Rarely, so rarely -- perhaps only this once -- am I driving alone in my car, listening to a song on the radio, and a line comes up that makes me burst out laughing. That line is at the very end of the long meandering song "Soft Parade," by The Doors. It's an awfully silly song that takes itself incredibly seriously, but I was enjoying the long lost psychedelia of it all, quite absorbed in the elaborate Zappa-esque instrumentation and tolerating Morrison's absurd self-importance until he switched to declamation for the final: "When all else fails, we can whip the horse's eyes/And make them sleep, and cry." If there is a more ridiculous song ending in the history of rock and roll, I can't think what it could possibly be.
IN THE COMMENTS: Some pretty damned good defense of Morrison's image using some high-tone literary references.
June 11, 2006
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39 comments:
My favorite Doors song: "People Are Strange."
C.: Something about horses brings out the stupid.
Ann:
I had a different thought, prompted by the fact that my son just appeared in his high school's production of Equus, as the troubled young man who blinded 6 horses. Equus was based on a true story, although I have not been able (quickly) to locate the historical event that inspired the play. The play was first produced in London in 1973, so it was obviously written before 1973, and perhaps was based on an event in the early 1970's or late 1960's. I believe that the song dates to 1968. Could Morrison have likewise been inspired by the events which inspired Equus?
Tom Freeman
Tom: I was just going to do a comment saying the same thing.
This is pretty funny:
"The kids loved it," teacher and director Michael Komarek said. "Once they stopped screaming about horses getting their eyes gouged out and realized that it was just a launching point for more complex ideas about alienation from the modern world, they rolled up their sleeves and dug right in."
Maybe he had been reading Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment.
Roger: Hmmm.... Am I going to have to respect Morrison now? There's this from "Brothers Karamozov":
There are lines in Nekrassov describing how a peasant lashes a horse on the eyes, 'on its meek eyes,' everyone must have seen it. It's peculiarly Russian. He describes how a feeble little nag has foundered under too heavy a load and cannot move. The peasant beats it, beats it savagely, beats it at last not knowing what he is doing in the intoxication of cruelty, thrashes it mercilessly over and over again. 'However weak you are, you must pull, if you die for it.' The nag strains, and then he begins lashing the poor defenceless creature on its weeping, on its 'meek eyes.' The frantic beast tugs and draws the load, trembling all over, gasping for breath, moving sideways, with a sort of unnatural spasmodic action- it's awful in Nekrassov. But that only a horse, and God has horses to be beaten.
Here's a link to the horse-beating in "Crime and Punishment."
Am I going to have to respect Morrison now?
Why on earth would you not respect Jim Morrison? He seems to have lots of characteristics that you find admirable, his pulse on the popular culture; knowledge and love of art, literature, and film; as a conservative artist he was a strong individual, taking responsibility for his place in the world and focusing on that".
He wrote four books of poetry, taught himself to sing, wrote many many songs and adapted the works of French Poets, Jewish/German Artists, and American Blues artists.
He is regarded as having influenced today's singers and culture including Iggy Pop, Patti Smith, Henry Rollins, and Marilyn Manson.
And has had 11 books written about him, and has been compared to Rimbaud Wallace Fowlie, professor emeritus of French literature at Duke University and internationally recognized expert on the poet Arthur Rimbaud, wrote Rimbaud and Jim Morrison, subtitled "The Rebel as Poet – A Memoir." In this book, Fowlie recounts his surprise at receiving a fan letter from Morrison who, in 1968, thanked him for his latest translation of Rimbaud's verse into English. "I don't read French easily," he wrote, "...your book travels around with me." Fowlie went on to give lectures on numerous campuses comparing the lives, philosophies and poetry of Morrison and Rimbaud.
He brings pop culture, literature, symbolism, beat, blues, philosophy into his lyrics and poetry and does it a way that still stands up 35 years later.
On what grounds could you, you in particular Ann, not respect him?
Your post comes off sounding very snobbish, elitish, and uneducated. Or are you making fun of the New York Times again?
If you don't know how to laugh at Jim Morrison, you don't know how to laugh.
I actually think I like Val Kilmer's portrayal of Morrison in "The Doors" more than I do the actual Jim Morrison, who was, after all, a self-centered drug addict. He could be witty, but there is always the sense of "Nyah, nyah, I know more than you do," behind everything.
I do like the music, though. It always astounds me how the worst poetry can sound OK, sometimes downright great, when it has the right music behind it.
I think for lyrics to go with the music, they were pretty cool. The main problem I have with the horse-eye-whipping line is that it's not sung, it's spoken, and it makes you laugh.
Rimbaud? He's the one with Burgess Meredith in his corner, right?
Rimbaud and The Penguin...just think of it...
Yeah, and how about "adapted the works of ... American Blues artists"?
When did that become praise?
Sean E said...
"...taught himself to sing..."
Sweet Merciful Crap, is that now considered an achievement worthy of praise?
Uh, Seanie, this IS the American Idol Live Blogging blog. When the American Idols sell as many records and have the influence that Jim Morrison had, let me know.
3:19 PM, June 12, 2006
Ann Althouse said...
Yeah, and how about "adapted the works of ... American Blues artists"?
When did that become praise?
3:28 PM, June 12, 2006
Elvis, The Animals, Rolling Stones, Yardbirds, Cream, early Fleetwood Mac.... Pikers, and ridiculously self important ones at that!
It used to be called stealing. It's not something you ask for extra credit for. You may do it and be really, really good as the folks you name were. But you don't express pride over the fact that you used the material of singers who were never able to do as well because they were not white. You should be very, very modest and respectful and appreciative for what you were able to take. Most of those people are. Have you ever heard Eric Clapton talk about it? He sure as hell doesn't aggrandize himself over what he got from black artists. Exactly the opposite.
I can't believe I have to instruct you on this point. You're not a very good lefty on this one.
Oh please Ann, you're so dishonest. Talk about taking something out of context. I wrote:
He wrote four books of poetry, taught himself to sing, wrote many many songs and adapted the works of French Poets, Jewish/German Artists, and American Blues artists.
Why did you seize on American Blues artists and not French Poets and Jewish/German Artists? Just think what he did to Rimbaud! It was terrible! And Kurt Weill! He was absolutely shameless!
Why did you seize on American Blues artists and not French Poets and Jewish/German Artists? Because it gives you bogus cred just like you try to do with your bogus Ann Althouse, is more a feminist than anyone else posts.
I included that as one portion of a long list of the things that Morrison did. And who is aggrandizing him for that?
Are you blaming Morrison for the market for covers? Are you blaming Morrison for letting himself be influenced by others? Are you blaming Morrison for letting himself become the influence for others?
Were you listening to Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, or were you agreeing with others that Paul was hurting music and African musicians by playing with them? Eminem -- I assume you hate him too.
Way to make a bogus argument that even you know is bogus Professor Counselor.
SlipperyCheese you broke your promise! Now begone troll, begone!
Hmm, didn't he die in a puddle of vomit or something? Pretty stupid all the way around...
It is a reference to: January 3, 1889, Freidrich Nietzsche (aka, the guy who wrote about the Doors of Perception,-get it) exhibited signs of a serious mental illness. Two policemen approached him after he caused a public disturbance in the streets of Turin. What actually happened remains unknown, but the often-repeated tale states that Nietzsche witnessed the whipping of a horse at the other end of the Piazza Carlo Alberto, ran to the horse, threw his arms up around the horse’s neck to protect it, and collapsed to the ground. The first dream-sequence from Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment (Part 1, Chapter 5) has just such a scene in which Raskolnikov witnesses the whipping of a horse around the eyes.[10] Incidentally, Nietzsche called Dostoevsky "the only psychologist from whom I have anything to learn."[11]
It was Aldous Huxley that wrote “The Doors of Perception”.
But otherwise I think Eric B’s info is accurate. Nietzsche was apparently Morrison’s favorite philosopher
The song is brilliant and you are the one being ridiculous. A world without self-centred and bombastic characters like Morrison would be very dull. Maybe one gets that dull being a professor of law in a self-centred and egotistic country as the US?
No music, no doors, c'mon let's roll - probably the best outgoin' line by morrison - hidden agenda in a hidden garden in his own mind - we should be pointing on his eye not on his music - pay attention on "an american prayer"
Glad to be wrong :)
Has anybody here who ever read the "Crime and Punishment" by Dostoievsky?
An admitted major Doors fan here - The Doors music is a contrast all around and everywhere. Was Morrison purposely using a silly line here? Or was it a line that only appears to be silly, but is referring to a scene of lasting import(Nietzsche refernce)to Morrison? Was it a joke only he got or deeper than it seems on the surface? Did Jim want you to feel what Nietzsche felt or did Jim himself simply try to tell you that HE felt what Nietzsche was feeling and wated to convey that feeling to the listener? Was he trying to get you to feel what Nietzsch felt when he sang '...when all else fails, we can whip the horses eyes, and make them sleep, and cry...' Heck, I do not know. I guess only Jim knows and he is not talking. But one thing is for sure, Jim felt something. His lyrics, his concerts, his words all point to that. Whatever he was... poet, musician, ass*&^%, drunk, addict, prophet, he explored and went where his mind took him. He seems to me to be brazenly courageous and for that - I respect him for greatly.
RIGHT THERE - See it? It makes you think. Was he a prophet or was he a damn joke? Al pretty cali boy to stuck on himself. Whatever he was, whatever he thought, he BELIEVED it and that is what counts. What is perhaps frustrating to a lot of non-Doors fans is that the meaning of these songs are difficult to pinpoint. I think that that is exactly what The Doors wanted...in part anyway. Mystery. If you know a particular songs meaning, what and who it is about, you relate to it very deeply only if you have had the same feelings or a similair situation has happened to you...or you relate to it as a story or situation that occured to somebody else (whom or what the song is written about)that is only human...and not a bad thing.
The Doors often used universal imagery to elicit a feeling. Sure the songs were about a particular person or place sometimes, (see "Love Street", "Touch Me", etc), but they never pinpoint it to that exactly. They use imagry to allow you to take the song and make it your own. That is musical majic.
I love the Beatles, but "Love Me Do" is not exactly very deep. Does it have to be to get a message across? No! i love that song. But you cannot laud The Beatles for writing a masterpiece such as "Strabeery Fields" then turn around and piss on The Doors for "The Soft Parade." Both use images, musical notes, voice inflection and arrangements and melodies to illicit a feeling from the listener. Like it, hate it, you feel SOMETHING and that is GOOD ART!
But much of The Doors music - and especially this song - allows you to twist the meaning to whatever you want. In doing do, you make the song your own and you have a reaction. Sometimes that reaction is frustration. Whatever the reaction is, you have one. Another goal reached by the band.
The Doors music explores. It explores feeling, situations, scenes, etc. and explored them with passion and depth. Never did they seem to worry about if a particular song was too weird or too "out there". They explored, wrote, and used art and music to go places that few do..."Whipping the horses eyes" may be a silly reference to a silly thing and not as deep as referring to any past injustice. It also may be even deeper than that. Who knows?
Few do (certainly The reminaing Doors may know, but do not seem to be talking)...however, 40+ years after Morriosn died (and he is dead), the world is dicussing the music, the times, and the man. He did have agood world when he died, enough to base a movie on.
He is remebered for a lot of things, but i think he is smurking with joy that we are discussing the one thing he wanted to be remebered for above all else...his words.
Like 'em, love 'em, hate 'em, you remember 'em.
Thank you Ray, Robie, John and Jim.
ann althouse
you look stupid
"It was Aldous Huxley that wrote “The Doors of Perception”.
But otherwise I think Eric B’s info is accurate. Nietzsche was apparently Morrison’s favorite philosopher"
Although correct that Huxley did write a book with that particular title, I think you will find that it was William Blake that first used the phrase in 'the marriage of heaven and hell' and is what both Huxley's book title and the band name are referring to.
ps. Forget 'the-horses-eyes' line, between 'life of pi' and 'The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat' you really do have all the bases covered in terms of laughable writing... and 'The Byrds!' Are you sure?!
You pretentious woman. You are the same people Morrison hated. He wasn't over involved in himself, he was trying to make people think. Obviously you cranium is too small to make the connection of what the words meant.
From the very beginning of The Soft Parade, it is clear that this is Jim's sermon about religion and non-religion (esp Chr) as many of these lines are allusions to pastoral epistles, non-canonical gospels, The Golden Bough, Campbell, Nietzsche, Blake etc. (All Jim's favourite reading.) So really, if this was Shaman Mojo's objective - to get us thinking about such lofty things - then mission accomplished. You can hardly blame him if you don't recognize these allusions.
I often think of this quote. It can have two meanings, depending on the side of the saying you hear. The first meaning refering to making that last push to finish something important. The second meaning comes if you realize the sarcasm in his statement. You can't use force to get some things, like getting an animal to rest. So, when I am facing a big project, I use this statement to first remind me that there is always more to give. It also reminds me that some things can't be forced and need to be worked around.
the lizard King shout never die.......
Crazy that people would have an opinion about what a dead man said on a recording at the end of a song. Some of these people are really full of themselves. Maybe Morrison was too but he earned it. today I see our government whip the horses eyes .... and I don't think many of these commenters care one bit about the Wherefore and the Why..., Sorry , that was Gordon Lightfoot not the Lizard King.
you cannot petition the Lord with prayer
Is it too late to play? Is is too late to play? Huh, huh, huh?? It's simply perfect rhyme and meter. Just like Jabberwock purposefully written by Lewis Carol to show that nonsense can be poetry! Or maybe Morrison was drawn to Horse Latitudes, and we all know the fatal carriage he used to arrive there. Or maybe this is just another Awkward instant. And the first animal is jettisoned, Legs furiously pumping. Their stiff green gallop, And heads bob up. Poise Delicate Pause Consent In mute nostril agony. Eh? Huh, huh, huh??
Awfully silly... because it’s somewhat whimsical and you don’t get it? When you put the lyrics and themes together it’s a clear message about determinism in our world and how to lead a life of liberty despite that. The seemingly abusive final lyric to this inspirational song is actually the opposite, and just one of the many brilliant metaphors that The Doors produced. Horses take you where you’re going—representing determinism—and to ‘whip the horse’s eyes’ is to say: if I can’t go where I want to in this world with my liberty, I can at least stop those deterministic forces from taking me wherever they want.
I wanna make sure i get this right..... The author is calling Jim Morrison, one of rock history's most well-known and well-regarded front men ever, as "self-important"???
What the hell is your little blog? Obviously, you feel your own words are important.... and yet Jim importance is in creation, while yours is in trying to tear someone down.
Don't respect JM for being a literary genius, he wasn't. But he was so in tune with the Zeitgeist of the era that he deserves respect for boldly declaring our propensity to go straight to brutality, as a nation. P.S. I sure hope this makes me sound like an intelligent authority on, well, everything!
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