# "Riders on the storm"-Profound poetry or dreck? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 13, 2009, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720 "2009-02-13T18:55:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cuckoorex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cuckoorex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cuckoorex)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/41 "2009-02-14T01:25:22Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > Grade A dreck, and often referenced by me as one of the worst songs ever sung. I think that you only way you can make a case for that is to disqualify thousands of other songs. Have you even listened to the radio in the past 20 years? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/42 "2009-02-14T01:49:56Z")
The Doors’ incredibly cleverly titled _Box Set_ has the CD cases decorated with handwritten lyrics, presumably in Morrison’s hand. It’s “family.” ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/43 "2009-02-14T01:59:36Z")
Riders On The Storm isn’t the best representation of Morrison’s talent with words. Has everyone describing his ‘poetry’ as ‘dreck’ heard the album An American Prayer? That is one of the best marriages of music and words I have ever heard. “When the true king’s murderers are allowed to roam free, a 1,000 magicians will arise in the land.” I always thought that was a reference to Kennedy’s death, but I’m open to being wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/44 "2009-02-14T02:42:00Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Probably a Mondegreen, but I always heard it as “Sweet Emily will die” – presumably a victim of the toad-brained killer on the road. Well, you’re not alone. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/45 "2009-02-14T02:50:21Z")
I like the poetry of this song, but I _really_ like the interesting production that gives the song a nice menacing vibe. F’rinstance, the way the vocal track is doubled with a track of Morrison _whispering_ the lyrics. And of course the thunderstorm in the background throughout. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/46 "2009-02-14T05:51:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I always wondered who “Memoly” was. The word definitely starts with an "M’ sound. Running it back through earbuds, it clearly (well, not so clearly) says “memory.” That’s where our mileage varies. To me it sounded like “family,” although I was listening over a set of speakers and not earbuds. I agree it sounds a bit muddled, and you do have to listen. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/47 "2009-02-14T05:56:30Z")
I didn’t really understand the word “sophomoric” until I helped edit a college literary semi-annual. Then I was able to both get the word and recognize that Jim Morrison wrote on the level of a college sophomore. And not one at Harvard, either. A sophomore at a midwestern landgrant teachers college. Both abominable and typical. This does not detract from how much I like his work. Crappy college kid poetry is still better than everything else in R&R. I think I will listen to “Soft Parade” right now. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/48 "2009-02-14T06:10:24Z")
For years, I used to think he was saying “sweet Emily will die” and actually sang it that way when I covered the song. I don’t know who I thought Emily was. I just figured it was one of Morrison’s non-sequiturs. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/49 "2009-02-14T06:33:50Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > What does it mean? To my mind, the menace of possible fate. You may be on holiday with your kids, but unknown to you, there’s a killer out there, and if you cross his path and fail to take precautions he’ll kill your whole family. He spent too long dwelling on [A Good Man Is Hard To Find](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Good_Man_is_Hard_to_Find_(short_story))? ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/50 "2009-02-14T06:52:34Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > For real? > So sorry I ate your plums in the freezer but they was yummy? There was plums in the freezer but I eated them nom nom nom kthxbai. I always thought he said “sweet family will die.” ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/51 "2009-02-14T07:00:22Z")
Dreck. God did the Doors suck. I can’t believe they were my favorite band when I was 15. Most other bands have held up–Sabbath, Zep, AC/DC etc.–But not the Doors. Their lyrics are the worst kind of shitty teenage poetry. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/52 "2009-02-14T07:11:09Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > For real? > So sorry I ate your plums in the freezer but they was yummy? > > How profound. Not much for poetry, eh? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![sovtawen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@sovtawen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sovtawen)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/53 "2009-02-14T07:16:24Z")
“Like a dog without a bone” bothers me more. It’s such a boring simile. Couldn’t he think of something a little more creative? ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/54 "2009-02-14T07:25:59Z")
> [@ivan\_astikov](#): > > Riders On The Storm isn’t the best representation of Morrison’s talent with words. Has everyone describing his ‘poetry’ as ‘dreck’ heard the album An American Prayer? That is one of the best marriages of music and words I have ever heard. You are not alone, my friend. An American Prayer is fantastic, mesmerizing and a great tribute. The inclusion of Albinoni’s Adagio in G minor accompanying the titular poem just killed me. Awake. Shake dreams from your hair. I would love to have a painting of that imagery. ---
**Author:** ![Quint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/76d3ee/32.png) [@Quint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quint)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/55 "2009-02-14T07:47:36Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I don’t think it’s profound, but it’s not dreck either. “Achy Breaky Heart” is dreck. “Cherry Pie” is dreck. “Mmmm Bop” is dreck. I call bullshit. "Can you tell me which flower’s going to grow? Can you tell me? You say you can but you don’t know. You say you can but you don’t know. You don’t know You don’t know Mmm bop Ba du bop Ba du bop Ba du Mmm bop Ba du bop Ba du bop Ba du Mmm bop, ba duba dop Ba du bop, ba duba dop Ba du bop, ba duba dop Ba du Mmm bop, ba duba dop Ba du bop, Ba du dop Ba du bop, Ba du dop Ba du Mmm bop, ba duba dop Ba du bop, ba duba dop Ba du bop, ba duba dop Ba du Mmm bop, ba duba dop Ba du bop, Ba du dop Ba du bop, Ba du dop Ba du " Sorry if this violates the spirit of the board’s respect of copyright, but I felt it was worth pushing that particular envelope in order to celebrate the beauty of these lyrics. Jim Morrison isn’t fit to carry Hanson’s jockstraps. You see any bad imagery in that?? I didn’t think so! Mmm bop! ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/56 "2009-02-14T10:43:14Z")
I’ve never considered Jim Morrison to be a great poet, but as a master of the soundbite he has no equal. He couldn’t string those single lines or couplets together very successfully to make a coherent whole, but on their own, they’re simply wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/57 "2009-02-14T11:01:48Z")
Is this really only sophomoric, at best? > [@](#): > > Did you know freedom exists > in school books > > Did you know madmen are > running our prisons > > within a jail, within a gale > within a white free protestant > maelstrom > > We’re perched headlong > on the edge of boredom > > We’re reaching for death > on the end of a candle > > We’re trying for something > that’s already found us > > Wow, I’m sick of doubt > Live in the light of certain south > > Cruel bindings > > The sevants have the power > > dog-men & their mean women > pulling poor blankets over > our sailors > > I’m sick of dour faces > Staring at me from the T.V. tower, > > I want roses in > my garden bower; dig? > > Royal babies, rubies > must now replace aborted > strangers in the mud > > These mutants, blood-meal > for the plant that’s plowed > they are waiting to take us into > the severed garden > > Do you know how pale & wanton thrillful > comes death on a strange hour > unannounced, unplanned for > > like a scaring over-friendly guest you’ve > brought to bed? > > Death makes angels of us all > & gives us wings > where we had shoulders > smooth as raven’s claws > > No more money, no more fancy dress > This other kingdom seems by far the best > until its other jaw reveals incest > & loose obedience to a vegetable law > > I will not go > Prefer a feast of friends > To the Giant family ---
**Author:** ![sweepkick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/87869e/32.png) [@sweepkick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sweepkick)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/58 "2009-02-14T11:32:40Z")
> [@Larry\_Borgia](#): > > Dreck. God did the Doors suck. I can’t believe they were my favorite band when I was 15. Most other bands have held up–Sabbath, Zep, AC/DC etc.–But not the Doors. Their lyrics are the worst kind of shitty teenage poetry. AC/DC? _snerk_ ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/59 "2009-02-14T11:51:29Z")
**ivan astikov** Sophomoric in the extreme. But only when written down and read as poetry. While I’m sure \*he \*thought he was a poet, he clearly wasn’t. He was a very successful rock lyric writer, some of whose words, when sung - or intoned - to music, came across very memorably. To try to elevate him above that is pointless. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/60 "2009-02-14T13:30:25Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > I don’t really envision a toad as squirming though. Snake or lizard yes but a toad not so much. YMMV. Yes, but then you’d have to change the lyric to …_there’s a killer on the take, his brain is squirming like a snake_… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720.md?page=4)