Queen of the Highway
The Doors Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning

She was a princess
Queen of the highway
Sign on the road said
Take us to madre

No one could save her
Save the blind tiger
He was a monster

Black, dressed in leather

She was a princess
Queen of the highway

Now they are wedded
She is a good girl
Naked as children
Out in the meadow

Naked as children
Wild as can be
Soon to have offspring
Start it all over

Start it all over

American boy, American girl
Most beautiful people in the world
Son of frontier, Indian Swirl
Dancing through the midnight whirlpool

Formless
Hope it can continue a little while longer, come one

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Queen of the Highway" by The Doors describe a woman who is referred to as a princess and queen of the highway, suggesting her free-wheeling, adventurous nature. The sign on the road directs them to "madre," or mother, perhaps symbolizing a return to nature or to a nurturing, maternal presence. The woman is unable to be saved except by the blind tiger, a powerful, mysterious figure dressed in black leather who seems to be the only one capable of understanding her. The lyrics suggest the woman is just as wild and animalistic as the tiger, but that they are well-matched and eventually wedded. The imagery of them being naked as children out in nature suggests a return to innocence and freedom.

The last stanza shifts the focus to America as a whole, describing American boys and girls as the most beautiful people in the world who are dancing through the whirlpool of midnight. The reference to the "frontier" and "Indian Swirl" suggests a blending of cultures and histories. The line "formless" may refer to the abstract nature of the world in which they live, and the hope that it may continue for just a little while longer suggests a desire to prolong this moment of beauty and freedom.

Line by Line Meaning

She was a princess
She was a woman of great importance and high standing

Queen of the highway
She ruled over the open road and held great power over those who traversed it

Sign on the road said
A marker on the highway indicated

Take us to madre
The direction to follow to reach a destination called 'Mother'

No one could save her
Despite being in a difficult situation, there was no one who could rescue her and turn things around

Save the blind tiger
The only hope of salvation was a mysterious, dangerous figure known as the 'blind tiger'

He was a monster
The blind tiger was a fearsome creature

Black, dressed in leather
The blind tiger was clad in dark, intimidating attire

Now they are wedded
She and the blind tiger have come together in marriage

She is a good girl
The princess has retained her virtuous qualities despite her association with the blind tiger

Naked as children
The couple wanders free of inhibitions, without the restrictions of clothing or society

Out in the meadow
They are enjoying the natural world, removed from civilization

Wild as can be
They are in a state of unbridled physical and emotional expression

Soon to have offspring
The couple will produce a new generation as a result of their union

Start it all over
Their offspring will begin a new cycle of life, replicating the experiences and struggles of their parents

American boy, American girl
A reference to the archetypal image of American youth

Most beautiful people in the world
These young Americans are seen as the epitome of beauty

Son of frontier, Indian Swirl
The fusion of Native American and European culture that formed the United States

Dancing through the midnight whirlpool
In the midst of the tumultuous world, they dance with wild abandon

Formless
In their freedom from social norms, they take on a formless identity

Hope it can continue a little while longer, come one
The singer expresses a desire that this state of liberation and joy can endure for just a little while longer

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: JIM MORRISON, JOHN PAUL DENSMORE, RAYMOND D MANZAREK, ROBERT A KRIEGER

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Queen Of The Highway is a song by the rock group The Doors, from their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. It is the ninth, and third-to-last track on that album. The lyrics were written by lead singer Jim Morrison and are believed to be about his girlfriend Pamela Courson, with the lines "She was a princess / Queen of the Highway" referring to her, the "He was a Monster / Black dressed in leather" being a description of Jim Morrison himself, and the "I hope it can continue / Just a little while longer" lines being perhaps Read Full BioQueen Of The Highway is a song by the rock group The Doors, from their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. It is the ninth, and third-to-last track on that album. The lyrics were written by lead singer Jim Morrison and are believed to be about his girlfriend Pamela Courson, with the lines "She was a princess / Queen of the Highway" referring to her, the "He was a Monster / Black dressed in leather" being a description of Jim Morrison himself, and the "I hope it can continue / Just a little while longer" lines being perhaps, as suggested in No One Here Gets Out Alive, a "sardonic reference to their troubled love".