Been Down So Long

There is something in the way *Been Down So Long* unfolds that grabs you from the very first moment. It is a blues with that raw and direct energy that characterized The Doors in their early days, but with a twist that makes it special. It feels as if they were returning to their roots, with a sound that evokes that playful aggression and that air of slow blues that defined them so much. Robby Krieger contributes a distinctive slide guitar, and the rhythmic foundation, with Jerry Scheff on bass and Marc Benno on rhythm guitars, creates a dense atmosphere marked by a rhythm that invites you to nod your head. The lyrics, written by Jim Morrison, touch on themes of discouragement, wanting to break free, and sexuality, making references to his own experiences, even to his imprisonments.

The inspiration for the title and lyrics of *Been Down So Long* comes from various sources. On one hand, Jim Morrison took the idea from a novel by Richard Farina published in 1966. Additionally, there is a clear echo of the 1928 song by Furry Lewis, "I Will Turn Your Money Green," with that line that says "I been down so long/It seem like up to me." The song conveys an attitude of Morrison that some describe as "mock tough," a kind of feigned bravado, and also hints at his discontent with the U.S. judicial system. This piece was recorded between December 1970 and January 1971 at The Doors Workshop in Los Angeles, as part of the album *L.A. Woman*. This record was the last one Jim Morrison participated in during his lifetime, and it is characterized by a strong blues influence. The album's production was shared by The Doors along with sound engineer Bruce Botnick, since the usual producer, Paul A. Rothchild, had left the band. A live version of this song, recorded on May 8, 1970, at Cobo Arena in Detroit, was included in the 2000 compilation, *The Bright Midnight Sampler*.