I was doing yard work, and I thought, what if I could speak to Jim Morrison about all this nonsense in our country? What would he say? I have no idea where that idea came from or why I thought that. So, I humored myself, thinking up all kinds of things that might come out of Jim, knowing his work (songs and poetry).  So, I’m sharing it just for kicks.

Me: Hey Jim, nice of you to take time out of jammin’ in Heaven to talk to me.

Jim:  No problem. I’m on a break. Jimi and Janis are at odds because I’m spendin’ time with Ray. It’s pretty heavy up here.

Me: Sorry about that. But thank you for talking to me.

Jim: You rang the bell, and I’m here.

Me: So, I don’t know if you guys could see what’s been happening in our country these last twenty years, but it’s getting out of control.

Jim: Oh, we all see it. It brings on tears, even with the toughest and happiest. I recently ran into Betty White, who told me straight out, we’re fucked. She didn’t elaborate. Just said that and moseyed on her way.

Me: What are your thoughts on how big business has pretty much taken over the country and is controlling people when they don’t even realize it?

Jim: (pauses and takes a few deep breaths) When I was alive, I saw the effects of consumerism. People wanted stuff. Growing up, we didn’t have a lot, so the idea that we could go into a store and buy something on credit was appealing, especially big things like washers and whatnot. It grabbed hold of people like sticky summer air, and they couldn’t break free from it unless they went into the woods or a lonely stretch of beach, away from billboards and TVs.  But you have to be awake to see that. A lot of people are sleeping, Goldilocks in the comfortable bed. But comfort comes at a price.

Me: Yeah, it got me too. I fell for the infomercials.

Jim: The what?

Me: Oh, television commercials selling something that’s supposed to be awesome, and they tell you need it or your life isn’t complete.

Jim: Like an automobile?

Me: No, like makeup or exercise equipment.

Jim: The Earth provides paths to walk on, and beauty isn’t measured by paints or potions but by the soul, hidden, invisible, but there.

Me: Right, but media, television, and now the Internet tells us that you need to work out at a gym or use specialized equipment for a hard body, and a made-up face makes more money.

Jim: (shaking his head) I knew things were goin’ in the wrong direction, and I needed help copin’. Being far away was better than reality but it took its toll on me. I felt so much pressure from corporate bullshit tellin’ us how our music would go. Suits, man. Suits were tryin’ to tell us how to create. The only thing they created was fear in people. They told us our records wouldn’t sell well because it was too out there.

Me: I just heard Riders on the Storm on the radio. The Doors’ music is just as popular today if not more than when you were alive. Sorry to say.

Jim: I know. I get razzed by a lot of youngins, like Kurt and Taylor, not to mention tons of musicians who never got as far as they wanted, that The Doors’ music was so good because it was from a simpler time. The music was good because we tapped into a creative vein and spilled everything onto the reels. We didn’t give a fuck about what anyone thought. We just made our version of music.

Me: And it is great music.

Jim: Thanks. We all needed to express what was in our heads. That’s what we did. It’s hard for some people to do that. They’re afraid of what others will think of them. Man, so many people are always worried about what others think of them. And that’s where advertising companies lick their lips and rub their hands together to come up with bullshit to get people to buy what they’re sellin’. They rob you of your time and spirit and make you feel like you’re not good enough – if you let them.

Me: What should we do to change this?

Jim: Man, it’s gonna take a revolution of thought, and I’m not sure the trajectory can be changed. Young people’s minds are taking in too much information filtered through the lens of a greedy society, and there are not enough older folks with decent minds helpin’ them see reality. I thought music could be the change, but I hear some of the stuff being put out there today, and it’s not helping society but sending it back to a primitive age where anger and weapons are better than handshakes and hugs.

Me: Yes, I see it too. I want to put good out there. I’m tryin’ with this blog but it’s only reaching a small audience.

Jim: Keep writing it. You know the right words to help things change. We’re all rootin’ for ya.

Me: Thank you. Who is?

Jim: Everyone up here who wanted to make the world a better place.

Me: That’s all I want.

Jim: I know. Keep puttin’ stuff out there. The eyes will come from far and wide.

Me: Thank you, Jim. Give my cats and dog a hug from me.

Jim: Sure thing.

Thank you for reading this different kind of blog post.

To Jim and all the musicians who have passed,

Francesca