The WASP (Texas Radio And The Big Beat) - The Doors

Artist: The Doors
Song: The WASP (Texas Radio And The Big Beat)
Year: 1971
Album: L.A. Woman

I've been a big Doors fan since I was four or five. The only problem was that my dad only owned two Doors albums and recorded the rest off of the radio. The two albums that he owned were both compilations. The Doors Greatest Hits and 13. The other Doors songs I had heard came from the radio.

I first heard snippets of this poem set to music in 1991. I had purchased the soundtrack to Oliver Stone's movie about the Doors. In a poem called "Stoned Immaculate", I heard my first snippets of "The WASP". I was on a quest for the rest of the Doors catalogue. It proved to be tougher than I thought.

I purchased L.A. Woman a few years later. I had finally found my Doors go to album. It featured everything that I loved about the band. It was a departure from their previous work, but still held enough of the old music not to be off putting. This is a perfectly crafted album and quickly became my favorite.

I was always curious about "The WASP" though. It was only in the last decade that I found out what it meant. In the 1950s, Mexican radio stations would infiltrate their sounds into Texas. Because of less restrictions, these stations could be heard for miles around. This was the first introduction that many had, including a few members of the Doors, to Wolfman Jack.

Lyrics:
I wanna tell you 'bout Texas Radio and the Big Beat
Comes out of the Virginia swamps
Cool and slow with plenty of precision
With a back beat narrow and hard to master

Some call it heavenly in its brilliance
Others, mean and rueful of the Western dream
I love the friends I have gathered together on this thin raft
We have constructed pyramids in honor of our escaping
This is the land where the Pharaoh died

The Negroes in the forest brightly feathered
They are saying, "Forget the night
Live with us in forests of azure
Out here on the perimeter there are no stars
Out here we is stoned immaculate"

Now listen to this, I'll tell you 'bout the heartache
I'll tell you 'bout the heartache and the loss of God
I'll tell you 'bout the hopeless night
The meager food for souls forgot
I'll tell you 'bout the maiden with wrought iron soul

I'll tell you this
No eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn

I'll tell you 'bout Texas Radio and the Big Beat
Soft driven, slow and mad, like some new language

Now, listen to this, I'll tell you 'bout the Texas
I'll tell you 'bout the Texas Radio
I'll tell you 'bout the hopeless night
Wandering the Western dream
Tell you 'bout the maiden with wrought iron soul

Shaman's Blues - The Doors

Artist: The Doors
Song: Shaman's Blues
Year: 1969
Album: The Soft Parade

This album has been a sore thumb in the history of the Doors. The Soft Parade breaks new exciting ground, but is a departure in the eyes of mant fans. When half the songs feature a horn section, there's something amiss. That doesn't stop this from being a great album though.

"Shaman's Blues" is one of the songs uneffected by the horn section. It's a gritty, straightforward piece of blues fluff that is catchy. It's easy to dismiss this song as another of Jim Morrison's psychobabble ramblings. I am a fan of Jim and his poetry, but let's face it, some of it was free association. I can put ten different things on paper, throw them into the air, and piece it back together with just as much gusto.

The ending of this song features different ramblings from studio outtakes tacked onto the song. It would be interesting to think that the word bridesmaid was in the actual written lyrics for the ending verse. Then again, it's not that far fetched to think that random word wouldn't have fallen out of Jim's mouth on a take.

I would categorize this as an early attempt at the blues that the band would perfect on the L.A. Woman album. There is wisdom in this piece, if you look hard enough. This song fits Jim's style to a tee. I'm very happy that this track didn't find a bunch of syrupy horns on it. That just makes it that much more powerful.

Lyrics:
There will never be
Another one like you
There will never be
Another one who can
Do the things you do, oh
Will you give another chance?
Will you try, little try?
Please stop and you remember
We were together, anyway, all right

And if you have a certain evenin'
You could lend to me
I'd give it all right back to you
A how it has to be with you
I know your moves and your mind
And your mind
And your mind
And your mind
And your mind
And your mind
And your mind

Will you stop and think and wonder?
Just what you'll see
Out on the train yard
Nursin' penitentiary
It's gone, I cry out long

Go head, brother

Did you stop it to consider?
How it will feel
Cold, grinded grizzly bear jaws
Hot on your heels

Do you often stop and whisper?
It's Saturday's shore
The whole world's a savior
Who could ever, ever, ever
Ever, ever, ever
Ask for more?

Do you remember?
Will you stop?
Will you stop?
The pain

And there will never be
Another one like you
There will never be
Another one who can
Do the things you do, oh

Will you give another chance?
Will you try, little try?
Please stop and you remember
We were together, anyway, all right

How you must of think and wondered
How I must feel
Out on the meadows
While you run the field
I'm alone for you
And I cry

The sweat, look at it
Optical promise
Heh, heh, heh
You'll be dead and in hell
Before I'm born
Sure thing
Brides maid
The only solution
Isn't it amazing?