Final Summary: Break On Through (To The Other Side)

The Doors were an American rock n' roll band formed in 1967 by singer/songwriter/poet/director Jim Morrison and Pianist Ray Manzarek. The two attended UCLA Film School together and quickly developed a friendship. Later drummer John Densmore and guitarist Robbie Krieger would complete the quartet. 

One of their first songs written together, and the first single from the debut album was called Break On Through. It would change music forever.

The song begins with a guitar riff reminiscent of early blues music but with a darker, almost eery feel to it. Jim Speaks. 

"You know the day destroys the night, 

Night divides the day.

Tried to run, Tried to hide.

Break On Through to The Other Side."

I feel this stanza is talking about the repetitiveness of every day life. Almost looking at each day as a cycle, just dividing itself and then destroying it. Tried to Run, Tried to Hide gives me the image of trying to escape this cycle. Trying to do whatever you can to be different, experience new things, and be happy, Breaking Through.

The refrain is the song title repeated several times. Forcing you really think about what he's saying, creating questions such as what does Breaking Through mean to you?

The next stanza says:

"We chased our pleasures here,

Dug our Treasures There.

Can YOU still recall the time we cried,

Break on Through to the Other Side"

Jim came from a fairly wealthy family in Florida. His father was an admiral in the United States Navy. He dropped out of Florida State University and moved to California around the age of 20. Here is a pretty funny clip of him in a commercial promoting Florida State. Notice the short hair, and innocence he carried himself with-a far different view than what we picture him like today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1myP9FtKUg . I think Jim dug and left his old life (treasures) in Florida. Chasing his pleasure of writing and rock n' roll in California. I think the last two lines are Jim Morrison reminiscing about his old life,  his family, his schooling. Quickly pushing those ideas away though by repeating Break On Through to The Other Side. 

"I found an Island in your arms,

A Country in Your Eyes.

Arms That Chain Us,

Eyes that Lie,

Break on Through to The Other Side."

I picture this verse as references to Alchohol cosumption and heavy drug use, mostly LSD. Almost referring to the two as people, their effects showing us Islands and Countries, Breaking us free from Arms that chain us. Eyes that lie could mean that although he uses both these things he knows that the effects are not real, just Imagined.

I think this song is about letting go of yourself. Letting go so you can find something new, more exciting about yourself that you didn't know we had. We all have Doors in our life, things that hold us back, keeping us from truly expressing our feelings. Jim Morrison and The Doors encourage us to forget about them. Let Go. Break On Through To The Other Side.