Revolution_9 December 29th, 2005 07:26AM  

Moonlight Drive is a very eerie piece of music, being one of the earliest songs Jim Morrison had written for the Doors. The Doors were formed after an initial meeting in which Ray Manzarek was won over by the lyrics of Jim Morrison's Moonlight Drive. One listening would get the impression of a story of a courting couple. But closer investigation of the lyrics reveal a much darker subcontext. The lyrics "Let's swim to the moon, let's climb through the tide" do indicate a nice romantic evening swim. But, as you listen on, "You reach your hand to hold me, but I can't be your guide" reveals an alterior motive to the song's protagonist. "Easy, I love you as I watch you glide - falling through wet forests on our moonlight drive..." the song continues, "Baby gonna drown tonight, going down, down, down...", leaving no doubt that the famous Morrison poetry is a lot darker than merely a concept of two lovers by moonlight (which the the first impression), but is rather a frightening pastiche of Morrison's fantasies, in which a young man takes his girlfriend out to sea, and leave her to drown!!! Folks, this is no joke, listen for yourselves! The eternally deep power of the words of the Doors strikes again.

anonymous October 1st, 2007 01:29PM  

The first interpretation is basically what the song means. To the second comment you are incorrect Jim didn't even know Pam when this song was written, he met her after the band was formed and this song was written before that. It's the song that made Ray and Jim decide to start a band together.

anonymous February 29th, 2008 03:39PM  

Whoever wrote that second "interpretation" is an idiot. Sorry to be so harsh. But this was one of the first songs Jim wrote and was in fact the song that he sang to Ray...making Ray realize that Jim was was gonna be going places. Pam Courson didn't come into the picture until much later.

-Lizzie

70s_girl January 16th, 2009 01:26AM  

sounds like it's about suicide. it's like he's trying to convince the one he's with to drown with him. but it's like he's accepted death, that's why the phrasing sounds so serine(sp?); to go on a "moonlight drive" to just let the ocean take you away.

anonymous April 22nd, 2009 03:28AM  

Come on. Morrison was fascinated with death, the ultimate extreme human experience after birth. He was the Arthur Rimbaud of the 21st century. "Break on Through to the Other Side"—what do you think that means? "Moonlight Drive" has a haunting melody with haunting words & it is my most favorite Doors' song, however, it is extremely dark. It is either a guy trying to convince his girl into a suicide pack to reach the other side OR it is a cold blooded guy taking his "girl" out beyond the bonds of her limits to drown her. The former aspect is my opinion. I don't see Morrison as cold-blooded. I see Morrison as he saw himself—a "Shaman" searching for another existence beyond this one.

anonymous April 22nd, 2009 03:28AM  

Come on. Morrison was fascinated with death, the ultimate extreme human experience after birth. He was the Arthur Rimbaud of the 21st century. "Break on Through to the Other Side"—what do you think that means? "Moonlight Drive" has a haunting melody with haunting words & it is my most favorite Doors' song, however, it is extremely dark. It is either a guy trying to convince his girl into a suicide pack to reach the other side OR it is a cold blooded guy taking his "girl" out beyond the bonds of her limits to drown her. The former aspect is my opinion. I don't see Morrison as cold-blooded. I see Morrison as he saw himself—a "Shaman" searching for another existence beyond this one.

anonymous October 28th, 2009 10:27AM  

Could it be about making love on the beach an a moonlight night? About gliding momentarily into another world?