The Misfits disbanded in 1983, and Glenn Danzig went on to form Samhain and then Danzig. Several albums of reissued and previously unreleased material were issued after the group's dissolution, and their music later became influential to punk rock, heavy metal, and alternative rock. After a series of legal battles with Danzig, Only and Doyle regained the rights to record and perform as the Misfits. They formed a new version of the band in 1995 with singer Michale Graves and drummer Dr. Chud. This incarnation of Misfits had more of a heavy metal sound, and released the albums American Psycho (1997) and Famous Monsters (1999) before dissolving in 2000. Jerry Only then took over lead vocals and recruited former Black Flag guitarist Dez Cadena and former Ramones drummer Marky Ramone for a Misfits 25th anniversary tour.
This lineup released an album of cover songs titled Project 1950 and toured for several years. In 2005, Marky was replaced by Robo, who had played with Black Flag in the early 1980s and had also previously been Misfits' drummer from 1982 to 1983. This lineup released a single titled "Land of the Dead" in 2009. The Misfits' lineup of Only, Cadena, and drummer Eric "Chupacabra" Arce released a new album titled The Devil's Rain in October 2011. In 2015, it was announced that Cadena would be taking a break from music after receiving a cancer diagnosis, and was replaced by Only's son Jerry Caiafa II, presented as Jerry Other. That same year Soulfly's Marc Rizzo joined the band, also playing guitar. He filled in for Cadena, before Caiafa would move on to become the sole guitarist for the band.
In September 2016, for the first time in 33 years, Danzig, Only, and Doyle reunited for two headlining shows as the Original Misfits at that year's edition of Riot Fest, along with drummer Dave Lombardo and second guitarist Acey Slade. The Original Misfits lineup continued performing sporadically through 2019.
Each incarnation of the Misfits has made use of horror film and science fiction film-inspired themes and imagery, with makeup, clothing, artwork, and lyrics drawn from B movies and television serials, many from the 1950s through 1970s. Musically the band are often recognized as progenitors of the horror punk and psychobilly subgenres and have drawn from punk rock, heavy metal, and 1950s rock and roll and rockabilly to inform their style. Rolling Stone describes them as "the archetypal horror-punk band of the late 1970s and early '80s", and they are considered icons in punk music and culture.
In the Doorway
Misfits Lyrics
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In the doorway
Shining so bright
In the doorway
I clench your hips
For the flesh
You tore my prose
Animal lie
Like the doorway
As you hide
Hear it then
Will you let me in
Let me in
Oh
In the doorway
We were so young
In the doorway
Release the black dogs
On our breasts
We'll never rest
We'll never rest
We'll never forget
I ain't never gonna let you rest
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
The lyrics to Misfits' song "In the Doorway" are quite cryptic and left up to interpretation. The song appears to be from the perspective of a male protagonist who is recalling a moment of intimacy with a female partner in a doorway. The first verse, "Light in the doorway shining so bright," sets the scene, with the light possibly symbolizing a sense of hope or a new beginning. The singer then goes on to describe his sense of desire, describing how he "clenched" his partner's hips, and his partner tore his prose, possibly implying a destruction of his emotional defenses.
The second verse is more difficult to decipher, with the lyrics "Animal lie like the doorway as you hide, hear it then will you let me in." It's unclear who or what is being referred to as the "animal lie", but it could be interpreted as a metaphor for either the singer's own animalistic desires, or a darker aspect of his partner's personality. The line "hear it then will you let me in" could be interpreted as a plea for emotional vulnerability and intimacy from his partner.
The chorus of the song doesn't provide much clarity either, aside from reinforcing the idea of the two partners being intertwined and unable to forget the moment of passion they shared.
Overall, "In the Doorway" is a moody and surreal song that leaves much up to interpretation. The lyrics are abstract and somewhat fragmented, lending to a sense of mystery and emotion that the listener must piece together for themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Light
The beginning of something new.
In the doorway
A turning point or a moment of decision.
Shining so bright
A feeling of hope or optimism.
In the doorway
A repeating motif showing that decisions are being made.
I clench your hips
A passionate desire for something or someone.
For the flesh
The desire for something physical or tangible.
You tore my prose
A feeling of loss or destruction.
Animal lie
A raw and primal feeling.
Like the doorway
Reinforcement of the idea of a moment of decision.
As you hide
A fear of vulnerability or exposure.
Hear it then
A plea for attention or understanding.
Will you let me in
A request for closeness or acceptance.
Let me in
Repetition of the previous line indicating the importance of the request.
We were so young
A reminiscence of the past and a feeling of nostalgia.
Release the black dogs
A fear of something dark or negative.
On our breasts
A feeling of suffocation or weight.
We'll never rest
A feeling of restlessness or a refusal to be still.
We'll never forget
A fear of losing a memory or an experience.
I ain't never gonna let you rest
Reinforcement of the feeling of restlessness or a desire for control.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
A feeling of release or catharsis.
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Further reinforcement of the feeling of release or catharsis.
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: GLEN DANZIG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind