The End

“I’m lying, I am afraid”

Well, in Oliver Stone’s version of THE DOORS these were the words of Jimmy just before song “The End”. One of my dear friends asked me the importance of this song, it’s real meaning, interpretation of lyrics. As the literature and internet search history goes, we find that this was one of Jimmy’s early compositions written when he broke up with his girlfriend.

Well, in a certain way it makes sense.

“This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end”

The song starts off with lines that mark the beginning of an End. Now even though it might have been written for a girl, these lines make perfect sense when put to use with anything. The Oneness given by Jimmy through this song is what makes his poetry special.

“No safety or surprise, the end”

(Shaila-) Here comes a line when (in context of his GF) Jimmy seems to be talking of the intimate times spent together by both of them. An intricate and yet beautiful line depicting the sex they had ( I intentionally avoided any sort of euphemism). Jimmy shares his fear with his ex, that during this entire process the humane soul is most vulnerable, the feelings have all surfaced, and they are locked in each other’s arm, he might lose himself.

“Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need...of some..stranger's hand
In a...desperate land”

Well, I guess with the reference to the context the song might make sense. However what attracts me to the song is more of its metaphorical nature. For me this song is about putting an End to this entire galore of society and its laws shaping human mind. With all literature I have read I understand that a man’s Id is most active when he is a baby, or a kid. As time progresses a combination of civilization, family, laws, dos and don’ts tries to subdue the “id”, and make him more appropriate for the system. Now when we look at the above lines we find a request, a commandment, an appeal to break free of all that is trying to bind the real you.

Why should anyone be afraid of any feelings that feels and emotions he stumbles across? Feelings are good and bad, they are your feelings, why can’t anyone be true to himself and not placate them. Now re-read the lines,

“Can you picture what will be
So limitless and free
Desperately in need...of some..stranger's hand
In a...desperate land”

I hope you are getting a hint of what I am trying to say. The entirety of anyone being himself, comes along with the term “Insanity”, “Crazy” and “Weird”, but these are just the terms coined by society again for the things they don’t understand. Imagine a herd of sheep is going south, one of the young ones, just turns around and says, “Hey, I feel like I want to go North, you guys carry on” – any guesses on what the herd would say?

I believe that a big reason why he loved snake was its nature. However, since we are talking in metaphorical sense, it can be compared to all the weird things you have to do to go where you always want to. If you are scared to do it, can you ever do it?

However, interestingly – Jimmy makes a call about the Blue Bus, as far as the historical reference goes, it is just a reference to the public transport that would serve his area in Venice beach. The message indicated by these lines is to catch one and ride to the west. Simply leave everything that you have been bound to and go out on a wild ride.

And well, the last and the most controversial part of the song, gets its reference from the Odepius complex. Again in the metaphorical world – it talks of killing everything you are taught.

It’s the most beautiful poem ever written.