Been Down So Long

"Been Down So Long" is a song by the American rock band the Doors. It appears as the third song on L.A. Woman, the last studio album that lead singer Jim Morrison recorded with the group. It has been called, notably by critic Robert Christgau, as a "take-off" on the album.[3]

"Been Down So Long"
Song by the Doors
from the album L.A. Woman
ReleasedApril 19, 1971 (1971-04-19)
RecordedDecember 1970 – January 1971
StudioThe Doors Workshop, Los Angeles
GenreBlues[1]
Length4:40[2]
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)The Doors
Producer(s)

A live version recorded on May 8, 1970, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, appears on the 2000 compilation album The Bright Midnight Sampler.[4]

Background

The song was recorded at the Doors Workshop between December 1970 and January 1971. The lyrics were written by frontman Jim Morrison,[5] though the performance rights organization ASCAP, along with the actual album liner notes, has given the songwriting credit to all members of the group.[2][6]

[Morrison] took the title of a Richard Farina novel. It's another retrospectively prophetic song. He was tired and worn out. He needed to be in a quieter, calmer place.[7]

– Ray Manzarek assaying the song's lyrics

Morrison's lyrics draws upon themes of depression, liberation, and sexuality, referring to his imprisonments during live performances.[8] The title makes reference to Richard Fariña's book Been Down So Long It Looks Like Up to Me,[9][10] and was influenced by the lyrics of Furry Lewis's 1928 song, "I Will Turn Your Money Green": "I been down so long/It seem like up to me."[5] It is also considered to be Morrison at his most "mock tough".[11]

Session musician Jerry Scheff contributed on bass guitar, while the rhythm guitars were played by Marc Benno and keyboardist Ray Manzarek.[12][13] Musically, "Been Down So Long" is a conventional blues song,[1][14] with rambunctious aggression, and having the "old Doors, slow blues" style.[11] It features a distinct slide guitar by Robby Krieger,[12] a rough sound, and a stomping beat.[15][16]

Critical response

In his music reference book Rock Albums of the '70s: A Critical Guide, published in 1981, Robert Christgau considered L.A. Woman to be the Doors' greatest effort; however, in the same review he also deemed "Been Down So Long" along with "L'America" as one of the few "disappointing" tracks of the album.[3] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone rating L.A. Woman with four-and-a-half stars out five, he characterized the song as a "garage-style classic".[17] In response to an L.A. Weekly interview, Elektra Records president Jac Holzman said about Jim Morrison's bluesy interpretation:

Jim always thought he was the world's best blues singer. He'd see somebody up on the stage and say, "You can't sing the blues worth shit," and nearly get into a fight with them. He was generally drunk by then. Jim had a preponderance of wonderful qualities, a great gentleness.[7]

Personnel

According to L.A. Woman CD booklet:[2]

The Doors

Additional musicians

References
  1. Perone 2019, p. 21.
  2. Botnick, Bruce (2007). L.A. Woman (40th Anniversary edition CD booklet). The Doors. Rhino Records. R2-101155.
  3. Christgau 1990, p. 114.
  4. Planer, Lindsay. "The Bright Midnight Sampler – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
  5. Perone 2012, p. 337.
  6. "ACE Repertory: Been Down So Long (Work ID:41943490)". ASCAP. Retrieved August 13, 2020.
  7. Weiss, Jeff (January 19, 2012). "L.A. Woman: Track List". LA Weekly. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  8. Fowlie 1993, p. 90.
  9. Allen, Jim (April 19, 2016). "The Story Behind the Songs of the Doors' Last Hurrah, L.A. Woman". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  10. Weidman 2011, p. 187.
  11. Riordan 1991, p. 430.
  12. Paul, Alan. "The Doors' Robby Krieger Sheds Light — Album by Album". Guitar World. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  13. Bowling 2013, p. 275.
  14. Pichaske 1969, p. 83.
  15. Tobler & Doe 1984, p. 88.
  16. Kitts & Tolinski 2002, p. 92.
  17. Hermes, Will (February 2, 2012). "L.A Woman (40th Anniversary Edition) – The Doors". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 11, 2021.

Sources
  • Bowling, David (2013). Eric Clapton FAQ: All That's Left to Know About Slowhand. Montclair, NJ: Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1617134548.
  • Christgau, Robert (1981). "A Critical Guide: D". Rock Albums of the '70s. Da Capo Paperback. ISBN 978-0306804090.
  • Tobler, John; Doe, Andrew (1984). The Doors. ISBN 978-0862760694.
  • Fowlie, Wallace (1993). Rimbaud and Jim Morrison: The Rebel as Poet. ISBN 0822314452.
  • Kitts, Jeff; Tolinski, Brad (2002). Guitar World Presents One Hundred Greatest Guitarists of All Time. ISBN 978-0634046193.
  • Perone, James (2019). "Blues Rock". Listen to the Blues! Exploring a Musical Genre. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-1440866142.
  • Perone, James (2012). The Album: A Guide to Pop Music's Most Provocative, Influential, and Important Creations. Praeger. ISBN 978-0-3133-7906-2.
  • Pichaske, David R. (1969). The Poetry of Rock: The Golden Years.
  • Riordan, James (1991). Break on Through: The Life and Death of Jim Morrison. First Harper. ISBN 978-0688119157.
  • Weidman, Rich (2011). The Doors FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Kings of Acid Rock. Backbeat Books. ISBN 978-1-61713-017-5.
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