The Doors – People Are Strange

About the song

The Doors’ “People Are Strange”: A Psychedelic Exploration of Alienation

Released in 1967 as part of their album Strange Days, The Doors’ haunting track, “People Are Strange”, has become a psychedelic rock classic that continues to resonate with listeners. With its eerie organ melody and Jim Morrison’s distinctive vocals, the song paints a vivid picture of a world filled with isolation and the uncanny.

The title, “People Are Strange”, is a simple yet profound statement that encapsulates the song’s central theme. The lyrics explore the feelings of alienation and otherness that many people experience. Morrison’s poetic words, such as “The desert night is cool and dry,” create a mysterious and atmospheric backdrop for the song’s exploration of human behavior.

Musically, “People Are Strange” is a prime example of psychedelic rock. The eerie organ melody, combined with Ray Manzarek’s distinctive keyboard work, creates a haunting and hypnotic atmosphere. The song’s structure is simple yet effective, with a repetitive verse and chorus that drives the song’s hypnotic quality.

Jim Morrison’s vocals are the centerpiece of the song. His deep, resonant voice delivers the lyrics with a sense of detached observation, as if he were an outsider looking in on the strange and wonderful world around him. His performance is both enigmatic and compelling, adding to the song’s overall mystique.

“People Are Strange” has endured as a classic for several reasons. First, the song’s universal theme of alienation resonates with people of all ages. Second, the music is both beautiful and haunting, creating a lasting impression on the listener. And finally, Morrison’s lyrics are filled with poetic imagery, inviting listeners to interpret the song in their own way.

Beyond its musical merits, “People Are Strange” also holds historical significance. It’s a testament to the power of music to capture the zeitgeist of a generation. The song’s themes of alienation and otherness resonated with the counterculture movement of the 1960s, and it remains a touchstone for those who seek to understand that era.

If you’re looking for a song that will make you think about the human condition and the mysteries of the universe, then look no further than “People Are Strange”. It’s a timeless piece of music that continues to captivate audiences around the world.

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Lyrics

People are strange
When you’re a stranger
Faces look ugly
When you’re alone

Women seem wicked
When you’re unwanted
Streets are uneven
When you’re down

When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange
When you’re strange
When you’re strange

People are strange
When you’re a stranger
Faces look ugly
When you’re alone

Women seem wicked
When you’re unwanted
Streets are uneven
When you’re down

When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name
When you’re strange
When you’re strange
When you’re strange
All right, yeah

When you’re strange
Faces come out of the rain
When you’re strange
No one remembers your name

When you’re strange
When you’re strange
When you’re strange