Lyrics Language: English Song writer/composer(s): Robbie Krieger, John Densmore, Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek
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The DoorsRiders on the Storm Lyrics:
Riders on the storm, riders on the storm
Into this house we're born, into this world we're thrown
Like a dog without a bone, an actor out on loan
Riders on the storm
There's a killer on the road, his brain is squirmin' like a toad
Take a long holiday, let your children play
If ya give this man a ride, sweet family will die
Killer on the road, yeah
Girl ya gotta love your man, girl ya gotta love your man
Take him by the hand, make him understand
The world on you depends, our life will never end
Gotta love your man, yeah
Riders on the storm, riders on the storm
Into this house we're born, into this world we're thrown
Like a dog without a bone, an actor out on loan
Riders on the storm
Riders on the storm, riders on the storm
Riders on the storm, riders on the storm
The lyrics on the most recent version are sanctioned by the composer, or owner of the rights to the lyrics, however, there may be lyrics that are more complete on the prior version(s) that have been submitted by a contributor to mp3lyrics.org
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The Doors Riders on the Storm Lyrics Information:
SOMETIMES THE LYRICS ON PREVIOUS VERSIONS ARE MORE ACCURATE THAN THE ONES
DISPLAYED BY GRACENOTE AS THE CURRENT VERSION. YOU MAY VIEW THESE LYRICS
BY CLICKING ON THE LINK "SEE OTHER VERSIONS" IN THE ORANGE BOX ABOVE.
RIDERS ON THE STORM1
Written by: Jim Morrison, John Densmore, Robbie Krieger & Ray Manzarek.
Produced by: Bruce Botnick, Joey Levins & The Doors
Performed by: The Doors 23
First released: 4
Single: June 1971
Album: April 1971
1 "Riders on the Storm" reached #14 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1971. The song
incorporates real sound effects of thunder and rain, along with Ray Manzarek's Fender Rhodes
electric piano playing, which emulates the sound of rain.
There are several accounts that put forward the inspiration of the song. Feel free to choose
whichever you prefer:
(a)It was inspired by the song, "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky, A Cowboy Legend."
(b)It alludes, 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.")
(c)According to a widespread urban legend, the song was conceived due to a tragic accident
caused by another car's reckless driving, ending in several deaths of Navajo tribesmen.
(d)And finally, 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.
An interesting side note is that Morrison wrote a screenplay called "HWY: An American Pastoral
(1969)" where the main character, Billy (played by Morrison), is a hitch hiker who kills a
sheriff and a family.
2 Personnel performing on this recording:
* Jim Morrison (lead vocals)
* John Densmore (drums, percussion)
* Robby Krieger (guitar, vocals)
* Ray Manzarek (keyboards, keyboard bass, vocals)
3 Covered by:
The Ahn Trio
All Star Dance Band
Benediction
Rusty Bryant
Henry Butler
Randy Coven
Creed
Dancing Fantasy
Dezperadoz
Forthcoming Fire
Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13 & Murder Dolls (as "Welcome to the Strange")
Todd Harrold
Incubus (Live)
Infected Mushroom
Nigel Kennedy
Annabel Lamb
Dave Matthews Band
Nils Landgren
Ray Manzarek (solo)
O'2L
Paul Parker
Bob Rivers (parodied as "Burgers on the Grill" and again as "Drivers on the Phone") 5
Snoop Dogg (mash up)
Widespread Panic
George Winston
et al.
4 Released on: *
SINGLE(S)
(1)The Doors
A-side: "Riders on the Storm"
B-side: "Changeling"
(a) Elektra, 7-Inch, Vinyl, 45rpm Single, #EKS-45738, US-1971.
* The album(s) and record(s) listed here may have different versions of the song than the one
that was transcribed. Also, this list is not intended to be the complete discography on which
this song appears.
