Five to One

Zoo Freaks, get ready for some wild trivia about "Five to One" by The Doors from their 1968 album Waiting for the Sun, spinning now on THE ZOO! This track, unlike many of The Doors' songs, was born in the studio, with Jim Morrison improvising lyrics over a 4/4 beat laid down by drummer John Densmore. Music journalist Gillian G. Gaar notes that Morrison, in a haze of intoxication, needed studio assistants to prop him up to finish his vocals, adding a raw, chaotic energy to the recording. The song’s menacing, proto-heavy metal guitar riffs by Robby Krieger and Densmore’s relentless drums give it a rhythm and blues vibe, with some critics even crediting it as an early influence on the heavy metal genre. Despite its revolutionary undertones, with lines like “They got the guns, but we got the numbers,” Morrison insisted the lyrics weren’t political, though fans at the time, as noted by journalists Nathan Brackett and Christian Hoard, saw it as a hippie anthem. A curious tidbit: the line “Night is drawing near” might be inspired by the 19th-century hymn “Now the Day is Over,” showing Morrison’s knack for weaving obscure references into his poetry.

Another gem from the vault: during a 2000 VH1 Storytellers performance by the surviving Doors members, Stone Temple Pilots’ Scott Weiland stepped in as vocalist, with Densmore praising his ability to “fill Jim’s leather pants.” Weiland himself said “Five to One” inspired his rock career. The song’s influence stretches further—Kanye West sampled it for Jay-Z’s 2001 track “Takeover,” and Pearl Jam’s “Alive” guitar solo draws from Krieger’s work via Kiss’ “She.” Posts on X from @TheDoors highlight iconic performances, like the chaotic 1969 Miami show where Morrison’s rendition of “Five to One” fueled a riot, or the 1968 Hollywood Bowl version, described as a proto-metal masterpiece. The song’s raw power and cryptic lyrics, like “No one here gets out alive” (later the title of Morrison’s 1980 biography), cement its place as a counterculture classic.

Now, let’s rewind to how The Doors got their start. Formed in Los Angeles in 1965, the band—Jim Morrison (vocals), Ray Manzarek (keyboards), Robby Krieger (guitar), and John Densmore (drums)—emerged from a chance meeting between Morrison and Manzarek on Venice Beach. Both UCLA film school acquaintances, they bonded when Morrison shared his poetry, including early song lyrics. Manzarek, struck by Morrison’s words, suggested forming a band, and soon Krieger and Densmore joined, drawn from Manzarek’s meditation group and local music scene. Naming themselves after Aldous Huxley’s The Doors of Perception (inspired by a William Blake quote), they honed their sound on the Sunset Strip, blending Morrison’s dark, poetic lyrics with Manzarek’s classical and blues influences, Krieger’s jazz-infused guitar, and Densmore’s improvisational drumming. Their 1966 Elektra Records deal led to their debut album, The Doors (1967), with hits like “Light My Fire,” catapulting them to fame as a provocative force in the 1960s counterculture.

Connect with The Doors’ legacy online! Visit their official website at thedoors.com for music, merch, and history. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and X for updates, throwback photos, and performance clips. Fans can dive deeper at sites like thedoorsfilm.com, dedicated to the 1991 Oliver Stone biopic, or join communities like the Doors Fans Facebook group to share stories and rare finds. The Zoo Crew knows you Zoo Freaks are vibing to “Five to One,” so keep those dials locked on THE ZOO for more psychedelic rock revelations!