All these interpretations are quite interesting, but I think Jim Morrison wasn't as haywire as some people are making out.
The man was quite educated! I think this song is based on a study of magic and Religion by a man called Sir James George Frazer, called "The Golden Bough". A lot of the themes brought forth in this work reflect the lyrics in the song, as it portrays parallels between rites and beliefs.
Infact in chapter 60;"Between Heaven and Earth", the first sub chapter is entitled "Not to touch the Earth", and the second sub chapter is entitled "Not to see the sun".
Check it out sometime, it explains much more of this song, and shows how it is an abstract overview of the whole work, rather than just drugged up babble
I was looking to see if anyone was going to cite The Golden Bough, which as you pointed out, is a anthropological study of magic and religion (from the late 19th century). This is also one of the two main sources that T.S. Eliot references in his notes for The Waste Land (the other, 'From Ritual to Romance', is specific to the Grail motif). It is my contention that Morrison was using the mythological imagery (especially from the Between Heaven & Earth chapter) to paint a picture of the turbulent 60's.
I was looking to see if anyone was going to cite The Golden Bough, which as you pointed out, is a anthropological study of magic and religion (from the late 19th century). This is also one of the two main sources that T.S. Eliot references in his notes for The Waste Land (the other, 'From Ritual to Romance', is specific to the Grail motif). It is my contention that Morrison was using the mythological imagery (especially from the Between Heaven & Earth chapter) to paint a picture of the turbulent 60's.
And, btw, TGB is an incredibly interesting read...
And, btw, TGB is an incredibly interesting read and stands with the works of Joseph Campbell on the study of mythology.
All these interpretations are quite interesting, but I think Jim Morrison wasn't as haywire as some people are making out.
The man was quite educated! I think this song is based on a study of magic and Religion by a man called Sir James George Frazer, called "The Golden Bough". A lot of the themes brought forth in this work reflect the lyrics in the song, as it portrays parallels between rites and beliefs. Infact in chapter 60;"Between Heaven and Earth", the first sub chapter is entitled "Not to touch the Earth", and the second sub chapter is entitled "Not to see the sun".
Check it out sometime, it explains much more of this song, and shows how it is an abstract overview of the whole work, rather than just drugged up babble
Tara
I was looking to see if anyone was going to cite The Golden Bough, which as you pointed out, is a anthropological study of magic and religion (from the late 19th century). This is also one of the two main sources that T.S. Eliot references in his notes for The Waste Land (the other, 'From Ritual to Romance', is specific to the Grail motif). It is my contention that Morrison was using the mythological imagery (especially from the Between Heaven & Earth chapter) to paint a picture of the turbulent 60's.
I was looking to see if anyone was going to cite The Golden Bough, which as you pointed out, is a anthropological study of magic and religion (from the late 19th century). This is also one of the two main sources that T.S. Eliot references in his notes for The Waste Land (the other, 'From Ritual to Romance', is specific to the Grail motif). It is my contention that Morrison was using the mythological imagery (especially from the Between Heaven & Earth chapter) to paint a picture of the turbulent 60's.
And, btw, TGB is an incredibly interesting read...
And, btw, TGB is an incredibly interesting read and stands with the works of Joseph Campbell on the study of mythology.