, man! (just have a longer pause before the sponsor at the end)

Your videos are always great. This video is one of my favorites, since The Doors are one of my favorite bands.

You know your music, young man. Excellent choice, and superb analysis, as usual.

THESE POLYPHONIC AUDIO/VISUAL VIDEOS ARE SO GOOD!

Thank you for this. Been a subscriber for a minute and see how hard you work on these videos. Just know they make this girl happy! haha

Absolutely love your content mate Always loved this this record and trying to dissect it. RIP Legend

I appreciate this right before the 50th anniversary of Jim’s breaking on through.

All I know this was one of the greatest songs of all time that ended up fitting one of the greatest movies ever made Apocalypse Now made many years later. Two amazing pieces of art made years apart from each other that somehow fit like together puzzle pieces.

Man, this was your best analysis of a song yet. nice job!

Well done mate. Great analysis and I liked the visual accompaniment and the song actually playing throughout, with lyrics displayed and analysed. Thank you.

Thank you for doing your part to keep the memory of the most mystical figure in our lifetime alive.

This video Is so well put together. I love how the video flows with this immaculate song and explaining the story as the music goes. The way that the lyrics are shown with the stories and also lets you listen to the whole song is such a genius way to tell a story. I don't even listen to the doors but this video makes me want to. One of my favourite videos on the platform for sure.

This video gave me chills, like the song has. The edits in this are perfect. Well done.

Brilliant video, so well made and loved the different perspectives on each individual lyrics

I'm the child of a 60s hippie and like her, adore Morrison. His lyricism and innate ability to convey feelings uniquely has always captivated me. Robby Krieger and his flamenco style meshed so brilliantly with John Densmore's blues based drumming.... And Ray Manzarek... My God what a gifted, genius musician. Jim was the face and the "image"... But Ray- Ray was the heart and soul of the Doors. It really warms my heart to see The Doors getting love here. They seem to be swept aside in remembering the 60s rock movement and I hate it. I wish my mom was still here to watch this with me. Thank you for this breakdown.

I'd never heard this song before and was shocked how much it reminded me of Swans.

dude, the editing, how the whole analysis is aligned with the entire song, the pacing *chef kiss*

Love your style of explaining the meaning of a song while the complete peace plays in the background!

Now do The Soft Parade!

I’ve read Densmore’s autobiography a couple of times and approach it with some caution when it “explains” Morrison. As much as I think his drumming is magnificent and a large part of the dramatic impact of the music, his perspective gives him a lens onto the music and the band driven by his own issues as much as it has the accuracy of being there.

I read somewhere that if you exit a video before it's finished, You Tube's algorithm counts that as you don't like it. I don't like the commercial at the end; I turn down the volume and look at another tab, but I let it play out, so that it won't impact the esteem for your work and your channel. In this Black Mirror world we find ourselves in. It shouldn't detract from your esteem that you need to pay the bills.

I'm really liking your idea of explaining epics with the full song running in the background the whole time. 💯💯💯

Jim Morrison had an IQ of 149 a true genius. The End is truly a masterpiece, it is about life and death. No one here gets out alive.

Could we get an analytical breakdown of WAP?

My favorite song. Thank you for this. Beautifully done

Dude this was such a good video thank you so much, I never knew that part about the 10,000 mics that changes everything I’ve known about that part of the song, it gives so much insight into the depths of jims mind and what kind of secrets he knew that most people will never figure out

This and the Echoes video are masterpieces

This is perfect timing since I just got my VMP copy of their debut album today!

Great video, I really liked how you speak over the music when it fits

This is such an incredible song docu on a song with so much complexities and colors. Jim was on another plane, and with the help of LSD he was able to tap into this thus generating a poetic musical interpretation compiled from his trip. You really dissected this masterpiece and I thank you for it coming from a huge Doors fan.

This is the most intensely deep and complexly profound song in so many ways.

Another great take…. It’s so hard to truly know what, or where some of his thoughts came from…. But I feel fortunate to have heard him.

Great insights. Thank you!

the editing and explanations in this are amazing ❤

Jim was such a poetic genius!! I've always wanted to write like him!! This is definitely one of my favorite Doors tunes, next to Riders on the Storm, Break on Through, LA Woman, People Are Strange, etc. Would love to see you cover LA Woman, People Are Strange, & Break on Through, in future episodes.

Beautiful! I love Jim Morrison - considered an oddity during his day despite one of the most powerful songs of that incredible era - he had a cult revival (and cash grab) by 90s people - Know a lady from the other side of the world - she said relating to a personal tragedy I shall not speak of that some people are special - they come here for a little while, leave their mark then depart. Jim Morrison certainly was one - he left music and poetry - his "Lizard King" thing seems to be some kind of spiritual message to people in the surge of the 60s. They think it'll be a different world, that they'll change it, but the powers will just adjust tactics and they'll dust themselves off and go back to college, get jobs, try to struggle for some of their parent's prosperity and keep their heads down as our economy is sabotaged to prevent "the people" from EVER having that much power again. It was a spiritual message... "Have you forgotten the lesson of the Ancient War?" The world wars? The Trojan War? The Titanomachy? Or every war perhaps? --Be neat if/when you go to the "Lizard King" act and his attempt at a concept album...

When I was a kid, I was told by one of my cousins that some of his teenage friends would sit down listening to this song while on LSD.

Another fantastic video. You make some of the best productions

YEEEEEEEEES 🤷‍♀️ This is a masterpiece of human creation ❤

Danke für diese kenntnisreiche Einführung in eine längst vergangene Zeit, als es aussah, als würden uns so viele TÜREN offenstehen.

Just another amazing video man. Keep it up!

That was phenomenal. Absolute thrilling. Thank you for this! .

I wish we would get masterpiece albums like we did in 67-73, truly a magical time for music no matter the genre. Might just be because of the years that remove us from that time period, not sure either way it is so incredible to listen to no matter how old it becomes.

ah yes, The Windows

That transition to the hello fresh ad though.

Such a heavy and deep explanation of this iconic "story". Love it. 👍