The legacy of L.A. Woman and Jim Morrison
- Paulina Wróblewska
- Nov 28
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The Doors were an American band formed in Los Angeles in 1965. They created a unique sound that was very different from any other band at the time. The band was a creative vehicle for Jim Morrison whose feeling of alienation and love for poetry created the band’s powerful lyrics. The Doors’ instrumentalists keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore mixed jazz, blues and psychedelia which combined perfectly with Morrison’s baritone and poetic lyrics. Their dark-edged sound set them apart from the hippie music that flooded Los Angeles at the time. The band’s lead singer was deeply influenced by William Blake and Arthur Rimbaud. This inspired him to combine his love for poetry with music. His lyrics bent boundaries and social norms.
Their hit “Light My Fire” positioned them on the top of the charts in 1967, however, dark, dramatic songs like “The End” established their reputation in the rock scene. Although the band was initially praised for their rebellion and dark lyrics, they faced a lot of backlash for Morrison’s erratic and wild behaviour on stage during performances, after releasing several successful albums including: “Strange Days” 1967, “Waiting for the Sun” 1968, “Morrison Hotel” 1970 and “L.A. Woman” 1971, their legacy remained highly regarded.
The last album was particularly influential. In the 1970s The Doors wanted to move away from the complicated albums they were producing and go back to their roots - blues. That’s how “L.A. Woman” was born. It is a wild ride through the band’s hometown. In the middle of the title song Jim shouts “Mr. Mojo Rising” which is an anagram of the singer’s name. The last track became one of the most popular and was the final song Morrison recorded before his death. Other songs include “Love Her Madly”, “Been down so Long”, “The Changeling” and “L’America”. The songs are varied, some are playful and free while the others are emotional and moody.
After finishing “L.A Woman” Jim Morrison moved to Paris in hopes of finding peace, pursuing the career of a poet and getting clean from his drug and alcohol addiction. He hoped to get away from fame and escape the controversy surrounding his legal troubles regarding indecent exposure on stage at one of his concerts in Miami. Sadly, he was found dead in his bathtub just 3 months after the album’s release in July. His official cause of death was heart failure, but it is widely believed to have been an accidental heroin overdose.
More than fifty years later “L.A. Woman” is still seen as one of rock’s most influential albums and one of The Door’s biggest achievements. Because of it being Jim Morrison’s last recorded album it feels like a goodbye letter to fame, Los Angeles and life. It made The Doors one of the most unforgettable groups of all time. Their influence can be seen in the music of alternative bands like Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam, Joy Division and The Cure as well as in the keyboard style of The Stranglers or vocal delivery of Sisters of Mercy.
Page design: Antonina Szklarzewska
Bibliography
Kot, Greg. “The Doors | Members, Music, Legend, & Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Nov. 2025, www.britannica.com/topic/The-Doors. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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