Tell All The People by The Doors

Album: The Soft Parade (1969)

Charted: 57

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Songfacts®:

Doors guitarist Robby Krieger wrote this, as well as most of the songs on The Soft Parade. He thought it was perfect for Jim Morrison to sing, but Morrison did not want to be associated with this song was because of the negative imagery in the lyrics. "Tell all the people get your guns...," was the phrase that made Jim Morrison hate this song. Krieger was referring to an event where certain rednecks violently beat him and Doors drummer John Densmore. This also explains why you see them on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour with black eyes playing "Touch Me." >>>
Suggestion credit:
Greg - Cincinnati, OH
This song prompted Morrison to insist on individual writing credits so people could identify which band member wrote which songs. He did not want anyone to think he wrote this.
"Tell All The People" was released as a single but didn't make it far up the chart, stalling at #57.

Comments: 11

Scott from NormanLyrics are about the Bible... The exodus from Egypt led by Moses.
Memphis from AustinSounds like Frank Sinatra to me. The big band sound, oh yeah, Jim had a great voice. "Follow me' it's just me... great!!
Marie from Durham, United KingdomThe fire extinguisher incident happened while recording The Doors first album 'The Doors'. It was actually while trying to record The End, Jim got smashed on acid, hurled a tv, was escorted from the building only to sneak back in when it was closed, stripped naked and went nuts with the extinguisher.
Chloe from St. Louis, Mohuh, you're right, wayne....kind of sgt. peppery, isnt it? hmm....yeah, i can tell jim didnt write it. the lyrics dont sound like his.
Wayne from Las Vegas, NvThe begining of the song sounds like the Beatles. Kind of.
Paul from Long Island, NyThe best doors song; sounds very much like Elvis. I am an Elvis fan but that is not to take anything away from Morrison. He was CLEARLY his own person.
Luke from Scranton, PaI believe the event you're referring to was actually an acid trip gone terribly wrong. If I remember correctly, it happened much earlier than the Soft Parade sessions. See Ray Manzarek's "Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors."
The Last Dj from Hell.a., CaAlmost everything these guys put out was great. The Soft Parade album was viewed as the "sell out" album but from it came some pretty great tunes like Shaman's Blues. It's no secret Morrison hated this particular song we're discussing. Rumor has it after the recording session was done he snuck back into the studio & sprayed the entire place down with a fire extinguisher as if to desecrate and erase what went on in there.
Chris from Sunnyvale, CaThis is a great song. One of my favorite Doors songs. It has a Burt Bacharach type of sound which is different for the Doors, but still an excellent song.
Jim from Qinhuangdao, Chinagotta lose the damn horns and it'd be a lot better
Brandon from Saskatoon, Canadacatchy song

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