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“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.
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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Braveshell wrote:
Still fantstic after all these years. Fans of the band when the album came out tagged this as being "coffee table music".. but I think they missed the point. It was the band moving on... developing their songwriting and exploring new techniques. Its still a fabulous track from a great album.
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LPSpanther wrote:
I could play this one over and over.
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rainbow1204 wrote:
Magnificient song, love the Doors.
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str4ngel wrote:
first heard on the radio one Sunday afternoon age 14 - intro to blues rock and magic - life-changing!
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Dudemaister09 wrote:
gota love this song..
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Graveworm09 wrote:
<3
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herbhappy wrote:
gr8
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tigger56 wrote:
I was 14 years old the first time I heard this song....I still love it ...Morrison at his very best....Hauntingly Beutiful
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psychedali wrote:
I was about ten years old when I first heard this song, namely in the movie The Basketball Diaries. and it left its seeds. years later, they bud and changed everything in my life - from the doors to other music from the 60s and thus to freedom, happiness and openness for experience. there is no other song which captures such a haunting melancholy, which is mysterious enough to dissolve yourself in its atmosphere. Riders on the Storm can turn every sad rainy scene into a spritual illuminating experience. I wish the solo of manzarek would never end.
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neosapienist wrote:
just got extremely foggy outside..... perfect song.....
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gperaltascura wrote:
I love this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eitttlane wrote:
ageless
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sintezi wrote:
Amazing song! When i listen to this song i feel that i can everything!
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tallpaul1 wrote:
Superb! It's in my all time top 5
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FredKidd wrote:
Love the DOORS!!!
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rockerpixie wrote:
Haunting. <3
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wh1t3d3vil13 wrote:
killer on the road!
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Eraldor wrote:
argh
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FunkyCini wrote:
this song got something magic... everytime i listen to it i feel like hypnotized amazing sound!
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candyaz wrote:
yeeaaaa
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