This, That, and the Other

For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday prompt, Jim Adams has asked us to focus on artists who are members of the 27 Club, or who died at the age of 27. Many of the 27 club musicians lived fast-paced lives, with the cause of death often drug and alcohol abuse or suicide.

My focus is Jim Morrison. Morrison was born on December 8, 1943 and died on July 3, 1971. He was the lead vocalist for the band The Doors. He had a wild personality and delivered electric performances with his poetic lyrics. Many fans of rock considered him the most influential frontman in the history of rock. Morrison died of heart failure in a bathtub in his apartment in Paris, but no autopsy was conducted, as French law does not require one.

Together with pianist Ray Manzarek, Morrison founded the Doors in 1965 in Venice, California. The group spent two years in obscurity until shooting to prominence with their number-one single in the U.S., “Light My Fire,” taken from their self-titled debut album. That’s the song I’m featuring. It’s probably The Doors’ most widely recognized, well known song, and has become the band’s signature song.

Most of “Light My Fire” was written by Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, who wanted to write about one of the elements: fire, air, earth, and water. Krieger came up with the melody and wrote most of the lyrics, which are about leaving inhibitions behind in flames of passion. At first, the song had a folk flavor, but it ignited when Morrison wrote the second verse (“our love become a funeral pyre…”). Ray Manzarek came up with the famous organ introduction, and drummer John Densmore contributed, coming up with the rhythm. Like all Doors songs of this era, the band shared composer credits.

“Light My Fire” was recorded in August 1966 and released in January 1967 on The Doors’ debut album. It was released as an edited (shortened for radio play) single in April 1967, and spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Here are the lyrics to “Light My Fire.”

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire

The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah

The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah

You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher

Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire