L'America by The Doors

Album: LA Woman (1971)

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Songfacts®:

The Doors recorded this months before the other songs on LA Woman. It was intended for the movie Zabriskie Point by Italian director Michelangelo Antonioni. He rejected the song so The Doors put it on the album.
Jim Morrison intended the word "L'America" to mean "Latin America."

Comments: 14

Richard Bennett from Federal Way, WashingtonI really like the beat to this song. The band does justice to the lyrics.
William O'connor from Melbourne. AustraliaIt was the first song I ever heard of The Doors. I was 15 in 1971. That voice just blew me away - such a deep, rich, velvety baritone that I could listen to all day. I liked the whole album. Then I bought Doors 13 and thought that voice in "You're Lost Little Girl" was the voice of God.
Oldpink from New Castle, InFascinating to hear that this was yet another of many songs rejected by Antonioni for "Zabriskie Point."
He was apparently incredibly idiosyncratic when it came to selecting his soundtrack, as Pink Floyd originally was going to do all of it, but he instead only selected three from them, then had an oddball hodgepodge of songs from the likes of Jerry Garcia, John Fahey, and (believe it or not) Patty Paige.
Thankfully, all of the rejected Floyd material is available through "unofficial" sources, and it is all quite good.
Adrian from Gettysburg, PaWell that explains why Jim's voice sounds different on this song from the rest of the songs on L.A. Woman. By the time they recorded that, he'd taken up a three-packs-a-day smoking habit which affected his voice.
G from Potomac, MdAntonioni also rejected several songs by Pink Floyd for Zabriskie Point which were released much later
Jørund from Sifofjff, NorwayAllthough I've never done drugs, I feel this song musically describes a drug trip gone terribly insane, a "bad trip".
Dave from Liverpool, United KingdomThe song was copied blatantly by the Stranglers, with their waxing "Sverige"

It is all grist to the mill to those who say that their biggest influence was the Doors
Tristan from Philadelphia, PaThis may be my favorite song, Ray's keyboard stylings on this blows my mind everytime I hear it. The sound is distant and haunting, but with an upbringing session in there "When the strangers came to town, all the people put them down.." Brilliance.
Nadine from Riverside, CaCatchy song...wonder why Antonioni rejected it??
Tom from St Catharines, CanadaJim drops a phantom F-bomb in this song... listen to the line, "...Change your weather, change your LUCK, and then he'll teach you how to FFFind yourself..."

Always finding a way to beat the censors, that was Jim.
Sean from Colorado Springs, CoThe Doors had some of the finest ever mastery of musical timing in their music... this song is a fantastic example.
Addison from Versailles, KyC'mon people don't ya look so down.
Barry from New York, NcContains some of my favorite Doors lyrics..."He'll change your weather, he'll change your luck, then he'll teach you how to..... Find yourself!!
Bill from Irvine, CaThere is a note at the beginning of the song that is identical to the warning tone of 1988 Nissan Maxima. (This caused me a lot of confusion at the time...)

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More Songfacts:

Don't Let The Sun Go Down On MeElton John

Recording "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me," Elton John was frustrated and sang the line "don't discard me" with an exaggerated American accent, which is why is sounds strange.