Been Down So Long
The Doors Lyrics

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Well, I've been down so goddamn long
That it looks like up to me
Well, I've been down so very damn long
That it looks like up to me
Yeah, why don't one of you people
A-come on and set me free?

I said, warden, warden, warden
Won't you break your lock and key?
I said, warden, warden, warden
Won't ya break your lock and key?
Yeah, come along here, mister
Come on and a-let the poor boy be

Baby, baby, baby
Won't you get down on your knees?
Baby, baby, baby
Won't you get down on your knees?
Come on, little darlin'
Come on, a-give your love to me, oh yeah

Well, I've been down so goddamn long
That it looks like up to me
Well, I've been down so very damn long
That it looks like up to me
Yeah, why don't one you people
Come on
Come on
Come on and set me free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Been Down So Long" by The Doors is a reflection of a person who is burned out and at a low point in his life, perhaps after struggling for an extended period or being put in a negative situation. The singer has been down for so long that he cannot see a way out, and everything seems like an uphill battle. The lyrics, "Well, I've been down so goddamn long, That it looks like up to me," succinctly captures how the singer's perception of reality has shifted, and his perspective has become distorted due to prolonged hardship or negativity.

The singer is pleading with the "warden" to release him from the metaphorical prison that he feels trapped in. The use of the word "warden" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped or contained; it is an indication that the singer is not necessarily in a physical prison, but rather a figurative one. He wants to break free from his current situation, and he is reaching out to someone who has the power to help him. The lyrics, "Won't ya break your lock and key?" and "Come on and a-let the poor boy be," show that the singer desires freedom and release from his struggles.

In the final verse, the singer is looking for emotional support from another person. The lyrics, "Baby, baby, baby, Won't you get down on your knees?" and "Come on, little darlin', Come on, a-give your love to me, oh yeah," suggest that the singer is turning to someone else for love and support to help uplift him from his current low state. The song ends with the repeated plea to be set free, which conveys the singer's desperate desire to break out of his current situation.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I've been down so goddamn long
I've been feeling really low for a very long time

That it looks like up to me
Things that others might not find uplifting look hopeful to me, given how long I've been in a rut

Well, I've been down so very damn long
Emphasizing just how long it's been since I've felt good

That it looks like up to me
Reiterating the point from the previous line

Yeah, why don't one of you people
Asking anyone who might be listening for help, since I feel totally stuck

A-come on and set me free?
Requesting liberation from the oppressive feelings caused by being down for so long

I said, warden, warden, warden
Addressing the person who has power over me and my situation (could be a literal authority figure or a metaphor for something else)

Won't you break your lock and key?
Asking that person to remove the obstacles or limitations that are keeping me stuck

Yeah, come along here, mister
Directing my plea for help to a specific person

Come on and a-let the poor boy be
Asking for a chance to finally be free from feeling down all the time

Baby, baby, baby
Addressing someone I feel close to, potentially asking for emotional support

Won't you get down on your knees?
Asking that person to make a sincere effort to help me out of my difficult situation

Come on, little darlin'
Using a term of endearment to coax someone to help me

Come on, a-give your love to me, oh yeah
Asking for affection or support in order to lift me out of my long-term depression

Yeah, why don't one you people
Repeating my earlier plea for help, emphasizing that I'm still struggling

Come on
Urging people to act quickly, since it's been such a long time since I've felt good

Come on
Repeating the call to action, this time with more urgency

Come on and set me free
Asking once more to be liberated from the crippling feelings associated with being down for so long

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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