THE DOORS’ “I LOOKED AT YOU”: A SWIRLING AND UNDERRATED ROCK SONG
The second track on the B-side of The Doors' debut album (“The Doors”, released in January 1967) is "I Looked at You" (link here), arguably one of the group's lesser-known tracks.
Let's dig beneath the surface to uncover the beauty of this rock
composition, which deserves attention to detail and an overall reassessment of
its musical characteristics.
The tune takes shape through a direct and immediate arrangement of drums
(John Densmore), electric guitar (Robby Krieger), electric organ (Ray
Manzarek), Fender Rhodes piano bass (a small keyboard resembling the electric
bass and played by Manzarek with its left hand) and electric bass (Larry
Knechtel), while Jim Morrison sings lead vocals.
The song structure is fairly regular, developing through repetition of
verse, chorus and post-chorus, without instrumental solos.
The post-chorus can be heard during the words "Cause it's too
late, too late, too late…", which appear after each chorus.
The alternation of these three sections (verse, chorus, post-chorus) is
interrupted briefly by an instrumental transition led by the electric organ
(from 1:01 to 1:12), but this does not affect the straightforward linearity of
the composition as a whole.
In The Doors' first album, "I Looked at You" highlights
Morrison's voice, which consequently emerges as central to the song's musical
structure.
Throughout the tune, there are two vocal lines that were recorded
separately and deliberately paired without constant synchronization.
The screams and vocal explosions that Morrison inserts into each part
overlap, conveying emotions that would otherwise be impossible to reproduce
with a single recorded voice.
Morrison's vocals are simultaneously angry and decadent in its
expressiveness, sound impact, and seductive charisma, making them perfectly
suited to the rock genre.
The song's lyrics (written by Morrison) are ambivalent and suggest two
different interpretations.
The most popular interpretation of the lyrics (written by Morrison) is
that they express regret over a love affair that began under the best of
circumstances but then ended. The rift between the two is now irreparable, and reconciliation
is out of the question.
This theme has been dealt with in numerous compositions of various
genres, such as The Beatles' famous pop-rock song "Yesterday",
written by Paul McCartney in early 1965, so the lyrics would certainly not be
innovative.
However, in the case of "I Looked at You", this typically
melancholy sentiment is presented in a more energetic and vehement manner, as
if representing the fleeting nature of time that indifferently sweeps over
life's painful events.
Another reading of the lyrics is less well-known, but Morrison's own
words fully justify it. In this interpretation, the singer talks about the
one-way road taken by two lovers bound together by irresistible feelings, who
will continue on their chosen path together in spite of every obstacle.
There are three musical features that distinguish this composition.
First, the bass line is formed by the same notes played on the electric
bass by session musician Larry Knechtel and on the Fender Rhodes piano bass by
Manzarek.
The second feature is the swirling sensation that carries the listener
along with the tune, like a fast-moving current driven by the enthralling
progression of the electric guitar and organ.
A third notable element is the false finale inserted towards the end of
the track (at min. 1:50), to surprise the listener. After two seconds of
silence, the song starts again with a final chorus and post-chorus before
reaching its definitive end.
With "I Looked at You", The Doors deliver sweeping rock that
is fascinating in its immediacy and simplicity. It is perfectly suited to the
thriving artistic and musical climate of late summer 1966, when it was
recorded.
P.S.: My book "The Doors Through Strange Days"- The most comprehensive journey ever made through The Doors' second LP, is available on Amazon.com, .uk, .mx, .it, etc.
Here’s a link:
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