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Unknown Soldier
The Doors Lyrics


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Wait until the war is over
And we're both a little older
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Unborn living, living, dead
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And it's all over
For the unknown soldier
It's all over
For the unknown soldier, hut

Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier

Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Bullet strikes the helmet's head

And, it's all over
The war is over
It's all over
The war is over
Well, all over, baby
All over, baby
Oh, over, yeah
All over, baby
Wooooo, hah-hah
All over
All over, baby
Oh, woa-yeah
All over
All over
Hey!

Overall Meaning

The Doors' song "The Unknown Soldier" was written in response to the Vietnam War and serves as a commentary on the senseless violence and loss of life that characterized the conflict. The first verse begins with the singer urging listeners to wait until the war is over before taking action. The next few lines hint at the ways in which war affects society as a whole, from the news people read during breakfast to the impact on unborn children. The final lines of the verse describe the sudden death of a soldier, whose helmet is struck by a bullet. The chorus repeats the phrase "It's all over for the unknown soldier", emphasizing the futility of war and the anonymity of those who are lost in battle.


The second verse calls for listeners to "make a grave for the unknown soldier," a somber reminder that for many who were killed in Vietnam, there was no proper burial or recognition of their sacrifice. The repetition of the lines "Breakfast where the news is read" and "Television children fed" highlights the way in which war has become normalized in the media and in society more broadly. The final lines of the song repeat the refrain of "It's all over", underscoring the message that war brings only devastation and loss.


Line by Line Meaning

Wait until the war is over
Hold off taking action until the conflicts have passed


And we're both a little older
Let's be more mature and patient about how we approach conflicts


The unknown soldier
Memory of the soldiers who were unknown but have fought for the country


Breakfast where the news is read
News of battles and conflicts are heard over the typical breakfast meals


Television children fed
Young children are exposed to images of war and violence through the media


Unborn living, living dead
The effects of war can be felt from generations before us to the present day


Bullet strikes the helmet's head
The devastating impact of war and how one can easily lose their life


And it's all over
The war has come to an end


For the unknown soldier
The end of the war doesn't bring all the warriors back home and still leaves many losses unknown


Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Even if we don't know their identity, the soldiers who fought in the war deserve a burial place


Nestled in your hollow shoulder
Embrace the memory of the unknown soldier and place them in your heart and soul


And, it's all over
The fighting has ceased


The war is over
The armed conflict has come to an end


Well, all over, baby
It's finished, my friend


Oh, over, yeah
The war is finally concluded


Wooooo, hah-hah
An expression of relief now that the war is finished


All over
The end has come


All over, baby
The long battle has come to a close


Oh, woa-yeah
Relief that the war is over


All over
The end has come


All over
The chapter of war is completed


Hey!
A jolt of energy and excitement that the war is now over




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Jim Morrison, John Paul Densmore, Raymond D Manzarek, Robert A Krieger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@zanecraig962

Wait until the war is over
And we're both a little older
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Unborn living, living, dead
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And it's all over
For the unknown soldier
It's all over
For the unknown soldier, hut

Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier

Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Bullet strikes the helmet's head

And, it's all over
The war is over
It's all over
The war is over
Well, all over, baby
All over, baby
Oh, over, yeah
All over, baby
Wooooo, hah-hah
All over
All over, baby
Oh, woa-yeah
All over
All over
Hey!



@davedevir8

[Intro]
Wait until the war is over
And we're both a little older
The unknown soldier
[Chorus]
Breakfast where the news is read
Television, children fed
Unborn living, living dead
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
[Verse 1]
And it's all over for the unknown soldier
It's all over for the unknown soldier, uh uh
March!
Company, halt!
Present arms!
Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier
[Chorus]
Breakfast where the news is read
Television, children fed

Bullet strikes the helmet's head
[Bridge]
And it's all over
The war is over
It's all over
War is over
[Outro]
It's all over, baby!
All over, baby!
Oh all right, yeah!
All over, yeah ha ha!
All over!
All over, baby!
Oh, oh yeah!
All over
All over
Yeah



All comments from YouTube:

@xg3400

During the Vietnam war era, you can see why this song was banned by major radio/media outlets. Brilliant interpretation.

@PhilFeedback

I’m a Veteran and this is definitely my favorite Doors song!!!! ❤

@mattsweeny3957

Me too. Jim would make a great Drill Instructor with that crisp cadence. Must have inherited that from his dad. Youngest Rear Admiral in the history of the. US Navy. Jim's Middle name was Douglas, for the Great 5 Star General of The Army, Douglas Mac Arthur

@evealkazar

Mine too since I was a little girl and by then I didn't even speak English yet, but my oldest siblings and my parents used to listen a lot of music around the world but specially from United States and here in Mexico City the radio stations were packed with that kind of music. I was born in July,1970 just one year before he passed away 😢

@mattsweeny3957

Jom got me thru my fathers death at age 13...very dear to me a shooting strike Johnny bD Co

@juliereminiec4937

5 to 1 is one of my favorite Doors songs
would that song be about the Vietnam war as well ?

@joe1972

The Doors gave us everything in a five year period. Those six albums are all I could ask for, each one excellent in their own way.

@mattsweeny3957

Yes...they were super prolific. Matt

@dariussparkes7080

5 years... absolutely crazy how much they achieved in such a short window relative to other bands that go for decades.

@collision1447

jaja... 9


hell, now 10(!)

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