Obscure Doors' Tunes Trivia Quiz

Answer: "Take It As It Comes"

Legend says that Jim Morrison attended a Transcendental Meditation meeting so he would be able to look into the eyes of the Maharishi and thereby see if he was happy. After Jim was able to gaze into the Guru's eyes he decided that his eyes were full of joy and happiness. Jim then wrote this song titled after one of the Maharishi's favorite sayings.

The Ministry of Rock blog tells the story.

Answer: "Horse Latitudes"

This poem tells of sailors in the 18th century who would throw horses off their ships so to help their boats sail out of the "horse latitudes", a place in the ocean that was known for have very still winds.

The disturbing imagery of this poem combined with intense sound effects often makes this short piece quite difficult to listen to.

The Song Facts site has more details.

Answer: "My Wild Love"

Although I have heard a few people without much rock knowledge claim that Jim Morrison was demonic, "My Wild Love" is the Doors' only song that even mentions the devil and in very confusing terms at that. This is a far cry from many of the Metal bands that perform today.

"My wild love went riding,
She rode all the day,
She wrote to the Devil,
And asked him to pay.
The Devil was wiser,
It's time to repent.
He asked her to give back
The money she spent."

(Lyrics from the Sing 365 site.)

Answer: "Running Blue"

As summed up by a reviewer on the Prog Archives progressive rock site, "Robbie is trying to achieve an air of menace, and he almost pulls it off. The dark, heavier Jim sung parts (nicely augmented by orchestra) are contrasted by the goofy bluegrass Robbie sung parts."

Answer: False

The Doors' sixth album "LA Woman" was produced by Bruce Botnick, who had been Rothchild's assistant, and by the Doors themselves.

The Doors had approached their producer for their first five albums, Paul Rothchild, with their material for "LA Woman". Rothchild hated the material and refused to produce it, calling it "lounge music".

Ironically, today "LA Woman" is considered to be one of the Doors' best.

Answer: "Waiting For the Sun"

The two "season" songs on "Waiting For the Sun" are: (1) "Summer's Almost Gone", which has a sad mournful sound, and (2) "Wintertime Love", which sounds very delightful and happy, as if one is riding on a merry-go-round.

Answer: "Do It"

The song continues as follows:

"Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Said please, please listen to me children
You are the ones who will rule the world

Listen to me children
Listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
Please, please listen to me children
You are the ones who will rule the world, ha"

(Lyrics from the Lyrics Time site.)

Answer: "Hyacinth House"

"What are they doing in the Hyacinth House?
What are they doing in the Hyacinth House?
To please the lions this day

I need a brand new friend who doesn't bother me
I need a brand new friend who doesn't trouble me
I need someone, yeah, who doesn't need me

I see the bathroom is clear
I think that somebody's near
I'm sure that someone is following me, oh yeah."

(Lyrics from the Metro Lyrics site.)

The Doors seem to have included this strange bathroom lyric as an inside joke.

Answer: "Waiting For The Sun"

It is uncommon for a band to do this, and why the Doors decided to do it is some what of a mystery.

The best explanation I can come up with is the most logical: they started creating the song during The Doors' sessions for "Waiting for the Sun" in 1968 and they were not satisfied with it until they included it on "Morrison Hotel" two albums later.

Answer: "Ship of Fools"

"The human race was dyin' out
No one left to scream and shout
People walking on the moon
Smog will get you pretty soon."

(Lyrics from the Oldie Lyrics site.)

This cynical song takes a dismal attitude; understand however that Jim Morrison wrote this sad song during his arduous Miami trial for indecent exposure on stage. I know of no other Doors' song lyrically more bitter than this one.

All his angst eventually caused Jim to have a nervous breakdown, which then led to his most untimely death in Paris a year later.

Did Jim bring the majority of his problems on himself - yes.

Not only did he suffer from the disease of addiction but he loved to constantly test "the boundaries of life." The combined consequences of these two factors along with the daily pressures of being a public figure were all too much for such a sensitive man as himself to handle.

What a profound tragedy of rock and roll.