Hyacinth House
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| “Hyacinth House” | |||||
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| Song by The Doors | |||||
| Album | L.A. Woman | ||||
| Released | April 1971 | ||||
| Recorded | December 1970-January 1971 | ||||
| Genre | Psychedelic rock | ||||
| Length | 3:12 | ||||
| Label | Elektra | ||||
| Writer | Jim Morrison Robby Krieger Ray Manzarek John Densmore |
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| Producer | The Doors Bruce Botnick |
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| L.A. Woman track listing | |||||
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"Hyacinth House" is a 1971 song by The Doors which appears on their final album with frontman Jim Morrison, L.A. Woman. The music was written by Ray Manzarek, while Morrison wrote the dreary and mysterious lyrics while at guitarist Robby Krieger's beach house; though the song's writing credits are additionally credited to Krieger and drummer John Densmore. The lyrics "I see the bathroom is clear / I think that somebody's near / I'm sure that someone is following me" were taken from a conversation while the band was stoned at Krieger's house. They were thinking someone was in the bathroom because they heard noises. Evidently, Krieger's house was littered with hyacinth plants, thus the song title Hyacinth House.
Many fans suspect that one particular line of this song ("And I'll say it again, I need a brand new friend, the end") shows that Morrison had suicidal thoughts and tendencies. Thus, when he died in Paris in 1971, he consciously overdosed on heroin. However, this theory is mere speculation. (The lyrics themselves echo the song "The End": "my only friend, The End.") What is evident is the sadness and maturity within Morrison's voice, further enhanced by the acoustics in the studio bathroom, where he recorded much of the album.
[edit] Inspiration
Hyacinthus was a young love of the Greek god Apollo. According to the myth, Apollo accidentally killed him in a discus throwing contest, and Apollo refused to let the boy go to Hades. So, from his blood, Apollo created the hyacinth, a plant with a fragrant cluster of flowers.
Manzarek's composition references Frédéric Chopin's Polonaise in A-flat major, Op. 53 during the keyboard solo.
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