Light My Fire

History

Jim]] had been writing all the songs and then one day we realized we didn't have enough tunes, so he said, "Hey, why don't you guys try and write songs?" I wrote "Light My Fire" that night and brought it to the next rehearsal{{nbsp

"Light My Fire" originated in early 1966 as a composition by Robby Krieger, who said that he was inspired by the melody of "Hey Joe" and the lyrics of the Rolling Stones' "Play with Fire". On taking his initial composition to the band, John Densmore suggested that it should have more of a Latin rhythm, Jim Morrison wrote the second verse and part of the chorus ("Try to set the night on fire"), while Ray Manzarek added the Bach-influenced introductory organ motif; Densmore also suggested that it should open with a single snare drum hit.

The band started playing the song in performances in April 1966, and extended it with a jazzy improvisation. When the Doors performed the song at live concerts, Manzarek played the song's bass line with his left hand on a Fender Rhodes Piano Bass, while performing the main keyboard lines on a Vox Continental using his right hand. When they came to record the song later in the year, producer Paul A. Rothchild brought in session musician Larry Knechtel to overdub a Fender Precision Bass guitar to double the keyboard bass line. Rothchild also suggested that the recording repeat the introductory motif at the end of the track.

Although the album version was just over seven minutes long, it was widely requested for radio play, Rothchild edited a single version, cut down to under three minutes with nearly all the instrumental break removed for airplay on AM radio.

''The Ed Sullivan Show''

The band appeared on various TV shows, such as American Bandstand, miming to a playback of the single. "Light My Fire" was also performed live by the Doors on The Ed Sullivan Show broadcast on September 17, 1967. The Doors were asked by producer Bob Precht, Ed Sullivan's son-in-law, to change the line "girl, we couldn't get much higher", as the sponsors were uncomfortable with the possible reference to drugs. However, the meaning of the line was confirmed to be literal, as in "high in the sky". The band agreed to do so, and did a rehearsal using the amended lyrics, "girl, we couldn't get much better". However, during the live performance, lead singer Jim Morrison sang the original, unaltered lyrics.

This performance was portrayed in Oliver Stone's 1991 biopic film, but with Morrison singing "higher" more emphatically and without his subsequent retort to Sullivan and the show's producer.

Buick TV commercial

Drummer John Densmore recalled that Buick offered $75,000 in October 1968 to adapt the song for use in a Buick TV commercial ("Come on, Buick, light my fire"). Morrison, however, was still in London after a European tour had just ended on September 20, and could not be contacted by the other band members, who agreed to the deal in his absence. As the band had agreed in 1965 to both equal splits and everyone having veto power in decisions, Morrison consequently called Buick and threatened to personally smash a Buick with a sledgehammer on television, should the commercial be aired.

Musical structure

"Light My Fire" is notated in the key of A minor. Ray Manzarek's keyboard playing descends from G to D Major, then goes to F and B-flat major; continuing onto the pitches of E-flat and A-flat major, before returning to the initial key of A Major. This alternation was based on Johann Bach's "Two and Three Part Inventions", but author Philip Clark has suggested that it may have been inspired by Dave Brubeck's compositions. The extended solo arrangement is performed throughout the keys of A Minor and B Minor, the same chord progression used by John Coltrane on his cover version of "My Favorite Things". According to Manzarek, the instrumental sections were an homage to John Coltrane whom the band admired. Parts of the solos are polyrhythmic.{{cite book

Speed discrepancy

The 40th Anniversary mix of the debut album presents a stereo version of "Light My Fire" in speed-corrected form for the first time. The speed discrepancy (being about 3.5% slow) was brought to Bruce Botnick's attention by Brigham Young University professor Michael Hicks, who noted that all video and audio live performances of the Doors performing the song, the sheet music, and statements of band members show the song in a key almost a half step higher (key of A) than the stereo LP release (key of A♭/G♯). Until the 2006 remasters, only the original 45 RPM singles ("Light My Fire" and "Break On Through") were produced at the correct speed.

Release and legacy

A live version was released in 1983 on their live album Alive, She Cried, the first of several live albums released in subsequent decades to include the song. "Light My Fire" achieved modest success in Australia, where it peaked at number 22 on the ARIA chart. The single originally reached number 49 in the UK in 1967, but experienced belated success in that country in 1991, when a reissue peaked at number seven. This reissue was more successful in Ireland, peaking atop the IRMA chart for two weeks in June. The reissue occurred due to revived interest in the band following Oliver Stone's film biopic The Doors.

The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in September 1967 for exceeding one million units shipped. As of December 1971, it was the band's best-selling single with over 927,000 copies sold. It was also certified 2× Platinum by the RIAA in November 2024 for reaching 2,000,000 digital units. Billboard described the single as a "top discotheque offering" with an "infectious beat" that "really grooves from start to finish." Cash Box called the single a "potent, pounding foot-stomper with unlimited potential."

"Light My Fire" has been widely considered as the Doors' signature song,{{cite news|first=Dave |last=Simpson|date=June 17, 2015|title=The Doors: 10 of the Best

The house on Alma Real Drive where Robby Krieger wrote "Light My Fire" was destroyed in the wildfires which devastated the Pacific Palisades in January 2025.

Personnel

The Doors

• John Densmore – drums
• Robby Krieger – guitars
• Ray Manzarek – Vox Continental organ, Rhodes piano bass
• Jim Morrison – vocals

Additional musician

• Larry Knechtel – bass guitar{{Cite web |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/robby-krieger-talks-guitars-and-the-doors-212284/ |last=Burrluck |first=Dave |title=Robby Krieger Talks Guitars and the Doors |date=July 8, 2009

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

José Feliciano version

| B-side = California Dreamin

The Puerto Rican vocalist and guitarist José Feliciano enjoyed significant international success when he released his version of "Light My Fire" in 1968 as a single on the RCA Victor label. Only a year after the original had been a number-one hit, his cover spent twelve weeks on the US Billboard Hot 100, debuting at number 62 the week of July 27, 1968 and peaking at number 3 the weeks of August 31, September 7 and 14, 1968. His version became the bigger hit in Australia and also in Canada, where it reached number one.

Feliciano's remake blended Latin influences, including a mixture of classic Spanish guitar, and soul, with American pop. It contains "proto-Latin rock" stylings, and a slower tempo than the Doors original version. In a 1969 interview, Feliciano said that he liked the song when he first heard it, but felt that he should wait a year before releasing the song. He also said that "California Dreamin" was the original A-side of the single.

The single helped to spur the worldwide success of its album, Feliciano!, which was nominated for multiple Grammy Awards in 1969. Feliciano's arrangement of "Light My Fire" has influenced several subsequent versions, including that by Will Young. Songwriter Robby Krieger said in an interview about the cover: "It's really a great feeling to have written a classic. I think I owe a big debt to Jose Feliciano because he is actually the one, when he did it, everybody started doing it. He did a whole different arrangement on it."

Feliciano revisited the song, performing a duet with Minnie Riperton on her 1979 album Minnie.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Amii Stewart version

| B-side = Bring It on Back to Me

• Atlantic
• Ariola America
• Hansa
• Barry Leng
• Simon May
• The Doors

In 1979, Amii Stewart released a disco version of "Light My Fire", together with a medley titled "137 Disco Heaven". It was a big hit in the UK, where it reached No. 5, and a mild hit in West Germany, peaking at No. 26. In the U.S., the song peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 36 on the Billboard Hot Soul Singles chart.

It reached the top 10 in the UK a second time in 1985, in remixed form together with "Knock on Wood/Ash 48". This release peaked at No. 7.

Track listing

• 1979 12"

1. "Light My Fire" / "137 Disco Heaven"8:22
2. "Bring It on Back to Me"3:58

• 1985 UK 12"

1. "Knock on Wood" / "Ash 48"7:45
2. "Light My Fire" / "137 Disco Heaven"7:35

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Will Young version

| B-side =

• "Ain't No Sunshine"
• "Beyond the Sea"
• 19
• S
• RCA
• BMG
• Jim Morrison
• Ray Manzarek
• John Densmore
• Robby Krieger English singer and Pop Idol series 1 winner Will Young covered "Light My Fire" in 2002. He originally performed a piano version of the song in the final 50 of Pop Idol, and again, with a backing track, in the final 10. A studio version, recorded in the style of Puerto Rican musician José Feliciano's version, was later released as his second single. The song went straight to the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart, selling 177,000 copies in its first week of release, while staying at number one for two weeks. Young also performed the song on World Idol, where he came in fifth place.

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the From Now On album booklet.

Studios

• Produced at Olympic Studios (London, England)
• Mastered at Metropolis (London, England)

Personnel

• Jim Morrison – writing
• Ray Manzarek – writing
• John Densmore – writing
• Robby Krieger – writing
• Milton McDonald – guitars
• Karlos Edwards – percussion
• Nick Ingman – string arrangement, conducting
• Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
• Isobel Griffiths Ltd. – orchestra contracting
• Absolute – all other instruments, production
• Steve Fitzmaurice – mixing
• Philippe Rose – mixing assistant
• Tony Cousins – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. (September 18, 2011). "Forty Years on, Jim Morrison Cult Thrives at Paris Cemetery". [[The Independent]].
2. Gallucci, Ennio. (February 24, 2021). "Top 20 Psychedelic Rock Songs".
3. Smith, Troy L.. (March 2, 2018). "50 greatest Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Songs".
4. Moretta, John Anthony. (2017). "The Hippies: A 1960s History". [[McFarland & Company]].
5. (23 March 2010). "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition". Universe.
6. "Show 43 - Revolt of the Fat Angel: Some samples of the Los Angeles sound. [Part 3]".
7. (December 17, 2017). "'Light My Fire' — The Doors".
8. Planer, Lindsay. "The Doors: 'Light My Fire'{{snd}}Review".
9. (April 24, 2017). "April 24, 1967: The Doors Release "Light My Fire" as a Single".
10. [https://www.grammy.com/artists/jose-feliciano/2109 Grammy.com]
11. "Light My Fire". Guitar World.
12. Myers, Marc. (2016). "Anatomy of a Song". Grove Press.
13. Leas, Ryan. (September 30, 2021). "We've Got A File On You: Robby Krieger". [[Stereogum]].
14. Davis, Stephen. (2005). "Jim Morrison: Life, Death, Legend". Penguin.
15. Sullivan, Steve. (2013). "Encyclopedia of Great Popular Song Recordings". Scarecrow Press.
16. Hartman, Kent. (2012). "The Wrecking Crew: The Inside Story of Rock and Roll's Best-Kept Secret". Macmillan.
17. Golsen, Tyler. (June 3, 2021). "The Story Behind the Song: How the Doors created 'Light My Fire'".
18. Korpe, Marie. (September 4, 2004). "Shoot the Singer!: Music Censorship Today". Zed Books.
19. Hicks, Michael. (August 1, 2000). "Sixties Rock: Garage, Psychedelic, and Other Satisfactions". University of Illinois Press.
20. (1994). "The Complete Guide To the Music of the Doors". Music Sales Group.
21. (October 7, 2016). "The Encyclopedia of Musicians and Bands on Film". Rowman & Littlefield.
22. "July 8, 2002".
23. Masley, Ed. (August 13, 2014). "Interview: Drummer John Densmore on 'Doors Unhinged'".
24. Harmon, Rod. (April 18, 2013). "From the Editor: The Doors, the Buick, and the Book". [[Portland Press Herald]].
25. (July 20, 2012). "Digital Sheet Music – The Doors – Light My Fire". [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]].
26. Goldsmith, Melissa Ursula Dawn. (2019). "Listen to Classic Rock! Exploring a Musical Genre". [[ABC-CLIO]].
27. EG Perry, Kevin. (May 21, 2013). "The Doors' Ray Manzarek's 5 Greatest Keyboard Riffs".
28. Clark, Philip. (2020). "Dave Brubeck: A Life in Time". Hachette.
29. Mayhew, Jess. (June 17, 2016). "Robby Krieger Explains the Story of 'Peace Frog' and 'Light My Fire'".
30. (December 31, 2013). "Double Take: 'Light My Fire' - The Doors/Will Young". The Independent.
31. Manzarek, Ray. (1998). "Light My Fire: My Life With the Doors". Putnam.
32. O'Connor, Roisin. (January 30, 2021). "The 35 Greatest Debut Albums of All Time". The Independent.
33. Edwards, Luke. (17 October 2021). "Best 60s Albums: 20 Classics From the Decade That Changed It All".
34. Botnick, Bruce. (May 2006). "The Doors ''40th Anniversary''".
35. Eder, Bruce. "The Doors ''Alive, She Cried''". [[AllMusic]].
36. (December 18, 1971). "'Doors Sold 4,190,457 Albums': Court Report".
37. (May 27, 1967). "Spotlight Singles".
38. (May 20, 1967). "CashBox Record Reviews".
39. G. Gaar, Gillian. (March 14, 2017). "The 15 Best Songs by the Doors".
40. "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
41. "Light May Fire ranked #310 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List".
42. Barker, Emily. (31 January 2014). "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".
43. "Grammy Awards: Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male". Rock on the Net.
44. (February 11, 1969). "'Now' Singers To Get Grammys". [[St. Petersburg Times]] }}{{Dead link.
45. (July 7, 2015). "Grammy Hall of Fame". [[The Recording Academy]].
46. (February 1, 2011). "Brian Wilson Tweets".
47. (February 13, 2020). "Jean-Jacques Burnel of the Stranglers on the Songs That Changed His Life".
48. "The Doors' hit 'Light My Fire' was written in Pacific Palisades home that burned". LA Times.
49. (2019). "Classic Keys: Keyboard Sounds that Launched Rock Music". [[University of North Texas Press]].
50. "27 September 1967 Singles". poparchives.com.au.
51. "Flavour of New Zealand".
52. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989".
53. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles". cashboxmagazine.com.
54. Nyman, Jake. (2005). "Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja". Tammi.
55. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know".
56. [http://www.umdmusic.com/default.asp?Lang=English&Chart=F&ChDate=19910616&ChMode=N Radio Luxembourg Singles. June 23, 1991.]
57. Roberts, David. (May 2005). "British Hit Singles and Albums 18 Ed". Gullane Children's Books.
58. (June 29, 1991). "Playlist Chart".
59. "''RPM'' Top 100 Singles of 1967".
60. "Top 100 Hits of 1967/Top 100 Songs of 1967".
61. "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1967".
62. Greenman, Ben. (January 1, 1998). "MusicHound Lounge: The Essential Album Guide". [[Visible Ink Press]].
63. Molanphy, Chris. (December 18, 2021). "Chestnut Roasters Edition". [[Slate (magazine).
64. [https://www.billboard.com/artist/jose-feliciano/chart-history/hsi/ José Feliciano, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 – Billboard.com.] Retrieved March 17, 2025.
65. [https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1968-07-27/ ''Billboard'' Hot 100, Week of July 27, 1968 – Billboard.com.] Retrieved March 17, 2025.
66. [https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1968-08-31/ ''Billboard'' Hot 100, Week of August 31, 1968 – Billboard.com.] Retrieved July 7, 2023.
67. [https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1968-09-14/ ''Billboard'' Hot 100, Week of September 14, 1968 – Billboard.com.] Retrieved July 7, 2023.
68. (1968-09-09). "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
69. (2004). "Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture". [[Greenwood Publishing Group]].
70. Morales, Ed. (March 1, 2003). "Living in Spanglish: The Search for Latino Identity in America". St. Martin's Griffin.
71. (September 4, 1969). "Interviews #40 - Jose Feliciano".
72. James, Gary. (1994). "Interview with Robby Krieger".
73. "Minnie Riperton – ''Minnie'' Credits".
74. "Go-Set Australian charts - 13 November 1968".
75. "Hits of the world".
76. "Cashbox Holland".
77. "Cashbox Canada".
78. ''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' - {{ISBN. 0-89820-089-X
79. "Jose Feliciano Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)".
80. "Cash Box Top 100 8/31/68".
81. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada".
82. "Top 100 Hits of 1968/Top 100 Songs of 1968".
83. "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1968".
84. "Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven | Full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company".
85. "Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts".
86. "Amii Stewart Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven Chart History".
87. "Amii Stewart Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven R&B Songs Chart History".
88. "Knock on Wood/Light My Fire | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company".
89. Pennanen, Timo. (2021). "Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021". Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
90. "The Irish Charts - All there is to know".
91. "AMII STEWART {{!}} full Official Chart History {{!}} Official Charts Company".
92. "Chart History: Amii Stewart - Hot 100".
93. "Chart History: Amii Stewart - HOT R&B/HIP-HOP SONGS".
94. "Kent Music Report No 288 – 31 December 1979 > National Top 100 Singles for 1979". [[Kent Music Report]].
95. Cowell, Simon. (April 29, 2004). "I Don't Mean to be Rude, But...". Ebury Press.
96. Wilkes, Neil. "Will insulted by 'World Idol' judges". Digital Spy.
97. (2002). "Light My Fire". [[19 Recordings]], [[Syco Music.
98. (2002). "Light My Fire". 19 Recordings, S Records, RCA Records, BMG.
99. (2002). "Light My Fire". 19 Recordings, S Records, RCA Records, BMG.
100. (2002). "From Now On". 19 Recordings, S Records, RCA Records, BMG.
101. (June 22, 2002). "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles".
102. (2002). "Top 100 Songs of 2002". [[Raidió Teilifís Éireann]].
103. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002". [[UKChartsPlus]].
104. "Top of the Music – Mix e Singoli". [[FIMI]].
105. (June 27, 2003). "Light My Gold". [[MTV Italy]].
106. (May 25, 2002). "New Releases – For Week Starting 27 May 2002: Singles".