The Doors: When The Music's Over Meaning

When The Music's Over Lyrics

Yeah, c'mon

When the music's over
When the music's over, yeah
When the music's over
Turn out the lights
Turn out the lights
Turn out the lights, yeah

When the music's over
When the music's over
When the music's over
Turn out the...

1. AntonLee

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   Dec 24th 2023 !⃝

   One of the very first rock songs to express concern about the environment, When the Music's Over is Jim Morrison's apocalyptic vision of the end of the earth caused by mankind's selfish abuse of natural resources.
   The line "when the music's over" refers to the end of humanity if not all life on earth. Music defines us as humans -- it allows us to dance on the fire of life's tribulations. It is our special friend but it will die along with the earth we are destroying.
   Without our world, there will be no resurrection. We may as well go to hell -- the house of detention -- where we have friends who also have opposed our self-destructive actions.
   But it's not just others who are to blame. It's me, too -- the face in the mirror, the girl in the window. We are being eaten alive by our greed (a feast of friends, alive, she cried), and sooner or later it will consume us all.
   But before nature's demise, the song's persona wants to hear the last sound -- the scream of the butterfly.
   We wish nature could survive, could "come back," and we get angry while waiting for the end. We hope to hear that last sound, that "very gentle sound."
   And this is all caused by man, who has ravaged and plundered the earth. With our ear down to the ground we can hear the earth's final cry -- and if that be so, then the younger generation wants to experience the world before it ends -- now!
   The magi followed the north star through the Persian nights -- they saw the light. Maybe there is hope for the world. Save us, Jesus, save us!
   But no, we can't be saved from our own evil. The music will be over and the light of life will be extinguished. Until then, let us sing, let us dance, even on fire, let us be with our only friend, music, until the end, until the end.
   
   
2. anonymous

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   Jun 27th 2017 !⃝

   When our reign on this Earth is over. When we have "ravaged and plundered and ripped her and bit her" for too long, our shining lights will go out. It will be over. "Turn out the light."
   "The face in the mirror won't stop" - we are all a part of it, we are all responsible. "The girl in the window won't drop" - the face of consumerism. The enabler; the feast for the friends. Yet she is real. She is human - not just a cog in the wheel. "Alive! She cried".
   
   Maybe it's difficult to imagine Jim Morrison in the 60's having these kinds of progressive thoughts, but just look at other songs like "Ship of Fools" from Morrison Hotel, and certain interviews, and it will become clear that he was very environmentally conscious.
   
   This is what this song means to me.
3. anonymous

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   Jun 17th 2015 !⃝

   The songs gives Jim Morrisons brilliant interpretation of the day when Rock Music dies. "The screams of the butterfly" referring to a new music that will come when it's over. It's been stated this song predicts the birth of grunge music - which ultimately led to the death of Rock.
4. christopher.gaebe

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   Jan 21st 2015 !⃝

   Another misconceived song with very dark lyrics. "When the musics over, turn out the lights." In other words you have no real friends on this earth but when music" your only friend till the end" no longer does it for you, "turn out the lights".

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