You cannot petition the Lord..... with PRAYER! (a poet? read on)

Posted by tinear on March 5, 2006 at 05:05:07

In Reply to: I did and still really like The Doors music. Contrary posted by audiogatorjim on March 5, 2006 at 04:27:53:

"When I was back in seminary school, there was a man there who put forth the proposition that you could petition the Lord with prayer, petition the Lord with prayer". From there Morrison works his magical lyrics in to a slow, acoustical guitar background. He then asks the listener if "you could give him sanctuary...a place to hide". Then after a few more questions the beat totally changes and so does the tone of Morrison's voice. He is no longer worried for his safety but is singing about "...peppermint mini skirts...and a girl named Sandy...". Then, just as before the beat totally changes and Morrison's attitude does just as before. This time though he really goes into some heavy lyrics. I personally like this part of the song best, due to his abstractness of reality and his vague lyrics with great resolution. "Catacombs, Nursery bones, Winter women- growing stones, carrying babies to the river, streets and shoes, avenues, letter writers selling news, the monk bought lunch". As you can see here these are astounding lyrics. They have nothing in common but they do sound great together. After this verse is when the real heavy keyboards, drums and guitars kick in. "This is the best part of the trip...this is the trip, the best part...yeah..." Morrison says in such a way you have to believe him. "...Welcome to the Soft Parade...all are lives we sweat and save, buildin' for a shallow grave, must be somthin' else we say, somehow to defend this pace, everything must be this way...". This is an actual theme that just kind of 'pops' out of nowhere. Even though it has nothing to do with anything else Morrison has been sing, it goes with the song perfectly. After this line he goes back to his original style of abstract lyrics. "The Soft Parade has now begun, listen to the engines hum, people out to have some fun, cobra on my left- leopard on my right...". This is another great line by Morrison. It gives us great mental imagery while the lyrics seem to flow together. "...The lights are getting brighter, the radio is moaning, calling to the dogs, there are still a few animals- left out in the yard, and its getting HARDER, to describe...". This is where you get an idea of where the origins of this song are. This clearly depicts a really hard LSD hallucination. It gives the listener at this point an incite into where Morrison is coming from. The next few lines Morrison does in a way that adds to this feeling as well. Morrison sings them in three different ways, with very little difference, and records them track over track. This way it sounds like three Morrisons are singing and all sound different. He also lets his voice change from the center channel stereo to the right, then the left, then back into center channel again. Those who don't have 'quad' on their stereo or 'surround sound' really miss out on this feature. Then, while there is still three Morrisons singing, they all take on their own paths. One continues with the song, one just is way out there going off about something you cannot really understand (but to him it must be important judging by his tone), and then over top of all this comes Morrisons classic 'poet' voice booming and echoing throughout the listeners head. "When all else fails, we can whip the horses eyes, and make them sleep, and cry". Then the song (voices still going) fades out to nothing. Without hearing this song you cannot really understand or comprehend it. As for the name of it (The Soft Parade), I think it has more than one meaning. One meaning is the 'parade' of images Morrison puts out to the listener. Another is the 'parade' of different types of songs within a song. Or maybe it refers to life itself, a sort of 'parade' of all 'parades'. I guess well never truly know, since the writer has gone on. Even though if he was here I don't think he could give us a true definition of this song. He would probably give us some line that would just make it even more confusing.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Of all the supergroups of the 60s/70s why have The Doors continued - tinear 18:56:30 03/03/06 (36)

I like the Doors but ... - OvenBun 13:46:58 03/05/06 (4)

Re: I like the Doors but ... - Todd Krieger 21:48:43 03/05/06 (3)

Exactly! And talent has become undemocratic. - SalD 22:46:42 03/06/06 (2)

Re: Exactly! And talent has become undemocratic. - Todd Krieger 23:21:11 03/06/06 (1)

Re: Yeah, well... - J 13:10:29 03/08/06 (0)

What the fuck? What part of great songs do some here not understand? - tinear 16:02:56 03/04/06 (11)

Hey, I'm with you on this! The Doors Rule! - Raiderman 16:02:25 03/06/06 (0)

I did and still really like The Doors music. Contrary - audiogatorjim 04:27:53 03/05/06 (8)

You cannot petition the Lord..... with PRAYER! (a poet? read on) - tinear 05:05:07 03/05/06 (3)

how old are you 12?, I can't believe you fall for JM schtick,--NT-- - elblanco 11:38:14 03/06/06 (0)

I always liked that line. - PdL 13:41:06 03/05/06 (0)

For me, that was his (their) best work. (nt) - reelsmith. 07:49:40 03/05/06 (0)

Re: I did and still really like The Doors music. Contrary - Mick Jones 04:48:06 03/05/06 (3)

Yes, film classes but I'm no Morrison expert and have - audiogatorjim 07:52:23 03/05/06 (2)

Well, go to Pere Lachaise to see Chopin, Wilde, Hugo, and many other - tinear 14:04:48 03/05/06 (1)

I tell my wife now's not the time to vacation abroad. - audiogatorjim 16:16:49 03/05/06 (0)

"Morrison is the best vocalist rock produced. " - PdL 17:24:32 03/04/06 (0)

Debut rated #21 of all time - Slider 15:11:16 03/04/06 (0)

One Doors opens as another closes - dave c 14:43:53 03/04/06 (0)

I've visited his grave once myself and I reject your premise... - tunenut 12:44:44 03/04/06 (0)

Because their tunes are marginal. - PdL 21:50:59 03/03/06 (6)

Re: Because their tunes are marginal. - J 08:02:02 03/04/06 (5)

They didn't boot him because he WAS the Doors. Duh? (nt) - SalD 23:37:04 03/06/06 (1)

Re: - J 20:47:49 03/07/06 (0)

I'm glad you posted that - David R. in WV 18:17:13 03/04/06 (1)

Music Murdered by Digitization.... - Todd Krieger 22:51:22 03/04/06 (0)

Re: Because their tunes are marginal. - PdL 10:35:43 03/04/06 (0)

Re: If Jim Morrison hadn't died, we'd all be saying "Who are the Doors?" - grinagog 21:08:57 03/03/06 (1)

You are joking aren't you? - Audiophilander 00:07:55 03/04/06 (0)

Re: Because... - J 20:54:38 03/03/06 (1)

Who sounds like the Doors? - OvenBun 08:59:05 03/04/06 (0)

Re: Of all the supergroups of the 60s/70s why have The Doors continued - hairydog 20:30:13 03/03/06 (0)

Re: Of all the supergroups of the 60s/70s why have The Doors continued - halfnote 19:20:04 03/03/06 (3)

Re: Of all the supergroups of the 60s/70s why have The Doors continued - jack70 13:49:28 03/04/06 (0)

Just Ahead of Their Time - Fishstink 06:28:43 03/04/06 (1)

Re: Just Ahead of Their Time - FRG7SWL 07:23:27 03/04/06 (0)

Follow Ups

You cannot petition the Lord..... with PRAYER! (a poet? read on) - tinear 05:05:07 03/05/06 (3)

how old are you 12?, I can't believe you fall for JM schtick,--NT-- - elblanco 11:38:14 03/06/06 (0)

I always liked that line. - PdL 13:41:06 03/05/06 (0)

For me, that was his (their) best work. (nt) - reelsmith. 07:49:40 03/05/06 (0)

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