The Changeling
by The Doors

Album: LA Woman (1971)
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Songfacts®:

  • A changeling is a mythological creature who is substituted for a human baby. They're often unpredictable and can become outcasts, which is how Doors frontman Jim Morrison frames himself in this song, where you never know where he'll show up next.
  • Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek and drummer John Densmore commented on the song in an LA Weekly piece from January 19, 2012. Manzarek observed that the song tells the story of Morrison's adventurous life in Los Angeles. Densmore said that from the time they met to the time he died, Morrison changed from "Michelangelo's statue of David" to "overweight with a beard."
  • Jim Morrison may have gotten the idea for this song from a student film he saw at USC in 1968 called Changeling. There have been other movies with that title as well, including one released in 2008 directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie.
  • Morrison wrote the lyrics in 1968, but the Doors didn't record the song until 1970 when they made LA Woman, which ended up being his last album with the group.
  • This rocker was the first song on LA Woman, and also the first song the band recorded for the album. It played to the idea of Jim Morrison's constant transformation.
  • The Doors wanted "The Changeling" to be the first LA Woman single, but Elektra Records president Jac Holzman insisted on that honor going to "Love Her Madly." He also made "(You Need Meat) Don't Go No Further" the B-side rather than "The Changeling."

    The Doors later included "The Changeling" as the B-side of "Riders On The Storm."
  • The Doors played "The Changeling" on December 11, 1970, at the State Fair Music Hall in Dallas. That version is on the Boot Yer Butt: The Doors Bootlegs album from 2003.
  • In 2011, The Doors YouTube channel released an official video for the song.

Comments: 18

  • Paulcoholic from Adirondack Mts I like the post about changelings being substituted for babies and they were usually outcasts. Most alcoholics feel like outcasts until they finally find a higher power and truly change. Morrison was full blown, knew it and didn't care. Many alcoholics have been wealthy, broke, lived uptown, lived downtown, leaving town is called a geographic cure, (they don't work). Morrisons vocals kick ass on this tune. RIP Jimmy.
  • Pichoo from CanadaI had the 45 Riders on the Storm and I discovered Changeling. Too bad it never play on radio.
  • João from PortugalThe rhythm section follows more or less Junior Walker & the All Stars' 'Shotgun'. A song Jimi H played as part of a group when he made his first television appearance. I think this is one of The Door's finest whatever.
  • Jef from Passaic, NjThe hit song "Funkytown" by Lipps Inc. stole the main riff from "The Changeling".
  • Helvira from Sherman, TxI think 'Changeling' was Morrison's way of capturing the essence of reincarnation. In all of his works he put much emphasis but not on death and I believe this is because he felt that his soul would be shared amongst the earth and in a way that makes his, as well as the soul of everyone else, simultaneously everywhere, nowhere, used, and changing without being altered.
  • David from Woburn, MaThe last forty seconds are the best on the album. "YEAH, I'm leavin' town! On a midnight train!"
  • Nady from Adelaide, AustraliaI'm a chaaaaangling SEE ME CHANGE!!! goood song
  • Mark from Miami, FlI thought this was on LA WOMAN. I didn't know it was on Riders of the Storm. O well yeah cool he was never so broke he couldnt leave town
  • Tristan from Philadelphia, PaThe guitar work at the later part of song is great, it has a kinda exotic middle east sound to it.
  • Michael from Guayaquil, South AmericaQue cancion, tan poderosa, Morrison estaba cambiando, But I never been so broke.....
  • Nadine from Riverside, CaI love how he screams in this song. A great song on an equally great album.
  • Jonathon from Clermont, FlIt's bluesy, with some obscure lyrics by Morrison. I like how he talks about being uptown, downtown, and all around. I think it's funny.
  • Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScOn my version of the record it's written very strangely as "Changeling The" instead of "The Changeling." Good song!. I wasn't sure what it was about though. Makes sense.
  • Tony from Somewhere, MaThis is one of the most under rated doors songs of all time IMO.
  • Jim from Qinhuangdao, Chinaman, when he starts screaming, "well I'm the air you breathe, food you eat, friends you meet in the swarming street, Wooooooow, gotta see me change, change change!!!" I'm always yelling too. Great part, great excitement, great underrated tune. Morrison actually wanted this to be the lead single off LA Woman, but cooler heads prevailed and the more commercial Love Her Madly was chosen. Good choice.
  • Barry from New York, NcActually on the record, it's known simply as "Changeling." There's no "the" in the title. By the way this tune has some great keyboard work from Manzarek.
  • Ioyuhoih from Philly, PaThe best song. Ever.
  • Jojo from Hawkes Bay, New ZealandI think this is quite a prophetic song in that Jim Morrison did change in appearance and the direction he was taking.
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