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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

When Jim Morrison got drunk, he liked to sing Blues numbers at their jam sessions. They jammed on a lot of Blues numbers, and came up with this at one of the sessions.

Jim Morrison came up with the line about keeping your "Eyes on the road, your hands up on the wheel" after riding with his girlfriend, Pamela Courson, to a cottage they owned outside Los Angeles. She was driving erratically.

John Sebastian from the Lovin' Spoonful played harmonica. He is identified on the album as "G. Puglese" because he was afraid to be identified with The Doors in light of Morrison's arrest in Miami.

Guitar great Lonnie Mack played bass. The Doors usually did not use a bass player.

Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger joined Creed on stage at Woodstock '99, where they performed this. It is on the Woodstock '99 CD.

This was the first song on Morrison Hotel. The album was a return The Doors' earlier style. On their previous album, The Soft Parade, they used a lot of strings and horns. Morrison didn't do much on that album because he was drunk for most of it and had nothing to do while all the instrumentation was being worked out. Before The Doors had a record deal, they played many Blues songs in their long club shows.

Outtakes from one of Morrison's recording sessions were used to dub his voice into a version of this on the 2000 tribute album Stoned Immaculate, where he duets with John Lee Hooker.

In 2000, the surviving members of the Doors taped a VH1 Storytellers episode with guest vocalists filling in for Morrison. Scott Stapp from Creed sang on this.

This was released as the B-side of "You Make Me Real."

The Doors occasionally recorded old Blues songs, but even though this sounds like it could have been one of them, the wrote it themselves.

This has been called "the ultimate bar song," and it continues to be played by bar bands everywhere.

Comments:

Morrison Hotel was remixed and remastered in 2007 and includes numerous takes of Roadhouse Blues done on Nov. 4 and 5, 1969. Also, the "official version" of Roadhouse Blues on the remixed and remastered version includes additional vocals, guitar and piano.
- David, Youngstown, OH

"Woke up this morning and I got myself a beer!" what a legend
- nady, adelaide, Australia

this is one of the reasons that the doors are my favorite band ever... they can hit you with the blues, classic rock sound or just some very nice melodies to relax... got to love jimbo
- joeywalnuts, miami, FL

everytime i hear this it's like the first time all over again!!a good way to start my day!!only bad thing it makes me want to forget everything and just go on down to THE ROADHOUSE !
- rose, philadelphia, PA

Apparently the improvisation is Jim obscuring some sexual talk "eacha puna" is "eat your p...[fill in the blank]"
- Susan, Toronto, Canada

This song is on most every Doors CD I got.They must have really loved it and I do too! The scream Morrison usually gave out to start this song off is just bone jarring and I love it every time! ..'the future's uncertain and the end is always near'---that about says it all, doesn't it?
- Mark, byrdstown, TN

Little know fact about this song, Lonnie Mack didn't just play bass. He also played the lead guitar in the middle. Robby wasn't too good on this at the time but worked on it for the live shows later. To avoid embarrassment, Lonnie was simply credited with the bass.
- Tim, Austell, GA

i love when jim improvises in a song....he would sing what he felt like at the time....great song!!jim's spirt is with his music, peace
- dani, hamburg, NY

Very good song, especially the last line of the text. By the way, we can hear this song in the film "Roadhouse" with Patrick Swayze.
- Dmytro, Kharkiv, Europe

I agree with Anthony from Tucson. (all the way at the bottom). It's a definite shame music cannot be produced like this today. I mean, I'm sure it's possible but Jim Morrison is a true poet. He had such life and spirit with his music. Hahaha, by the way, my mom said this song describes me perfectly. I have no idea why, but I won't complain.
- Chenel, Salamanca, NY

This is one of the best songs I know. I particularly like the incoherent mumblings in the middle. A great subversion of the Piece bien fait which is a piece bien fait itself!
- Parasuraman, Trivandrum, India

I really enjoy this song especially the incoferent mumbles in the middle. They're a great subversion of the piece bien fait!
- Parasuraman, Trivandrum, India

The line "I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer" was inspired by Alice Cooper. Him and Morrison were talking at the recording studio just before Jim went to go record this song. He asked Alice about his day and he responded "Ehh.. Woke up this morning.... got myself a beer." Morrison decided to use the line in the song.
- Eric, milford, PA

Personally, I love it when Jim just starts making up his own words in the middle of the song. They aren't words at all just some ramblings..only Jim Morrison could pull off such a thing and make it sound good.
- Dhani, Wausau, WI

It's not: "Well, I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer.", but "Well, I woke up this morning and I got myself a beard." This according to Ray Manzarek.
- mark, los angeles, CA

This is definitely the best bar song ever, and one of my favorites from the Doors. Pretty sure he's giving a shout out to Lonnie Mack before that solo, but it might just sound that way.
- Jonathon, Clermont, FL

this song is so raw and powerfull and amazing and hey how could it not be when being sung by the best band in the universe
- elie, london, England

Amazing song, blows my mind every time I listen to it. Question: In the studio version of this song right before Robbie's guitar solo does he say "Do it Robbie do it," or "Do it Lonnie do it?"
- William, Laurel Canyon, CA

For those of you who don't know the Jim Morrison/John Lee Hooker and scott Stap versions of this song are different. I know this becuase, I previewed Stoned Immaculate, the doors tribute album on amazon.com.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

Whatever mood i'm in (e.g) angry, happy or sad, I can listen to the doors, and i'm only 12. All my friends at scool think i'm wierd because i love the doors,and because i borrow books from librarys on the doors, the think i'm even more wierd. when people at school make fun of me (for a reason unrelated to the doors) i just can't wait to go home and listen to the doors because it makes me feel better
- veronica, Melbourne, Australia

Alice Cooper claims on his late-night radio show (on wmgk 102.9, in the Philadelphia area) at the line "I woke up this morning and grabbed myself a beer" was credited to him. Apparently, he was describing his morning to Morrison, who stopped and wrote down the line in a notebook after Alice said it.
- Emily, Philadelphia, PA

You probably find a similarity in those songs, because they sound similar Johnny. You're not the only one.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

The live version is pretty cool and funny. At least the one I've heard. It's on a greatest hits compilation that they released. don't know the title of it though.
- Stefanie, Rock Hill, SC

one of the best drinking songs in the whole of the time music has been around
- TJ, tumut, Australia

Listen to to "You make me real" (Morrison Hotel). About half way through, you can hear him singing "you gotta roll, baby roll" in the backround, faintly. >>actually waking up in the morning and grabbing a beer puts a hurtin on a fella after a while. - Dennis, Moncton, - -<< Hence the picture of the butterfly on the LA Woman album. See "When the Music's Over"
- D, many, MA

This song is good anywhere. You can play it wherever you want, whenever you want. I for some reason compare it to "THE WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat.) Why is that?
- Johnny, Los Angeles, CA

I beleive this is the doors at their best, an excellent drinking/blues song. Also I like to listen to this song when I am driving long distances. I would also like to suggest, if you like this song you may like Jonathan Edwards - Shanty, which sounds strikingly similar. Thanks.
- Cowticket, Indiana, IN

I have been drunk singing this song on more than a hundred occasions at least. I love blues and actually waking up in the morning and grabbing a beer puts a hurtin on a fella after a while.
- Dennis, Moncton

oh man oh man I'm older And for the first friggin time I get a real chance to finally listen to the Doors/Morrison I have been working a day (slave job) and doing Indie film productions and ya da ya yada I'm driving my car for another film shoot so I put in this cd the classics doors and wo wo wo wo I was like whoa? !! and made a few phone calls asking around is this singer alive still? and was very sad to hear he passed on,road house blues and LA Woman are in my book totally incredible I really do not think we will ever come across a fella like him (morrison) and well there is this one other guy I'm watching cause I think his mojo has not risen yet but let's look and see what Johnny Lang has got to offer the world I feel he has stories to tell still yet! who knows for now I'm playing the Doors cd to death ! LoL
- mike, Sacramento, CA

this is such a cool and moody song. it's such a party song. I wonder if it'd be good for drinking to......
- Brandon, Saskatoon, Canada

the live version is much better than the, well, non live version. i like it a lot better anyway. its got more feeling and i think this song sounds better with the amount of feeling the live version has!!
- Mike, Harrison, NY

The Doors played the legendary Isle of Wight Festival in August 1970 as well as Jimi Hendrix, Miles Davis, The Who, Sly & The Family Stone, Ten Years After, Richie Havens and many others. At the festival, "Roadhouse Blues" was their encore. A bootleg cd called PALACE OF EXILE erroniously placed "Roadhouse Blues" before "Light My Fire."
- Barry, New York, NC

I'm talking about the live recording that is
- D, many, MA

What just about makes the song and sends chills up my spine every time I hear them, are the changes in his voice's inflection as he sings "Let it Roll, baby, roll...". [Agreed on the question: "How come the current music can't be as good as this?". Perhaps people forgotten their dreams and have gone back to sleep for a while].
- D, many, MA

"The future's uncertain, and the end is always near" I love this line, it's so true.
- Don, Philadelphia, PA

Probably mmy fave doors song too! The live version on The best Of the Doors cd is awesome! I like the guitar riff at the beginning, you know the intro! It's pretty cool, and the song is just one of those you wanna dance to! I love it!
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

I always thought it was "Passionate lady. Give up your vows."
- Stefanie magura, Rock Hill, SC

You can also hear a rockin' live version of this song off Blue Oyster Cult's "Extra-Terrestial Live" album, featuring Robbie Krieger on guitar.
- Paul, Rothesay, NB, Canada

iv got the live version on my ipod and basically the guitar riff begins and then jim does one of his characteristic screams and the noise of girls screaming actually deafens the music for a moment anyway its worth getting
- dan, london, England

Hey...this song rules but umm he says 'ashen lady....give up ur vows' what doest that mean? i always thought it was Passion lady???
- Jayme, San Clemente, CA

the flecktones covered this, but it didn't sound anything like this original masterpiece-- almost a totally new song!!
- Loretta, Liverpool, England

"Well, I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer" You're damn right Rhett, that line just captures the whole essence of being free.
- Renzis, Holland, United States

this is the BEST song ever by the Doors Jim Morrison is awlays alive in musical spirit
- Ryan, Salt Lake City, UT

Well, I woke up this morning and I got myself a beer. - what a line! what a song! this song captures the brillance of Morrison. He was truely a god.
- rhett, Melbourne, Australia

It's a shame music today isn't near this level. Today it is more about the image and not the music. Morisson was a passionate, incredible frontman, his image came naturally. But it shows you, we are still talking about this song now, i wonder if the same will be true in 40 years about today's music.
- Anthony, Tucson, AZ

I agree with the 3 of you,this is an excellent song.(How come the current music can't be as good as this?)
- Luke, Somonauk, IL

may not be one of the more famous doors songs but definatly one of my personal favourites. it has a great beat and is a perfect song to sing along to.
- Terri Lynn, Heart's Desire, Canada

My favorite Doors song too, good bar song.
- Brian, Paoli, IN

One of my all time favourites, always makes you want to get up and dance.
- jojo, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand