Love Me Two Times by The Doors

Album: Strange Days (1967)

Charted: 25

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Songfacts®:

Doors guitarist Robby Krieger wrote this song after their keyboard player Ray Manzarek implored the band members to go home and write some songs. Krieger came up with "Love Me Two Times" and "Light My Fire" in about an hour. Jim Morrison wrote most Doors lyrics, but not all: Krieger typically had two or three songs on each album with his lyrics. The band split credits equally, so every member is credited on every song.
Krieger's lyrics were inspired by both The Doors going on the road and American soldiers going to Vietnam. The theme is sex as a way to survive in strange times, and the need to be "loved two times" before going away. Keyboard player Ray Manzarek called it, "Robby's great blues/rock classic about love and loss, or multiple orgasms."
Through most of the song, Jim Morrison left off the "s" in "two times," creating a double meaning to the phrase.
This continues the theme on Strange Days of an uncertain future. It continues the story of the estranged lover from "You're Lost Little Girl."
Although this was released as a single and became a hit, it was recorded for the first Doors album, but didn't make the cut. When it came time to record the second Doors album Strange Days, "Love Me Two Times" was ready to go.
Ray Manzarek played a clavinet on this track.
This was released as a single in December 1967, the same month Jim Morrison was arrested at a show in New Haven when he delivered an on-stage rant against a police officer who confronted him backstage with a young girl. This incident, combined with the rather suggestive lyrics of "Love Me Two Times," enhanced the dark, rebellious image of The Doors, but also scared them away from some family friendly radio stations that refused to play the song. I reached its chart peak of #25 on January 13, 1968, but have done a lot better if Morrison's baggage wasn't attached to it.
Robby Krieger credited a rather obscure song for inspiring the guitar lick on this song: "Southbound Train" by John Koerner, whose trio Koerner, Ray & Glover was one of Krieger's favorite acts.
Aerosmith recorded this in 1990 for the Air America soundtrack. In 2000, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek added slide guitar and keyboards to the existing recording, which was remixed & included on The Doors tribute album Stoned Immaculate. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Rick - Los Angeles
In 2000, the surviving members of the Doors taped a VH1 Storytellers episode with guest vocalists filling in for Morrison. Pat Monahan from Train sang on this.
During a spoken section of the Dead Milkmen song "Bitchin' Camaro," they talk about going to see a Doors cover band, and sing a reworked version of this song: "Love me two times baby, once for tomorrow, once cause I got AIDS."

Comments: 28

Saul from Mexico CitySo, in the part of "love me two time" how the meaning of the song changes? please someone explain me hehehe.

And another doubt, in the part "last me all through the week", he refers to his legs or to his "girl"?
H Smith from CaliforniaThe song, Love Me Two Times, is about being drafted into the military, hence the lyric, "I'm going away." It applied to the circumstances at the time because men were being drafted to fight in the Vietnam War in the 60s during the height of The Doors fame. The lyric, "Yeah, my knees got weak," is about him getting head.
Cris from NyMy girlfriends and I grew up believing it was some hot oral sex and then some crazy screwing and we stand by that to this day
Mak from LondonMy bad. There are two versions of the song: One with Vox Continental and the official with Harpsichord. The version with Vox organ is on Alive She Cried but the official single contained Harpsichord. Sorry about the previous comment.
Mak from LondonDo you even know what a Harpsichord sounds like? I suspect I know the answer... Ray plays the Vox Continental Organ on this record from start to finish which is the typical sound of The Doors (except L.A. Woman that he used a B3 Hammond Organ). The one record I know he used a Harpsichord is 'Soft Parade' but surely not on 'Love Me Two Times'.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, Sc@Valerie:

It's amazing how many people think the lead singer of any group was the person who wrote all the group's songs.
Jesse from San Antoino, TxTrue valerie True
Valerie from Eureka, CaWhat a trip! I read thru the comments about Love Me Two Times. I have read so much garbage about this song. Thank the powers that be someone added Robby Krieger wrote it! As a matter of fact, if anyone looks up other info about any of the Doors members you will find that Robby wrote a lot of the songs that made it to hits. Jim has been given the pats on the back in writing for the songs that Robby wrote..I wonder why. Maybe because he is the singer and people just think Jim also did the writing. How knows what the meanings of any of the music is from any band..be it the Doors or anyone else. Unless you were personally there when the music and words were put together, you aren't going to know for sure but reading all the possible meanings is fun.
Sandra from Gardnerville, NvI LOVE the walking bass line. I can hear it now just thinking about it.
Corey from West Portsmouth, Oh, AfghanistanRhena, the line is "I'm going away" not "But not today"
Corey from West Portsmouth, Oh, AfghanistanThis song is a reference to oral sex.
Susan from Toronto, CanadaDoors insider and Jim Morrison biography Danny Sugarman told "Rolling Stone Magazine" that LOVE ME TWO TIMES "is about giving head."
Allie from A Little Ol' Town In, MiThe guitar is very shakey but i like it. The harpsichord is very interesting sounding. This isn't their best song. THE LIZARD KING ROCKS!!!!!!!!
Marty from Chicago, IlNice song. I agree with the earlier comments that the "s" appears to have been intentionally left out in "two time" in order to create ambiguity. Whether it was in fact done intentionally or not, it makes the song more interesting if you don't know for sure which way he means "love me two time."
Luke from Scranton, PaActually, Rhema, the lyrics are "Love me two times babe, love me twice today." Great song. The keyboard part is quite fun. Ralph: I'm not sure how often harpsichords were used in rock, but I think they were used on one or two other Doors tracks and definitely in Elton John's "I Need You To Turn To" from his 1970 album. Probably a lot more harpsichord rock out there but I haven't found it yet.
Rhema from College Station, TxThis song is about Jim M. being too tired to be "loved" so frequently. "Love me two times baybe, but not Today. Love me two times baybe, oh my knees have gone weak..."
Jim must have been quite tired on the road and must have felt like all that "loving" was getting to him.
Jim goes on:
"Love me two times baybe, and godspeed."
He liked the loving, but he needed his rest too. Godspeed is like good bye.
Clare from Dallas, Txto "two time" someone is to cheat on them.
Paul from Cincinnati, OhMaybe I'm clueless, but how would it change the meaning if he left the "s" off of the phrase, "love me two times?"? Either way it still means have sex with me twice, I would think...someone explain for me please..
Tokie from Mexico City, MexicoUh Dude the Areosmith Version of Love Me Two Times sucks big donkey balls. The version of road house John Lee Hooker with morrsion ain't bad cheack it out.
Rick from Parts UnknownJackson, "Stronger Than Dirt" was the slogan for Ajax in the 60's, and Jim Morrison says it at the end of "Touch Me" not "Love Me Two Times"
Carolyn from Roch Hills, Mihey jackson, i dont know if jim morrison says anything there but that ending was used for that ajax cleaning product stuff, and on the comercial they used that little riff and said "stroner than dirt" i dont know if this helps at all
Calum from Edinburgh, ScotlandI didn't think he said anything other than the lyrics that go through the rest of the song
Jackson from Key West, FlOh, wait im thinking of the song Touch Me.
Jackson from Key West, FlWhat does morrison say at the end of the song? it sounds something like "stronger than words" I'm not sure though
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScPeter. I think the song you're talking about is "Hello, I Love You". the beginning riff in that song sounds like the intro to "All Day And All Of the Night" wich is by the Kinks.
Ralph from Durham, NcAnyone have any stats on how often harpsichords were used in rock music? Or when they were first used? Manzarek's versatility is showing here, a great vamp background and solo on harpsichord in a heavy rock band and song!
Peter from Providence, RiI believe I read the lead riff is a kinks rip-off
Brian from Paoli, InI agree the guitar is much louder and cleaner than in most other Doors songs.

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