Do It

Album: The Soft Parade (1969)
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Songfacts®:

  • In the heady time of 1969, that year when hippiedom peaked and popped at Woodstock, songs were often political rallying cries. From "Ohio" to "Volunteers," pop stars frequently called for the Baby Boomers to change the world. "Do It" was such a song, though more forgettable than those previously mentioned. It's one of two "rallying cry" songs on The Soft Parade, the other being "Tell All The People."

    "Do It" calls for the youngsters to do... something.

    Please, please listen to me children (Come on, baby, do it crazy)
    You are the ones who will rule the world, ha


    It's a vague call for the young to take the bull by the horns.
  • "Do It" was the B-side to the "Runnin' Blue" single.
  • Doors lead singer Jim Morrison wrote the song with their guitarist Robby Krieger. They'd both been writing Doors' songs from the band's start (Krieger wrote their breakout hit, "Light My Fire"), but The Soft Parade was the first time Krieger had as much of a hand in writing an album as Morrison did. He wrote four of the album's nine songs and cowrote this one, giving him equal split with the Lizard King.
  • "Do It" has been called a filler song, but much of The Soft Parade can be categorized that way. The Doors had done so much touring and publicity for their third studio album, Waiting for the Sun, that they didn't have time to focus on writing new material. On top of that, Morrison was beginning to have issues with his fame and with the press, both of which fed a growing problem with drugs and alcohol. He didn't want to be in the studio, and it was obvious. On top of this, producer Paul Rothchild was steeped in a cocaine habit and making everyone crazy with how hard he drove them. Basically, The Soft Parade wasn't an inspired album, and it shows.

Comments: 1

  • Jim B from PhiladelphiaThere is a palpable sense of exhaustion on this album, but also some great tracks. I always have enjoyed the title track, plus Running Blue, Shaman’s Blues, and Wishful Sinful. The Doors sound has never been replicated, and it is as fresh today as when they recorded.
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