Arms that chain/
Eyes that lie…

The Doors “Break on Through” has great lyrics. Some of the best, this side of Dylan. Morrison is telling us that there is a reality that is just beyond our grasp and we have to break through to reach it. What exactly that entails he is not clear about. Does he mean we should do drugs? Probably. Is he advocating spirituality over materialism? Probably.

There are a lot of mores that he is suggesting that we disregard if we want to break on  through to the other side. On this side there are chains and lies, on the other side is freedom. Which side would you choose? Unfortunately living this lifestyle has its consequences.

Morrison has one of the best male voices in rock. Very manly. Each of the instruments really shines in this song. The guitar has some great riffs that are iconic, as does the organ. The percussion is solid. There are a couple things you should notice. Most people only know the edited version of this song. If you’ve only heard it on the radio, you’ve never heard the regular version.

I think “Break On Through” was released on The Doors greatest hits edited as well. Why? Because it had the word “high” in it. Another cool thing to notice is the good use of stereo. At the beginning of the song each instrument is added one at a time into each side of your headphones. It is a cool effect.

Break On Through Lyrics

Every time when I look in the mirror
All these lines on my face getting clearer
The past is gone
It went by, like dusk to dawn
You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah

We chased our pleasures here
Dug our treasures there
But can you still recall
The time we cried
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side

Yeah!
C’mon, yeah

Everybody loves my baby
Everybody loves my baby
She get(s high)
She get(s high)
She get(s high)
She get(s high)

I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Arms that chained us
Eyes that lied
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, oww!
Oh, yeah!

Made the scene
Week to week
Day to day
Hour to hour
The gate is straight
Deep and wide
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Break on through
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

written by Jim Morrison