Many fans of the rock band The Doors know that Jim Morrison’s father served in the US Army. But not everyone knows that it was Rear Admiral George Stephen Morrison who commanded the naval forces during the Tonkin incident, after which Congress gave the president the right to send soldiers to Vietnam.
It is difficult to say what Jim, who was not close to his parents, thought about this, but that armed conflict prompted him to create the anti-war song “The Unknown Soldier”, the story of which is devoted to the article.
The composition was written in 1967 when The Doors were on tour. By tradition, the authors of “The Unknown Soldier” are all members of the group.
Although the lyrics do not mention the Vietnam War directly, it is clear that it was the inspiration for the song. In general, this is a protest against military aggression in any of its manifestations, as well as propaganda, with which the authorities brainwash citizens, forcing them to support the course of the government.
To give “The Unknown Soldier” the right mood for the main idea, it was used combat commands, the roll of military drums and the sound of gunshots. They say that the final version of the song was recorded after more than one hundred and thirty attempts.
“The Unknown Soldier” was released as the first single from the album “Waiting for the Sun” (1968), released on the Electra label. The record was produced by Paul Rothschild. The song was reluctantly played on the radio due to its provocative lyrics, but still the single reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100.
And now let’s see the official promo video that Electra made to promote the song “The Unknown Soldier”. The video was shot by Jim Morrison himself.
Interesting Facts
- The version of the song released as a single contained fewer sound effects.
- During concert performances, members of The Doors, performing “The Unknown Soldier”, acted out Jim’s execution on stage. Krieger aimed his guitar at him, Manzarek signaled, Densmore imitated the sound of a shot, and Morrison fell.
Lyrics The Unknown Soldier by The Doors
Wait until the war is over
And we’re both a little older
The unknown soldier
And we’ll both get a little older
Unknown SoldierBreakfast where the news is read
television, children fed
Unborn living, living dead
Bullet strikes the helmet’s head
And it’s all over for the unknown soldier
It’s all over for the unknown soldier
Children stuffed with TV
Unborn living, living dead
Bullet pierces head through helmet
And it’s over for the unknown soldier
It’s all over for the unknown soldierMarch!
Company, halt!
Present arms! March forward!
Stay where you are!
Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier
Clinging to your sloping shoulder
Stranger SoldierBreakfast where the news is read
television, children fed
Unborn living, living dead
Bullet strikes the helmet’s head
And it’s all over
The war is over
It’s all over
War is over
TV, fed children,
Unborn living, living dead
The bullet pierces the helmet on the head
And it’s over
The war is over
Its end
The war is over It’s all over, baby!
All over baby!
Oh all right, yeah!
All over, yeah ha ha!
All over!
All over baby!
Oh, oh yeah!
All over
All over
It’s over, baby!
Oh, it’s all right, yeah!
It’s over, yeah!
Its end!
It’s over, baby!
Oh oh yeah
Its end
Its end
