End of the Night

"End of the Night" is a song by the American psychedelic rock band the Doors. It was featured on the band's debut album and then released as the B-side to the album's first single, "Break On Through (To the Other Side)".

"End of the Night"
Single by the Doors
from the album The Doors
A-side"Break On Through (To the Other Side)"
ReleasedJanuary 1967 (1967-01)
RecordedAugust 1966 (1966-08)
StudioSunset Sound Recorders Hollywood, California
GenreRock
Length2:49[1]
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)The Doors[1]
Producer(s)Paul A. Rothchild
The Doors singles chronology
"End of the Night"
(1967)		 "Light My Fire"
(1967)

Composition and recording

The song was written in the band's early days, when they were still playing in nightclubs. In 1965, the band recorded a demo in an attempt to land a deal with Aura Records; the band failed to get signed. In 1966, when they landed a deal with Elektra Records, the song was recorded for their self-titled debut album.[2] The song is notated in the key of E minor with Jim Morrison's vocal range spanning from D4 to G5.[3]

Lyrics

Its title is derived from the 1932 French novel Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine. Three lines of the William Blake poem Auguries of Innocence, written in 1803 and published in 1863 were included in the lyrics.[4]

Release and charts

The song was chosen as the B-side to the album's first single, "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" and was released in January 1967. The single, however, failed to become a success and only peaked at number 126 in the U.S.[5] After the band's rise to fame the song was rarely played live in concert; it has since been included in box sets released over the years by the band.

References
  1. The Doors (Album notes). The Doors. New York City: Elektra Records. 1967. Back cover. ELK-4007.CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. Swanson, Dave (September 2, 2015). "The Day the Doors Recorded Their First Demo, But Under a Different Name". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  3. "Digital Sheet Music – The Doors – End of the Night". Musicnotes.com. Sony/ATV Music Publishing. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  4. Densmore, John (1990). Riders on the Storm: My Life with Jim Morrison and the Doors. Random House Publishing Group. ISBN 9780307429025.
  5. Whitburn, Joel. Bubbling Under Singles & Albums (1998): 66.
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