“The End” by The Doors was released in 1967 on the rock band’s debut self-titled album. It also happened to be the very last song Jim Morrison would perform live before his death in 1971.
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A tragic song suitable for a tragic end, “The End” has gone on to become a favorite among fans of The Doors. But what is the song actually about? Depending on your interpretation, it’s a little bit complicated.
The Story Behind “The End” by The Doors
On the surface, “The End” by The Doors is a song about Morrison’s breakup with his ex-girlfriend Mary. One version of the song lasts a whopping 12 minutes, and clearly evolved into something much more substantial than your typical 1960s heartbreak song.
Morrison himself said that the song was particularly complex and that each time he heard it it meant “something else” to the frontman.
“It started out as a simple goodbye song,” said Morrison in 1969. “[…] Probably just to a girl, but I see how it could be a goodbye to a kind of childhood. I really don’t know. I think it’s sufficiently complex and universal in its imagery that it could be almost anything you want it to be.”
So, where are those obscure, Oedipal connections? The lyric “Father? / Yes son / I want to kill you / Mother, I want to…” is a pretty clear reference. Use your imagination to figure out the missing phrase that Morrison did sing live on at least one occasion. Doing so got The Doors banned from Whisky-A-Go-Go.
It’s easy to look at those original lyrics as a cheap attempt to shock listeners. Though salacious, those lyrics shouldn’t be taken solely at face value.
Morrison was always a poet, and he had no qualms with exploring the darker themes that hung around humanity. That lyric, if you’ve read Oedipus Rex, makes sense in the context of the song’s focus on mortality, loss of innocence, and Morrison’s own inner demons.
The Legacy of “The End” by The Doors
“The End” is, no matter your interpretation of it, a poignant and surprisingly gentle exploration of mortality. Whether you relate to the uncomfortable Oedipal connections or not, it’s still an oddly soothing yet unsettling piece of work.
We’d be bold enough to say that few of The Doors’ songs were as archetypal to who they were as a band as “The End”.
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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