I am the Prince of Pensacola.
"Roadhouse Blues" is a song by the American rock band the Doors from their 1970 album Morrison Hotel. It was released as the B-side of "You Make Me Real", which peaked at No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. "Roadhouse Blues" charted in its own right on the Cash Box Top 100, peaking at No. 76. The song became a concert staple for the group and it has been covered by numerous artists.
Hailed by sound engineer Bruce Botnick as "the all-time American bar band song," "Roadhouse Blues"–despite its relatively unsuccessful chart peak–received strong airplay on rock radio stations. The song's title was considered for the name of the album, but it was eventually changed. It was ranked the 153rd top classic-rock song by Q104,3, and the eleventh best rock song of all time by Time Out.
The song was recorded over two days, from November 4 to 5, 1969. Producer Paul A. Rothchild insisted on several takes, some of which were included on the 2006 remastered album. Jim Morrison, who was intoxicated during the sessions, flubbed several lyrics and kept repeating the phrase "Money beats soul every time".
There was more progress on the second day when resident guitarist Lonnie Mack (then employed as an Elektra Records A&R representative) joined in to play bass; Ray Neapolitan, the regular bassist during the Morrison Hotel sessions, was stuck in traffic. Although there has been speculation that Mack also contributed the guitar solo, he confirmed that he had played bass and nothing else. While Mack had stopped working as a professional musician at the time, he decided to return to his career following the session.
Guitarist Robby Krieger is responsible for all guitar parts on "Roadhouse Blues"; Morrison shouts "Do it, Robby, do it!" at the start of the guitar solo. Ray Manzarek switched from a Wurlitzer electric piano to a tack piano. Ex–Lovin' Spoonful frontman John Sebastian contributed harmonica (listed as "G. Puglese" for contractual reasons).
Alice Cooper claimed that he was the inspiration for the line "Woke up this morning and I got myself a beer", as stated on his Planet Rock morning show: "We were sitting there drinking and Jim comes in and he flops down ... I said that I had got up this morning and got myself a beer and while we're talking he just writes that down. So they go in and they're doing the song and the next thing I hear is 'Woke up this morning and I got myself a beer' and I went 'I just said that a second ago!'"
Jim used to sing to his girlfriend when they were driving, before the song was written... "Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel"
James Douglas Morrison was born on December 8, 1943 in Melbourne, Florida, to Clara Virginia (née Clarke; 1919–2005) and Lt.(j.g.) George Stephen Morrison (1919–2008), a future Admiral in the United States Navy.
Admiral Morrison was commander of United States Navy forces during the Gulf of Tonkin Incident of August 1964, which was the blue torch that created an escalation of American involvement in the Vietnam War.
The Doors
Jim Morrison – vocals
Robby Krieger – guitar
Ray Manzarek – tack piano
John Densmore – drums
Additional musicians
Lonnie Mack – bass
John Sebastian – harmonica
Written by: written by Robby Krieger & Ray Manzarek
Album: Morrison Hotel
Released: 1970
Hi, how you doin' there? Y-e-ah. Looking good. Everything is fucked up as usual... you know...
WHOOOOOAAAAAAOOOO - C´MON!
A-keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel
A-keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel
Come to the Roadhouse, gonna have a real, a good time.
Yeah, at the back of the Roadhouse they got some bungalows.
Ah, at the back of the Roadhouse they got some bungalows.
That's for the people... like to go down slow.
Let it roll, baby, roll,
Let it roll, baby, roll,
Let it roll, baby, roll,
Let it roll — all night long.
Ashen lady, Ashen lady,
Give up your vows,
Give up your vows.
Save our city, save our city
Right now!
Yeah, I woke up this morning, I got myself a beer.
Well, I woke up this morning, I got myself a beer.
Future's uncertain and the end is always near.
Let it roll, baby, roll,
Let it roll, baby, roll,
Let it roll, baby, roll,
Let it roll — all night long.
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