# "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:** 5
**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, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/81 "2009-02-14T20:10:26Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > The Doors’ incredibly cleverly titled _Box Set_ has the CD cases decorated with handwritten lyrics, presumably in Morrison’s hand. It’s “family.” Doesn’t this carry any weight? ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/82 "2009-02-14T20:16:17Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Perhaps you’d prefer the [reply poem](http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~richie/poetry/html/poem191.html) by Koch? The first poem was nice. I really liked the response, though! ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/83 "2009-02-14T20:18:41Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > I disagree with you on this point. The actual lyric is far more evocative of the despair that one would suffer over the violent loss of someone. You may have wonderful memories of the lives of a family brutally murdered, but those memories would always be overshadowed by the horrifying knowledge of their untimely deaths. > > If you give this man a ride, > Sweet memories will die > > Your revised lyric lacks an aftermath. Well, I won’t argue the point very seriously, since my point was that it’s not an entirely serious song. It’s a sound effects song ya know? I’ve got nothing against the “memories” option, it’s certainly the most “poetic.” What “Emily” has in her favor is that it matches the feel of “squirming like a toad” and “like a dog without bone.” It’s a careless lyric snatched from the ether with a smooth samauri motion. It also has the power of the specific. It moves the song from archtypes and pure mood to the literal with one silly word. That’s nice trick, and equal in effect to the okay poetics of “sweet memories will die.” That’s all. Oh, and the rock critic I was trying to remember was Richard “R.” Meltzer. ---
**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, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/84 "2009-02-14T20:19:22Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Dammit I can’t think of the rock critic’s name. He was one of the earliest rambling, off-the-wall rock writers, sorta Lester Bangs godfather. Anyway… I still remember his comment on the _L.A. Woman_ album, that every track contained at least one substantial yuk. That was R. Meltzer in Rolling Stone. “Besides being heavy in their early days the Doors were funny too. Funnier than a fish. … There isn’t one serious cut on the entire album.” ETA: Too slow again! Oh, BTW, the sheet music (_The Doors/Complete_, 1972 edition) also has “family.” That’s the word, people. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2009, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/85 "2009-02-14T21:02:47Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > That was R. Meltzer in Rolling Stone. “Besides being heavy in their early days the Doors were funny too. Funnier than a fish. … There isn’t one serious cut on the entire album.” > > ETA: Too slow again! Oh, BTW, the sheet music (_The Doors/Complete_, 1972 edition) also has “family.” That’s the word, people. Thanks for dredging that out Mr. Shrew. I still use the phrase “funny as a fish” but had forgotten where it came from. ---
**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, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/86 "2009-02-14T23:16:22Z")
> [@sweepkick](#): > > AC/DC? > > _snerk_ What I meant was that when I listen to AC/DC I still think “These guys kick ass.” When I listen to the Doors I just feel mildly embarassed that I used to like them. And while AC/DC’s lyrics aren’t profound poetry, they are simple honest rock lyrics and can be enjoyed as such. They aren’t self-absorbed drivel. ---
**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, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/87 "2009-02-14T23:49:29Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > The Doors’ incredibly cleverly titled _Box Set_ has the CD cases decorated with handwritten lyrics, presumably in Morrison’s hand. It’s “family.” > [@NineToTheSky](#): > > Doesn’t this carry any weight? Yeah, it does with me. I hear it as “family,” anyway. But in cases of doubt, I’d go with the lyricist’s intent, even if I’d heard it differently. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanTigerTamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@SuntanTigerTamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanTigerTamer)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/88 "2009-02-15T00:03:32Z")
Plus, **Backdoor Man** is one of the baddest songs of all time… ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/89 "2009-02-15T00:11:19Z")
I always think of riding a horse down the beach along the shoreline when I hear this song. And it’s my all time favorite nookie background song. No opinion good or bad on the words, but the music puts me instantly in another place and time (in my head, alas). The Doors rule! Woot! ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/90 "2009-02-15T00:15:41Z")
Ohh, and does anyone have a better rhyming line to follow “There’s a killer on the road,” than the one featuring the toad simile? After all, it can be easier to criticize than to coupletize. ---
**Author:** ![42fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/b487fb/32.png) [@42fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/42fish)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/91 "2009-02-15T00:20:23Z")
> [@SuntanTigerTamer](#): > > Plus, **Backdoor Man** is one of the baddest songs of all time… However, since “Back Door Man” was written by Willie Dixon for blues singer Howlin Wolf, it doesn’t say anything about Jim Morrison’s songwriting/poetic abilities. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/92 "2009-02-15T01:01:38Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > However, since “Back Door Man” was written by Willie Dixon for blues singer Howlin Wolf, it doesn’t say anything about Jim Morrison’s songwriting/poetic abilities. The Doors also recorded “Crawlin’ Kingsnake”, but I don’t know if Wolf wrote it or also covered it. ---
**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 15, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/93 "2009-02-15T01:08:25Z")
> [@Baal\_Houtham](#): > > Ohh, and does anyone have a better rhyming line to follow > “There’s a killer on the road,” than the one featuring the toad simile? Pick one: a. “He is wrathful like Tom Joad” b. “He got banned for saying FOAD” \* c. “He might make your head asplode” - Pit joke. ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/94 "2009-02-15T01:09:57Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > I think of Morrison’s poetry as way more poetic than that dreck read (poorly) at the inauguration. AMEN to that. But she _was_ a Bona Fide Poetess:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/95 "2009-02-15T01:11:54Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > After listening to that line 1,024 times with headphones, I conclude that is “Sweet mamily will die.” 🙂 I must agree that the lyric is “family” although I think “memory” sounds better. IMHO, \*\*sweet family will die \*\*doesn’t make much sense. No? ---
**Author:** ![omni-not](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8dc957/32.png) [@omni-not](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/omni-not)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/96 "2009-02-15T01:26:30Z")
Ahhhhhhhhh… The light bulb just went on! From wikipedia: \*The song’s lyrics allude in part to the notorious spree killer Billy Cook, who posed as a hitchhiker and murdered an entire family. \* I stand corrected. My bad. Carry on. ---
**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 15, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/97 "2009-02-15T01:36:09Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > Or > _…there’s a killer with a gizzard > his brain is squirming like a lizard…_ 😃 I am imagining a crazed psycopath clutching a bloody chicken gizzard, flailing it wildly about. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/98 "2009-02-15T14:25:42Z")
Morrison was a genius, compared to most other 1970’s rock music lyrics-how about Steve Miller? ( “Abracadaba…I wanna reach out an grab ya”)-profound thoughts-no? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2009, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/99 "2009-02-15T22:59:03Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Morrison was a genius, compared to most other 1970’s rock music lyrics-how about Steve Miller? ( “Abracadaba..I wanna reach out an grab ya”)-profound thoughts-no? “Theres a killer on the road His brain is squirmin like a toad Take a long holiday Let your children play If ya give this man a ride Sweet memory will die Killer on the road, yeah” Deep man, deep. It’s like you don’t actually have to say anything and you say everything, yeah man, I get it, I do. No, it’s far out. Say, have you ever thought maybe like on a beach, the sand, like the sand, what if that was an entire universe and our universe is a piece of sand somewhere on a much larger beach. Drug induced hallucinations may make for interesting art, but that doesn’t mean it can’t suck also. ---
**Author:** ![tds1273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df705f/32.png) [@tds1273](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tds1273)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720/100 "2009-02-16T19:00:26Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Pick one: > > a. “He is wrathful like Tom Joad” > b. “He got banned for saying FOAD” \* > c. “He might make your head asplode” > > - Pit joke. d. “Eats his buckeyes a la mode”\* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/riders-on-the-storm-profound-poetry-or-dreck/485720.md?page=6)