# The Doors on Ed Sullivan? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 11, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628 "2016-07-11T02:52:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/1 "2016-07-11T02:52:05Z")
I recently heard a story that Jim Morrison refused to change certain lyrics when the Doors appeared on the Ed Sullivan show. Was the DJ confused with the Rolling Stones story? I had never, ever heard this mentioned about the Doors. Which is correct? ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/2 "2016-07-11T02:55:48Z")
I believe it was the line “Girl we couldn’t get much higher” from “Light My Fire”. The network objected to the word “higher”. This was depicted in a scene from _The Doors_ directed by Oliver Stone. ETA > **[Light My Fire](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_My_Fire)** > > "Light My Fire" is a song by the American rock band the Doors. It was recorded in August 1966 and released in January 1967 on their eponymous debut album. Issued as an edited single on April 24, 1967, it spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (in July 29, August 5 and August 12, 1967), and one week on the Cash Box Top 100, nearly a year after its recording. Due to its erotic lyrics and innovative structure, the song has come to be regarded a synonymous with the 60s psyc... ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/3 "2016-07-11T03:02:58Z")
IIRC, the Stones **did** change the lyrics. Let’s spend _some time_ together, as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/4 "2016-07-11T04:04:49Z")
Scene from _The Doors_. Clip of performance from _The Ed Sullivan Show_. Interview with Ray Manzarek about the incident. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9op57CqyDQE) ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/5 "2016-07-11T04:23:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > IIRC, the Stones **did** change the lyrics. Let’s spend _some time_ together, as it were. And Mick rolled his eyes when he sang them. At 4:25 in this video. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/6 "2016-07-11T04:49:09Z")
Weren’t the words “good reaction” censored as well when they played “Satisfaction”? ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/7 "2016-07-11T16:47:28Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Weren’t the words “good reaction” censored as well when they played “Satisfaction”? No, because the words are “girl reaction.” ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/8 "2016-07-12T08:20:59Z")
It’s not that they refused to change the lyrics. They made an agreement with Ed Sullivan not to use the word “higher” (because it was a drug reference), but they sang “higher” anyway. Sullivan was furious with them. ---
**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:** [July 12, 2016, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/9 "2016-07-12T09:09:54Z")
In fact, Sullivan was going to book the Doors for six more appearances, but after the performance they were permanently banned from the show, to which Jim Morrison responded, “Hey, man, we just did the Sullivan show.” > **[Why the Doors Got Banned From 'The Ed Sullivan Show'](https://ultimateclassicrock.com/the-doors-banned-from-the-ed-sullivan-show-september-17-1967/)** > > Counterculture and the mainstream clashed when the Doors were booked to appear on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' on Sept. 17, 1967. ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/10 "2016-07-12T10:37:30Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > No, because the words are “girl reaction.” I always thought it was “Girlie action.” ---
**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:** [July 12, 2016, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/11 "2016-07-12T11:01:52Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > I always thought it was “Girlie action.” Nope. > [@](#): > > The reference in the verse to not getting any “girl reaction” was fairly controversial in its day, interpreted by some listeners (and radio programmers) as meaning a girl willing to have sex. > **[(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/(I_Can%27t_Get_No)_Satisfaction#Lyrics_and_melody)** > > "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" is a song by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. A product of Mick Jagger and Keith Richards' songwriting partnership, it features a guitar riff by Richards that opens and drives the song. The riff is widely considered one of the greatest hooks of all time. The song's lyrics refer to sexual frustration and commercialism. > The song was first released as a single in the United States in June 1965 and was also featured on the American version of the Rolling S... ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2016, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/12 "2016-07-12T19:33:11Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > I always thought it was “Girlie action.” Same. ---
**Author:** ![Graymalkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@Graymalkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Graymalkin)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/13 "2016-07-13T03:19:04Z")
> [@JSexton](#): > > Same. Same. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2016, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/14 "2016-07-15T02:26:04Z")
Interesting. Personally, I never understood how such a straight-faced guy like Ed Sullivan could host anything. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/15 "2016-07-16T05:03:10Z")
> [@Jinx](#): > > Interesting. Personally, I never understood how such a straight-faced guy like Ed Sullivan could host anything. He did for about 25 years. What does that tell you? Sullivan had every right to expect The Doors to honor their agreement. And they flagrantly breached the agreement. He was justified in cancelling their future appearances. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/16 "2016-07-16T15:23:37Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > He did for about 25 years. What does that tell you? > > Sullivan had every right to expect The Doors to honor their agreement. And they flagrantly breached the agreement. He was justified in cancelling their future appearances. He was justified, no doubt. But the big lesson was on him. In the past, banning someone from his show was a huge blow to their career. By the time he did it to the Doors, rock bands could just shrug it off and go out to play another arena. The power in the music industry was shifting out from underneath him. In the end, he needed rock names a lot more than they needed him. ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/17 "2016-07-16T15:58:01Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > He was justified, no doubt. But the big lesson was on him. In the past, banning someone from his show was a huge blow to their career. By the time he did it to the Doors, rock bands could just shrug it off and go out to play another arena. The power in the music industry was shifting out from underneath him. In the end, he needed rock names a lot more than they needed him. Oh. I see. So that justifies them defying him and flouting the parameters of their agreement. The end justifies the means. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/18 "2016-07-16T16:46:09Z")
> [@dougie\_monty](#): > > Oh. I see. So that justifies them defying him and flouting the parameters of their agreement. The end justifies the means. :rolleyes: When I say “he [Sullivan] was justified” I meant that he was justified. Not much wiggle room in that. Just because he was justified at the time doesn’t mean that life couldn’t throw him a curve. The future doesn’t care what it was like in the past. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2016, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/19 "2016-07-16T17:02:28Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > He was justified, no doubt. But the big lesson was on him. In the past, banning someone from his show was a huge blow to their career. By the time he did it to the Doors, rock bands could just shrug it off and go out to play another arena. The power in the music industry was shifting out from underneath him. In the end, he needed rock names a lot more than they needed him. Exactly right. Morrison as much as said, “We’ve done the Sullivan show. Once is enough.” ---
**Author:** ![dougie\_monty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@dougie\_monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougie_monty)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628/20 "2016-07-16T17:22:18Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > When I say “he [Sullivan] was justified” I meant that he was justified. Not much wiggle room in that. > > Just because he was justified at the time doesn’t mean that life couldn’t throw him a curve. The future doesn’t care what it was like in the past. That wasn’t a curve, it was a beanball. Morrison had no intention of sticking to the agreement with Sullivan. Fraud is fraud. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-doors-on-ed-sullivan/759628.md?page=2)