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About This Track
“The Unknown Soldier” was the first single from The Doors’ 1968 album Waiting for the Sun, and was also the subject of one of the band’s few, inventive music videos. The song was Jim Morrison’s reaction to the Vietnam War and the way that conflict was portrayed in American media at the time. Lines such as, “Breakfast where the news is read/Television children fed/ unborn living, living dead/bullets strike the helmet’s head”, concern the way news of the war was being presented in the living rooms of ordinary people.
In the middle of the song, the Doors produce the sounds of what appears to be an execution; in live performances Robby Krieger would point his guitar towards Morrison like a rifle, drummer John Densmore would emulate a gunshot by producing a loud rimshot, by hitting the side of the cymbal, therefore, breaking the sticks to the drum set, and Morrison would fall screaming to the ground. After this middle section, the verses return and the song ends with Morrison’s ecstatic celebration of a war being over. In the studio version of the song, the sounds of crowds cheering, and bells tolling, can be heard.
The single for “Unknown Soldier” became the bands fourth top forty hit in the US, peaking at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its modest chart position was possibly due to its controversial theme and downbeat atmosphere. However, the follow-up single from Waiting for the Sun, “Hello, I Love You”, would go all the way to the top of the charts.
In the middle of the song, the Doors produce the sounds of what appears to be an execution; in live performances Robby Krieger would point his guitar towards Morrison like a rifle, drummer John Densmore would emulate a gunshot by producing a loud rimshot, by hitting the side of the cymbal, therefore, breaking the sticks to the drum set, and Morrison would fall screaming to the ground. After this middle section, the verses return and the song ends with Morrison’s ecstatic celebration of a war being over. In the studio version of the song, the sounds of crowds cheering, and bells tolling, can be heard.
The single for “Unknown Soldier” became the bands fourth top forty hit in the US, peaking at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. Its modest chart position was possibly due to its controversial theme and downbeat atmosphere. However, the follow-up single from Waiting for the Sun, “Hello, I Love You”, would go all the way to the top of the charts.
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Albums featuring this track
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Waiting for the Sun
The Doors
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The Very Best of The Doors
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The Best of the Doors (disc 1)
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Shouts
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sstrosser1 wrote:
War is the answer> When one comes a time to stop the force trying to destroy all. Need but one mans gun and force shall be reconed with by the payment of blood. The goverment shall fall for the people will wage war for it is the answer for injustice and crimes apon your own. Quote by My Drunk azz Laughs... Sweet tune
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WhiskyPlease wrote:
Oh, Jim....God! It`s all over.
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WSteven wrote:
we haven't learn yet, war is not the answer, rise up hippies and stop this shit in this world
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gytonuncut wrote:
peace
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xtwntraphq wrote:
Strangest 45 ever to come out on Electra records. LOVE the march! :)
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tavitooo wrote:
un clasico epico
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pizzake wrote:
Epic intro ö
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nirolffm wrote:
"Make a grave for the unknown soldiers. Make a grave for the war"(2)
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Holofernesgirl wrote:
bullet strikes the helmets head.
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MameSaye wrote:
Art.
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Andersonsaa wrote:
Jim!... never hear this again!... Badass
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Oppressotron wrote:
"I love this shoutbox. Pacifists, warmongers, and necrophiliacs. [3]" Yep, ye good ole internets bringing all us lovable freaks together.
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SearsPL wrote:
masterpiece. ray is the best :D
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garrett18 wrote:
good band one of the best !
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isitbeer30yet wrote:
I love this shoutbox. Pacifists, warmongers, and necrophiliacs. [2]
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OzymandiasD wrote:
A unknown soldier's job is never done.
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ChefeApache wrote:
its all over this song is so cool
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wiebok wrote:
Make a grave for the unknown soldiers. Make a grave for the war.
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TuneBlendR wrote:
Shame that some listeners have such little respect for art and the message; just look at Gonzalo and some of the commentary in this shout box.... JM was so anti war, and this song was clearly a celebration of its end.
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DizBusta wrote:
yeah
Track Stats
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258,559 Listeners
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Pgpegaz, UnknownMaggot, rogermaan and 5 other people loved The Doors – The Unknown Soldier. 6 hours ago
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