Break on Through (To the Other Side) · The Doors

About the song

“Break On Through (To the Other Side)” is a landmark song by the American rock band The Doors, serving as the opening track on their influential debut album, *The Doors*, released in 1967. Although it was issued as the band’s first single, it initially only reached number 126 on the U.S. charts. Despite its modest commercial performance at the time, the song became a signature piece in The Doors’ live performances, cementing its place as a concert staple.

The track’s musical composition is notable for its vibrant and innovative approach. It is set in an uptempo 4/4 time signature and utilizes the Aeolian mode, giving it a distinctive and energetic sound. The song opens with a bossa nova-inspired drum groove, featuring a clave pattern played as a rim click underneath a dynamic ride cymbal pattern. This choice was influenced by John Densmore’s appreciation of the bossa nova craze from Brazil. The song’s bass line, reminiscent of traditional bossa nova rhythms, continues throughout the track, contributing to its unique sound.

Guitarist Robby Krieger’s riff was inspired by Paul Butterfield’s version of “Shake Your Moneymaker,” originally by blues guitarist Elmore James. Keyboardist Ray Manzarek drew inspiration from the bossa nova album *Getz/Gilberto* by Stan Getz and João Gilberto, and other influences included Ray Charles’s “What’d I Say” and Them’s “One Two Brown Eyes.” This amalgamation of influences creates a rich, multi-layered musical experience.

The song originally contained the lyric “She gets high,” but due to concerns over the word “high,” producer Paul A. Rothchild persuaded the band to modify it to “She get!” This change was made reluctantly, but the original lyric was later restored by engineer Bruce Botnick for the 1999 box set *The Complete Studio Recordings*.

Years after its release, “Break On Through” saw a resurgence in popularity. In 1991, it became a minor hit in the UK after being re-released as a single from the soundtrack album *The Doors*, peaking at number 64 on the UK Singles Chart. Its innovative sound and memorable lyrics have ensured its lasting legacy, making it a quintessential track that encapsulates the essence of The Doors’ pioneering spirit.

Video

Lyrics

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 high
She get high
She get high
She get high, yeah

I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Arms that chain us
Eyes that lie
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, ow
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