The song features a departure from the Doors usual psychedelic style, including acoustic sounds and marking a conventional ballad mien. Incorporating elements from classical music, it is described by critics as having a baroque pop aesthetic. Lyrically, "Love Street" deals with lead singer Jim Morrison's personal relationship with companion, Pamela Courson.
"Love Street" was rarely played in live concerts by the group; however, one performance has been captured in a concert in Stockholm, Sweden during their 1968 European tour.
The song was originally a poem written by singer Jim Morrison about the street in the Laurel Canyon section of Los Angeles, California, where he lived with his girlfriend Pamela Courson and watched hippies pass by.[3][5][6]
The song is noted for Morrison's spoken narration, which occurs in the middle of the composition:
"I see you live on Love Street
There's this store where the creatures meet
I wonder what they do in there?
Summer Sunday and a year
I guess I like it fine, so far"
The verse end on an ambiguous note (with the line "I guess I like it fine so far"). Morrison refers to the Canyon Country Store across the street from his house. Morrison also wrote the majority of Waiting for the Sun album and much of The Soft Parade at the residence. The house was partially damaged during a spate of arson fires on December 30, 2011; the balcony was destroyed.
"Love Street" has been praised by many critics for its conventional style, with The Guardian ranking it as the 27th greatest Doors song. Rolling Stone critic Narendra Kusnur considered it one of Morrison's 10 most underrated songs, particularly praising his vocal performance. In an AllMusic review, critic Lindsay Planer called it a "spry and melodic ballad", while Crawdaddy music critic Paul Williams described it as "edgy, even visionary music." Some singled out its "baroque pop feel".
Doors' drummer John Densmore described Ray Manzarek's solo during the verse as "not flashy", but he expressed that it "gets me off every time because the phrasing is so strong, precise, and simultaneously relaxed." Planer also praised Ray Manzarek's keyboard playing as being "intricate and melodic" in the bridges but complains that Robby Krieger's "painfully understated and jazzy" guitar playing sometimes gets buried beneath the drums and keyboards.
Love Street
The Doors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lingers long on Love Street
She has a house and garden
I would like to see what happens
She has robes and she has monkeys
Lazy diamond studded flunkies
She has wisdom and knows what to do
She has me and she has you
She has wisdom and knows what to do
She has me and she has you
I see you live on Love Street
There's this store where the creatures meet
I wonder what they do in there
Summer Sunday and a year
I guess I like it fine, so far
She lives on Love Street
Lingers long on Love Street
She has a house and garden
I would like to see what happens
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
The Doors' Love Street is a song that captures the idyllic and carefree feeling of a summer love. In the first stanza, the singer describes the object of his affection who lives on Love Street, a metaphorical place that represents a state of mind, a place where love dwells. The woman is described as having a house and garden, and being surrounded by luxury items like robes and diamond-studded flunkies. She has wisdom and knows what to do, indicating that she is confident in herself and her abilities. The singer is intrigued and wants to see what will happen, suggesting that he wants to explore the relationship further.
In the second stanza, the singer seems to address the object of his affection directly, stating that he sees her living on Love Street. He mentions a store where the creatures meet, possibly referring to a sex shop, where he wonders what they do in there. The mention of summer Sunday and a year further emphasizes the sense of timelessness and endless opportunities that Love Street represents. Despite the uncertainty, the singer admits that he likes it so far.
Line by Line Meaning
She lives on Love Street
The woman in question resides on a street named Love, which may indicate that she is a romantic figure.
Lingers long on Love Street
She spends a lot of time on Love Street, possibly because she finds it peaceful or inspiring.
She has a house and garden
The woman has a home with outdoor space, which could indicate that she values privacy and natural beauty.
I would like to see what happens
The artist is curious about what kind of experiences the woman has in her life and how they shape her character.
She has robes and she has monkeys
The woman is wealthy or influential, and has exotic or unusual possessions like robes and monkeys.
Lazy diamond studded flunkies
She has people who work for her who are well-compensated but lack ambition or drive.
She has wisdom and knows what to do
The woman is intelligent and capable, and is respected for her wisdom.
She has me and she has you
The artist and their partner are both in some way connected to the woman and value her presence in their lives.
I see you live on Love Street
The artist is addressing someone who also lives on Love Street, perhaps indicating a shared appreciation for the street or a connection to the woman.
There's this store where the creatures meet
There is a mysterious or intriguing gathering place on Love Street where unusual people or creatures congregate.
I wonder what they do in there
The singer is curious about the activities or rituals that take place in the store or gathering place.
Summer Sunday and a year
The artist is referencing a specific moment in time, which may hold significance for them or for the story being told.
I guess I like it fine, so far
The singer is ambivalent about their experiences on Love Street so far, but could be open to further exploration or discovery.
(La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la)
This repeated refrain functions as a sort of plea or invocation, perhaps summoning the spirit or energy of Love Street.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jim Morrison, John Paul Densmore, Raymond D Manzarek, Robert A Krieger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CaraRiedell-wf3bc
No...Jim Morrison's spirit loved me. Believe it or not ...I was so spiritually involved with Jim that his spirit came to see me.
Scared the shit outta me.
He came as a red outlined body. Hair outlined in red.
I said JIM? As it came down the stairs. When I said JIm it stopped six feet in front of me. I said well don't fucking scare me !! And the red outlined spirit of Jim morrison disappeared. I was 21 and he must of heard me singing his songs from heaven. I will be glad to meet pam though in the afterlife. Out of respect
I think "he" was her responsibility almost. Like he was a child she had to take care of. The drinking had to of been awful. I wonder how much money if any she got for his poetry books. I know she died right after he did. Paris
What a shit hole.
The fake French. Real French..whatever ...I think they may of both been killed by a "French family" group. Alcoholism ...drank to death at 27. Yeah right. Then she died. All of it was for money. They promised them both a way out of the business..move to France. What a terrible conspiracy. Honestly I think pam lived after Jim. And she faked her death. Who knows how she really died. All I know is I had a lizard named Jim and one named Pam. Jim died within a year because he barely ate. Pam the lizard got enormoulsly fat and Jim was a fighter man. But Jim died the lizard. And Pam the lizard bitch lived for 16 years afterwards. Just saying
Sorry I rambled on but does anyone else think something happened that was more than what they're saying? I do
@jimgilmour349
This song is so beautuful it almost hurts. So wonderful. I will never stop listening to them.
@janebraun4482
The performance! You become instantly spellbound, I've never ever seen anything like how he performs, the poetry, and of course the ways he looks!
@user-wg5kz6wi5v
Джим я в английском не силен, надеюсь прочтёте мою заметку в"правильном" переводе! Тоже обожаю Моррисона! Он конечно гений, такая простая и мощнейшая музыка! Проникает в самые дальние уголки себя! И творится что то невообразимо красивое и грустное!!! Вот как то тронул ваш комментарий!
@tobiasrichter6294
absolutly
@master182
@@user-wg5kz6wi5v OBRIGADO!
@sirena1140
My girl. She lives on Love street
@tombeyer375
Been a fan of the Doors for 45 years. Never gets old!
@squawk4391
<3
@stevenlupanko2983
It gets 45 years old to you!!!
@darrenattebery7776
True dat