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The Doors - When The Music's Over - Live At The Bowl 1968




"When the Music's Over" is an epic rock song by American rock band the Doors which appears on their second album Strange Days, released in September 1967.


Like several other songs from their second album Strange Days, it was composed before they had a record contract, being performed and elaborated in the middle of 1966 at the Whisky a Go Go in Los Angeles. Especially in the early years, it would often be the opening song at their performances. One such gig was captured on the 2012 rerelease of the record and film Live at the Bowl '68.


The final album version was recorded in September 1967. Morrison wanted the song to be recorded live in the studio without overdubs. However, after being absent from the original studio session for the better part of 24 hours, he found that the band refused to rerecord the song, and he was persuaded to have the vocals recorded on top of the original take (which had Manzarek on vocals).


Ray Manzarek was inspired by Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man when composing the organ intro.





Lyrics


Yeah, c'mon


When the music's over

When the music's over, yeah

When the music's over

Turn out the lights

Turn out the lights

Turn out the lights, yeah


When the music's over

When the music's over

When the music's over

Turn out the lights

Turn out the lights

Turn out the lights


For the music is your special friend

Dance on fire as it intends

Music is your only friend

Until the end

Until the end

Until the end


Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection

Send my credentials to the House of Detention

I got some friends inside


The face in the mirror won't stop

The girl in the window won't drop

A feast of friends

"Alive!" she cried

Waitin' for me

Outside!


Before I sink

Into the big sleep

I want to hear

I want to hear

The scream of the butterfly


Come back, baby

Back into my arm

We're gettin' tired of hangin' around

Waitin' around with our heads to the ground


I hear a very gentle sound

Very near yet very far

Very soft, yeah, very clear

Come today, come today


What have they done to the earth?

What have they done to our fair sister?

Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her

Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn

And tied her with fences and dragged her down


I hear a very gentle sound

With your ear down to the ground

We want the world and we want it...

We want the world and we want it...

Now

Now?

Now!


Persian night, babe

See the light, babe

Save us!

Jesus!

Save us!


So when the music's over

When the music's over, yeah

When the music's over

Turn out the lights

Turn out the lights

Turn out the lights


Well the music is your special friend

Dance on fire as it intends

Music is your only friend

Until the end

Until the end

Until the end!

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