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
This song isn't about being on drugs. Yes, Jim did a lot of drugs, but I don't think that's what this is about. It doesn't fit all the lyrics. This song (to me) is about outcasts to society. "People are strange when you're a stranger." This means you're a stranger to everyone, and because people won't let you in, they seem strange to you. "When you're strange no one remembers your name" means that no one even knows your name because they don't want to give you a change because you're weird or different to everyone else. However, the "faces come out of the rain" part does seem to me like you're on drugs...the only thing that I can sort of relate that to the meaning would be imaginary friends maybe? Haha, I'm not sure what that part means...but I do know that it's a very meaningful song and I can relate sometimes. <3
@Blackveilbrideloveletter I agree. The "faces come out of the rain" part probably has a lot to do with drugs. Social outcasts take mind altering drugs sometimes to escape the loneliness they feel.
@Blackveilbrideloveletter with the "no one remembers your name" bit, I was literally witness (and for a while, participant) in this phenomena... it's a terrifyingly sad thing. I made a point of hammering that individual's name into my brain. I hope they're doing well.
I think being "strange" refers to being depressed while you look around you and see that everyone else seems to be happy. You walk around town, you have no one to talk to, no one knows who you are, you just don't seem to fit in, and you just keep getting more depressed. You notice the tiniest details with things ("Streets are uneven when you're down"). You can't find hope in your life, and you overanalyze everything, especially other people around you. People are strange.
Being "strange" refers at being Jimi. He is strange ,and people are strange 'cause of that. He do not act normal and people think of him as an weirdo ,normal people of course.
I too initially thought it was about depression, but then I researched into Jim more and found that he was on the autistic spectrum. I am pretty sure this song is about him finding it difficult to interact with people socially.
In no way was Jim autistic. Autistic people don't even recognise how to act, or what even kind of emotions to display, nor do they understand other peoples emotions. Jim Morrison noted that "faces come out of the rain", implying that he is analytical of their observations!
i think its about being alone in a new place, and hes talking about being unwanted, "women seem wicked when you're unwanted" cuz its so depressing and u have to feel it to kno what it feels like, u cant just say it, he did pretty good tho, so i dont think it was just a bad trip
I would go with this. I think part of it is an interpretation of calling those we don't know strangers. Like the first line says, if everyone's a stranger then they're strange. It seems like it's noting how isolated and alone one feels when they don't know anyone, when they're alone and depressed about it. It seems like no one acknowledges you or cares about you, though it may be that you're just as strange to them as they are to you.
Sure, it was written in the 60's. Sure, it sounds like most other pshycadelic (sorry, can't spell that word) music. Sure, the Doors were into drugs. Does that mean that every song of their's you have to automatically link to drugs??
-sorry, had to rant-
Maybe every think, as it says in the first line, it's about being a stranger (not a stoner). When you're around people you don't know they won't remember your name and you'll be strange to them because you don't belong in their world. We seem to only see the bad things (like "ugly" face, "uneven" streets, or "wicked" women) when we're feeling bad.
I think these song its about seclusion and isolation, its like a person being watched through some kind of "secret camera" and revealing its most inner secrets, a person being one with society and holds a secret life that no body knows about. people are strange when you're a stranger....
A night where vampires stalk the innocent and a fat old guy getting loaded on OREOs and root beer stalking the bloodsuckers. Does anybody catch my drift?
I think paigepeach nailed it. Its about being an outcast, an outsider. Outcasts can be dumped on, scapegoated by others. People can start looking pretty ugly and evil. "Women are wicked..." Guys that are outsiders are rarely popular with women, and we know how snotty some woman can be to those they consider unimportant.
"Streets are uneven when you're down"
I think this could be about a lack of overall stability, mentally, emotionally, even economically, when you are a depressed outcast. I think it also could be that people with mental illness(outcasts) sometimes walk in a unsteady and careful manner,due to the illness.
I'm strange.
I support the outcast theory. seems reasonable. Being an outcast can be sometimes overwhelming, but people who are that way usually couldn't be any other way. It kinda becomes who you are and you start to like it and need it even if it's killing you. haha :) I'm an outcast and it seriously hurts, but I think that's the only way I can ever be.
Great song.
Greatest Hits [#1] Strange Days The Complete Studio Recordings A Tribute to Jim Morrison [Video] The Best of the Doors [2-CD] Greatest Hits [Japan] The Very Best of the Doors [2001] Legacy: The Absolute Best 13 Boot Yer Butt! Doors/Strange Days The Best of the Doors [2000] Perception Strange Days [Bonus Tracks] The Very Best of the Doors [2007] The Very Best of the Doors [2007 2-CD] Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 The Future Starts Here: The Essential Doors Hits Greatest Golden Hits The Best of the Doors [1973] The Greatest Hits [LP] Perception [2008 Reissue] Live at the Matrix '67 Greatest Hits [#2] Love Death Travel When You're Strange: A Film About the Doors A Collection The Very Best Of Doors Vinyl Box Mr. Mojo Risin': The Story of L.A. Woman People Are Strange/The Crystal Ship Doors Vinyl Box
