People Are Strange

Embrace the weird with The Doors' "People Are Strange," their haunting 1967 psychedelic rock single from Strange Days. Exploring themes of alienation and perception, this track features a distinctive melody and captures the band's unique, slightly eerie charm. A timeless and iconic classic.

Released in 1967 on The Doors' sophomore album Strange Days, "People Are Strange" became another significant hit showcasing their evolving psychedelic rock sound. The song features a unique, almost Vaudevillian arrangement centered around Ray Manzarek’s distinctive keyboard playing and Robby Krieger’s subtle guitar lines. It perfectly captured the slightly off-kilter, atmospheric style the band explored further on this album compared to their debut.

A quintessential psychedelic rock classic from 1967, "People Are Strange" highlights Jim Morrison’s poetic observations on alienation and feeling like an outsider. Its melancholic yet catchy melody, coupled with the intriguing lyrics, has ensured its enduring appeal. The song remains one of The Doors' most recognizable and frequently covered tracks, resonating with listeners who have ever felt disconnected from the mainstream world around them.

SONG MEANING: "People Are Strange" reflects the feeling of alienation and estrangement from society when one feels like an outsider or is in an altered state (emotionally or otherwise). The lyrics suggest that the world appears "strange," "ugly," and "wicked" when you yourself feel strange or unwanted ("When you're strange / Faces come out of the rain"). It captures the shift in perception experienced from an outsider's lonely viewpoint.