Cover art for When the Music’s Over by The Doors

When the Music’s Over

Sep. 25, 19671 viewer181K views

When the Music’s Over Lyrics

[Intro]
Yeah, come on
Yeah!

[Instrumental Break 0:29 - 1:03]

[Chorus]
When the music's over, when the music's over, yeah
When the music's over
Turn out the lights, turn out the lights
Turn out the lights
Yeah

[Chorus]
When the music's over, when the music's over
When the music's over
Turn out the lights, turn out the lights
Turn out the lights

[Post-Chorus]
When the music is your special friend
Dance on fire as it intends
Music is your only friend until the end
Until the end, until the end


[Instrumental Break 2:58 - 4:12]
[Verse 1]
Cancel my subscription to the Resurrection
Send my credentials to the House of Detention
I got some friends inside


[Verse 2]
The face in the mirror won't stop
The girl in the window won't drop
A feast of friends, "Alive!" she cried
Waiting for me outside

[Verse 3]
Before I sink into the big sleep
I want to hear, I want to hear
The scream of the butterfly


[Verse 4]
Come back, baby, back into my arm
We're gettin' tired of hangin' around
Waitin' around with our heads to the ground
I hear a very gentle sound
Very near yet, very far
Very soft, yeah, very clear
Come today, come today

[Verse 5]
What have they done to the earth, yeah?
What have they done to our fair sister?
Ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her
Stuck her with knives in the side of the dawn
And tied her with fences and dragged her down
[Verse 6]
I hear a very gentle sound
With your ear down to the ground
We want the world and we want it
We want the world and we want it
Now
Now?
Now!

[Bridge]
Persian night babe
See the light, babe
Save us, Jesus, save us


[Instrumental Break 8:55 - 9:42]

[Chorus]
So when the music's over, when the music's over, yeah
When the music's over
Turn out the lights, turn out the lights
Turn out the lights

[Post-Chorus]
Well, the music is your special friend
Dance on fire as it intends
Music is your only friend until the end
Until the end, until the end

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Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The Doors say about "When the Music's Over"?
Genius Answer

After the 1970 Isle of Wight performance, John Densmore said:

… playing that song was intense. I had to take a deep breath before playing it, because it’s not a little three-minute pop ditty.

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