The Doors » Tracks » Riders on the Storm

The Doors – Riders on the Storm (7:09)

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About This Track

“Riders on the Storm” is a song by The Doors from their 1971 album, L.A. Woman; it reached number 14 on the charts. According to band member Robby Krieger, it was inspired by the song, “(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend”. The song is played in the E Dorian mode, and incorporates real sound effects of thunder and rain, along with Ray Manzarek’s Fender Rhodes electric piano playing, which emulates the sound of rain.

The song’s lyrics allude in part to the notorious spree killer Billy Cook, who posed as a hitchhiker and murdered an entire family. (“There’s a killer on the road… // His brain is squirmin’ like a toad… “) According to a widespread urban legend the song was conceived as an allusion to a tragic accident caused by another car’s reckless driving, ending in several deaths of Navajo tribesmen as his car hit a truck where they were traveling. An alternative version refers the lyrics’ inspiration to a 1930s French Surrealist poem, Chevaliers de l’Ouragan (literally, “Riders of the Hurricane”), by Louis Aragon. It should also be noted that Morrison wrote a screenplay called “The Hitchhiker”, where the main character, Billy, hitchhikes killing a man, a sheriff, and a family.

The song was recorded at the Doors Workshop in December 1970 with the assistance of Bruce Botnick, their longtime engineer who was co-producing the recording sessions. Jim Morrison recorded his main vocals and then whispered the lyrics over them to create the haunting effect.
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Albums featuring this track

  • Greatest Hits
    The Doors Play
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  • L.A. Woman
    The Doors Play
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    New

  • The Very Best of The Doors
    The Doors Play
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  • The Best of the Doors (disc 2)
    The Doors Play
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See all 31 albums

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  • AlterJohn

    Ein zeitlos toller Song ! Immer wieder schön zu hören.

    6 hours ago

  • PattySauce

    Perfect song for this weather we're having.... :)

    Friday evening

  • DieBest

    Uma epifania, demais.

    last week

  • renainchains

    ♥

    16 days ago

  • lvlaverick23

    No words to describe this track... absolutely classic.

    18 days ago

  • celoporto

    The Truth: You dont need drugs to be high. Only need The Doors.

    19 days ago

  • RussellChap

    Bruised 'n' bluesy rock.

    20 days ago

  • TschanFarang

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!

    20 days ago

  • heres_mez

    Truly amazing !!

    23 days ago

  • RomeoAlpha52

    Ohhhh!!!!! What a Song!!!!!!!!!

    26 days ago

  • niabadir

    Ушной оргазм детства.

    29 days ago

  • AvianCrowd0

    Another Great song Mate! I don't understand, "i don't think we're reaching" "which one's Pink???

    29 days ago

  • Pawa17

    Проигрыш на пианино просто шикарен))

    last month

  • gnsszvl

    I've probably listened to this song more than 10 times this week, i cry to this song omg, you dont need drugs to be high ✿◕ ‿ ◕✿

    last month

  • abunono

    Die Straße gleitet fort und fort/Weg von der Tür,wo sie begann

    last month

  • dcuk5

    Moody... Cool.... Jazzy.... Too Good!

    last month

  • gatotoss1

    un tema inolvidable,que nos devuelve a los sonidos de los 60

    last month

  • BlueOclock

    DonkeyHotai, That's very good...perhaps you should write up a screenplay based on the song..."Riders On The Storm, an original film by DonkeyHotai, based on the Doors song of the same name"....I can see it all now...and I'm not kidding, someone should do it!!! Oh, I forgot, great song!

    last month

  • wlodek17539

    Morrison rulezz.. that's sooooooo good!

    last month

  • DonkeyHotai

    "his brain is squirmin' like a toad ... if you give this man a ride - sweet memory will die." Hey there he is now, pull over - wanna lift buddy? kinda rainy out there, isn't it? come on, get in and dry off and ---- ahhhh, ahhhh, AHHHH, oh god, let me out of here! AHHH ......

    last month
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