Robby Krieger shares vocals with Jim Morrison for the chorus of the track, one of the few songs with this feature.
It is also notable for Jim Morrison's introduction, a tribute to the then recently deceased Otis Redding:
Poor Otis, dead and gone
Left me here to sing his song
Pretty little girl with the red dress on
Poor Otis, dead and gone
The lyrics and melody includes an a cappella introduction taken from a Lead Belly track entitled Po' Howard (or Poor Howard on some compilations) where Morrison replaced the name 'Howard' with 'Otis'. Sometimes this introduction was played at the end of another Doors song, "When the Music's Over". There are other lyrical references to Redding's song "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" throughout the song.
Notable bluegrass musician Jesse McReynolds plays the mandolin in this song.
Running Blue
The Doors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Left me here to sing his song
Pretty little girl with the red dress on
Poor Otis dead and gone
Yeah, back down, turn around slowly
Try it again, remembering when
It was easy, try it again
All right, look at my shoes
Not quite the walkin' blues
Don't fight, too much to lose
Can't fight the runnin' blues
Well, I've got the runnin' blues
Runnin' away, back to L.A.
Got to find the dock of the bay
Maybe find it back in L.A.
Runnin' scared, runnin' blue
Goin' so fast, what'll I do
Well, I've got the runnin' blues
Runnin' away, back to L.A.
Got to find the dock of the bay
Maybe find it back in L.A.
All right, look at my shoes
Not quite the walkin' blues
Don't fight, too much to lose
Can't fight the runnin' blues
All right, look at my shoes
Not quite the walkin' blues
Don't fight, too much to lose
Can't fight the runnin' blues
"Running Blue" is a song by American rock band The Doors. It appears on their 1969 album "The Soft Parade". The lyrics depict the singer's struggles with the death of a friend, Otis, and his own restlessness and fear. Otis's death is a tragic reminder of mortality and forces the singer to contemplate his own existence. The "poor Otis" leaves behind a legacy of music that the singer continues to sing; he is haunted by the memory of his lost friend. The female figure in the red dress represents a moment of fleeting joy, which contrasts with the singer's darker thoughts.
The song has a blues-inspired sound, with a slow and steady tempo, and a melancholy guitar riff. It features Jim Morrison's signature poetic lyrics and dramatic vocals. The chorus, "Well, I've got the running blues", repeats throughout the song, emphasizing the feeling of restlessness and anxiety. The repetitive structure of the song reflects the singer's circular thoughts and actions, as he tries to escape the blues but keeps returning to them. The final lines are a repetition of the earlier verses, emphasizing the cyclical nature of the blues.
Line by Line Meaning
Poor Otis dead and gone
Otis, the American R and B singer is dead and gone.
Left me here to sing his song
Left behind to sing Otis's song.
Pretty little girl with the red dress on
A beautiful girl wearing a red dress.
Yeah, back down, turn around slowly
Turning back and retracing one's steps slowly.
Try it again, remembering when
Attempting to redo something while reminiscing the past success.
It was easy, try it again
The previous attempt was simple, so try again.
Much too easy, rememberin' when
It was too effortless, remembering the previous event.
All right, look at my shoes
Okay, observe my shoes.
Not quite the walkin' blues
My blues are not due to the inability to walk.
Don't fight, too much to lose
Do not resist since there is much to lose.
Can't fight the runnin' blues
Unable to fight the blues associated with running.
Well, I've got the runnin' blues
The singer is experiencing melancholy related to running.
Runnin' away, back to L.A.
Escaping to Los Angeles
Got to find the dock of the bay
Trying to locate the bay dock.
Maybe find it back in L.A.
Possibly find it in Los Angeles.
Runnin' scared, runnin' blue
The singer is fearful and melancholy while running.
Goin' so fast, what'll I do
Going quickly, unsure what to do.
All right, look at my shoes
Okay, observe my shoes.
Not quite the walkin' blues
My blues are not due to the inability to walk.
Don't fight, too much to lose
Do not resist since there is much to lose.
Can't fight the runnin' blues
Unable to fight the blues associated with running.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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