"MOONLIGHT DRIVE": JIM MORRISON THE POET

 

Poetry was one of Jim Morrison's most significant artistic and cultural interests. He frequently explored this art form, both within and beyond his work with The Doors.

Indeed, he left behind numerous poems that were not intended to be set to music.

As a poet, Morrison published several works in magazines or as collections.

However, his role as a musician was closely intertwined with his poetic output, as evidenced by the haunting lyrics he wrote for The Doors' songs. No other band or artist of the time could match this feature, except, of course, Bob Dylan.

He was a poet who broke out of the conventions that bound American society in the 1960s, astonishing and shocking the music scene with the words of his songs.

The lyrics that Morrison composed for The Doors are written in the collective memory as well as in the history of modern music: sometimes cryptic and indecipherable, sometimes direct and uncompromising.

He tackled multiple themes and aspects of human reality, always adopting original perspectives and angles, much like a painter capable of revealing the unexpected soul of a subject through a picture.

His poetic and literary influences ranged from Kafka and Kerouac to 19th-century poets such as William Blake and Arthur Rimbaud.

It was from these writers that Morrison drew inspiration to translate the startling thoughts that populated his fertile imagination into evocative and thought-provoking images.

Among the songs composed by this immense artist, we would like to highlight "Moonlight Drive" (here's the link).

Not only was it one of the first compositions conceived by the singer's genius in the summer of 1965, but it also possesses lyrics that draw heavily on the themes of nineteenth-century romantic poetry and literature.

These cultural references were unfortunately underestimated when the song was released on The Doors' second album, "Strange Days", on 25 September 1967.

The lyrics of this composition include references to the pursuit of personal freedom and breaking free from the social conventions that imprison us and frustrate our brightest aspirations.

This is a theme that affects us all, and Morrison addresses it through a series of vivid and highly effective metaphors.

Chief among these is the metaphor of swimming to the moon, which symbolizes abandoning the city and the oppressive patterns of life imposed on the individual.

Additionally, the text is rich in nature imagery. These images are intended to inspire a broader self-awareness and a passion for life.

The influence of Romantic poetry from the 19th century is clear in both the form and content of these lyrics, suggesting a direct connection to Morrison's interpretations of the works of poets from that artistic and poetic school.

Indeed, Romantic poetry adopted the same types of metaphors inspired by natural elements, linking their meaning to the inner stirrings of the human soul.

This magnificent song gives us the opportunity to look beyond the superficial image that was built around Jim Morrison as a rock star.

In this way, we can penetrate beneath the surface of transgression and discover a poet and an educated, curious and sensitive young man.

The words written by the singer for The Doors deserve more attention, as we briefly saw with "Moonlight Drive". This will enable us to do justice to a lyricist that was interested in all forms of art.

He was often the subject of journalistic speculation, which was always ready to demonize any behavior that did not conform to the expectations of the 1960s dominant culture. Anyway, he was strong and visionary enough to forge his own path, without submitting to the pressures of the conformist majority.

By exploring the deep meanings of Morrison's lyrics alongside the rock genre, we can enhance the already delightful and amazing listening experience offered by The Doors' songs.

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:

Amazon – “The Doors Through Strange Days”