THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DOORS’ "WHEN THE MUSIC'S OVER" AT "THE MATRIX"
There are many versions of "When The Music's
Over" that The Doors have performed live.
However, there are only two recordings of this great
song that preceded its release within the band's second album, "Strange
Days", in September 1967.
One of them is the one placed within the series of concerts held by the band
in San Francisco in March '67 at the famous venue "The Matrix".
We are six months away from the release of the LP that
will contain the official version of this wonderful musical suite, anyway its
construction is already in its final stages.
The total length of the song and its different parts
are already fixed, as well as the arrangement, which seems to be complete with
almost all the elements that characterize it on the record.
The most notable difference is found in the absence of
the heavily distorted solos that Robby Krieger uses to disrupt the LP track.
For technical reasons, these amazing lead guitar parts were very difficult to
play on stage at that time.
The solos are therefore less powerful and inevitably
do not have the same dramatic effect as the guitar on the album track.
Nevertheless, they are groundbreaking for March '67
and demonstrate the amazingly experimental creativity of guitarist Robby
Krieger.
Another difference between this live version of
"When The Music's Over" and the one on the album is represented by the
lyrics of the middle section.
Here Jim Morrison, perhaps improvising, perhaps
because he had not yet fully developed the verses of this composition, utters
different phrases than what we can hear on the vinyl.
On the album, this part is longer and includes some of
The Doors' most famous lyrics, such as "The scream of the butterfly"
and "We want the world and we want it now!”.
At “The Matrix” he replaces them with a series of
poetic words very different in conception and meaning.
Here is the full text of this part of the song as Morrison sings it at "The Matrix" in March '67:
"Something’s wrong, something’s not quite
right... (x3)
Touch me baby all through the night... Yeah…
Confusion... Confusion... All my life’s a bright
delusion....
All my world a torn character... All my mind come tumbling
down…
Down... Down... Down... Down...
And I’m calling... Calling… I want you... I need
you... I miss my baby...
Come back into my home... Now... Now... Now!!"
These are dark words that convey tough feelings such
as mental disorientation, disappointment and discomfort felt by the singer as
well as the generation to whom he belonged.
The variation of “When The Music’s Over” original lyrics that we have quoted, is the one of the first made by the singer (if not the first) for which we have a recording.
This pattern continued even after the release of the tune
on "Strange Days".
In fact, the middle section of this song was often
used as the basis for Morrison's poetic improvisations during concerts from
mid-1967 onward.
Finally, it should be noted that "When The
Music's Over" was developed by The Doors starting from the spring-summer
of the previous year: 1966.
This makes it a milestone of innovation in the Rock
genre and modern music, an unprecedented musical experiment and, of course, an
immortal masterpiece in its own.
P.S: Another version of “When The Music’s Over” at “The Matrix” was recorded. Its middle section’s lyrics differ from
the ones we have mentioned above.
In my opinion it’s very interesting to read them as well, so I quote the alternative “The Matrix” lyrics of this part of the song right here below:
"Something’s wrong, something’s not quite
right... (x3)
Touch me baby all through the night... Yeah… All night
long…
Everything you do will be reported… (x3)
At night your dreams will be recorded…
Come on… Come on baby… Back into my home…
I want you... I need you... I miss my baby... Come on
home…
Give me a sign… (x2) Give me a look… Send me a book…
Drop me a line…
It’s almost time, give me a sign… Right now… Right Now…
Now… Now… Now… Now!!”.
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