The song is known to fans as being one of the first written by lead singer Jim Morrison. According to the Morrison biography No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman, Morrison wrote it (as "Moonlight Ride") during his halcyon days on a rooftop in Venice Beach, a suburb of Los Angeles, California in 1965. Later on, when he happened upon friend and soon-to-be fellow band member Ray Manzarek, he uttered the memorable lines, "Let's swim to the moon, let's climb through the tide, penetrate the evening that the city sleeps to hide." Reportedly Manzarek was immediately awestruck, and they decided at that moment to form a band; Morrison already had a name picked out: The Doors.
Recordings of live performances of this song reveal a link to a sort of death by drowning - whether murder, suicide or simply going too far. Morrison sings in live performances, probably improvising, referring to "fishes for your friends" and "pearls for your eyes" conjuring an image of a rotten corpse lying at the bottom of the ocean while simultaneously referencing Shakespeare. The song was featured in the 1971 film Two-Lane Blacktop. In addition, its title is also used as the name of professional wrestler John Hennigan's corkscrew neckbreaker finishing move under his Jim Morrison-esque John Morrison character.
Moonlight Drive
The Doors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's climb through the tide
Penetrate the evenin' that the
City sleeps to hide
Let's swim out tonight, love
It's our turn to try
Parked beside the ocean on our
Moonlight drive
Let's swim to the moon, uh-huh
Let's climb through the tide
Surrender to the waiting worlds
That lap against our side
Nothin' left open and no
Time to decide
We've stepped into a river on our
Moonlight drive
Let's swim to the moon
Let's climb through the tide
You reach your hand to hold me
But I can't be your guide
Easy, I love you as I
Watch you glide
Falling through wet forests on our
Moonlight drive, baby
Moonlight drive
Come on, baby, gonna take a little ride, down
Down by the ocean side, gonna get real close
Get real tight
Baby gonna drown tonight
Goin' down, down, down
The Doors’s song “Moonlight Drive” is a poetic and emotional journey that explores the different aspects of love and the desire to explore the unknown. The first verse is an invitation to the unknown, as the singer invites his lover to explore the mysteries of life by swimming to the moon and climbing through the tide. The idea of penetrating the evening that the city sleeps to hide is a metaphor for the idea that life is made up of mysteries that are hidden, and the only way to understand them is to explore them.
The second verse examines the idea of surrendering to the waiting worlds that surround us. It is an invitation to let go of control and step into the unknown, regardless of the fear and uncertainty that might arise. The idea that there is nothing left open and no time to decide signifies the idea that love is a journey, and once you embark on it, there is no turning back. The final verse is an amalgamation of the first two verses, with the singer expressing his love for his partner, but also acknowledging that he cannot be their guide on this journey, as it is an unknown path that they must travel together.
The overall message of the song is that love is an adventure into the unknown, and the only way to truly understand it is to explore it together. The idea of a moonlight drive is a metaphor for the journey that the singer and his lover are embarking on, as they are heading into the unknown, with only their love to guide them.
Line by Line Meaning
Let's swim to the moon, uh-huh
Let's embark on an ambitious journey that may seem impossible, but let's remain positive despite the odds.
Let's climb through the tide
Let's face the difficulties that come our way, and not be deterred by obstacles.
Penetrate the evenin' that the
City sleeps to hide
Explore the hidden and unknown aspects of the city while everyone is busy sleeping, and find its beauty even in its darkness.
Let's swim out tonight, love
It's our turn to try
Parked beside the ocean on our
Moonlight drive
Let's take advantage of this moment and try something new. We are parked next to the ocean, and the moon's light illuminates the way ahead.
Surrender to the waiting worlds
That lap against our side
Embrace the multitude of possibilities and opportunities that surround us at every step, and let them lead the way forward.
Nothin' left open and no
Time to decide
We've stepped into a river on our
Moonlight drive
We are committed to this journey with no reservations or doubts. We are fully immersed in this moment, and there's no room for second thoughts.
You reach your hand to hold me
But I can't be your guide
Although I appreciate your support, I am not in a position to guide you through this journey. We both need to find our own paths.
Easy, I love you as I
Watch you glide
Even though we may be on different paths, I still have love for you and enjoy seeing you grow and thrive.
Falling through wet forests on our
Moonlight drive, baby
Moonlight drive
Our journey is full of twists and turns, taking us through unexplored forests and other challenging terrains. But we remain committed to the journey, guided by the moon's light.
Come on, baby, gonna take a little ride, down
Down by the ocean side, gonna get real close
Get real tight
Baby gonna drown tonight
Goin' down, down, down
Let's take advantage of this moment, and get intimate and closer than ever before. Despite the risks, we are willing to take that plunge, and let the moment lead us forward.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: JIM Morrison, John Paul Densmore, Raymond D Manzarek, Robert A Krieger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robertozadik7499
The legend of the Doors began when Jim sang this song to Ray in Venice beach..what a fantastic tune...
@don1249
Yeah. Just imagine if one or the other had done something different that day.
@Sparkes669
The Doors are the greatest band of all time. Genius.
@southamericanmetalhead6307
Neeeeee
@elbuchito2907
Definitely one of the greatest.
@siyopuedotupuedes1184
Una se las mejores bandas.. siiiii
@zuzannawisniewska4464
I agree with you. Unforgettable banď, I'm listening to it in 2023.
@dalezegarelli5553
Check out; stone temple pilots...core!!! Very similar...with 90's flair.
@williamnimbach6419
The doors will never get old. Thier music is timeless. It'd crazy all of their music came out before 1970. Jim morrison died way to soon!!!
@wethepeople9881
The beauty of The Doors every song sounds like it's the first time you have heard it. You catch something new every time. Just amazing.