Wait until the war is over
And we're both a little older
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Unborn living, living, dead
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And it's all over
For the unknown soldier
It's all over
For the unknown soldier, hut
Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And, it's all over
The war is over
It's all over
The war is over
Well, all over, baby
All over, baby
Oh, over, yeah
All over, baby
Wooooo, hah-hah
All over
All over, baby
Oh, woa-yeah
All over
All over Hey!
And we're both a little older
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Unborn living, living, dead
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And it's all over
For the unknown soldier
It's all over
For the unknown soldier, hut
Make a grave for the unknown soldier
Nestled in your hollow shoulder
The unknown soldier
Breakfast where the news is read
Television children fed
Bullet strikes the helmet's head
And, it's all over
The war is over
It's all over
The war is over
Well, all over, baby
All over, baby
Oh, over, yeah
All over, baby
Wooooo, hah-hah
All over
All over, baby
Oh, woa-yeah
All over
All over Hey!
The Tomb of the Unknown Solider, located in Arlington, Virginia was commissioned by Congress in 1921 as a tribute to unidentified fallen soldiers during World War I. “The Unknown Soldier” by The Doors tributes the monument and calls to light the needless deaths the Vietnam War has caused. The Unknown Soldier emotionally connects to sympathetic listeners by introducing the realization that some soldiers will not return home from the war. The Doors released “The Unknown Soldier” in 1968 as the first single from, Waiting for the Sun. The Doors released at the height of the Vietnam War; but how do The Doors protest the war through a song honoring the fallen soldiers?
While “The Unknown Soldier” is a protest song against the Vietnam War, there are elements of which pay tribute to the fallen soldiers. The Doors use the lyrics “For the unknown soldiers, it’s all over” several times throughout the song. These lyrics are used in a way that connotes the soldiers will not be returning home. At the time, many were so badly injured, they were unable to identify the bodies. Hence, The Unknown Soldier. Considering most of the soldiers were part of the Draft, many people had a loved one or knew someone who was fighting in the Vietnam War. Which is why The Doors used these lyrics to bring a sense of realism to the listener which connects to the audience both sympathetically and empathetically. By using these lyrics The Doors are able to relate the song with a vast majority of the population. Which is what led to this songs popularity in the 60’s and 70’s.
It was during this time that we began to see the news coverage of the war become more normalized and mainstream in the household through television, radio, and newspaper. The lyrics “breakfast where the news is ready, television children fed,” is The Doors’ symbolism of this new normal. As the 60’s was the era of the Nuclear family (i.e. Leave it to Beaver), most families would begin their days with eating breakfast and reading the newspaper. Thus, “breakfast where the news is read.” Also, “television children fed” refers to the increase of children watching TV. News and other media coverage normalized the tragedy of war for most Americans. With the normalizing of the news and media coverage of the war, and the stagnation of many American’s in their “comfort zones,” The Doors wanted to remind the audience that while many soldiers come home to their families after the war, there were those who won’t return. This is yet another aspect of the song which connects to the listener’s emotions sympathetically and empathetically.
Just before the lyrics “Make a grave for the unknown soldier, nestled in your hollow shoulder,” The Doors use a group of soldiers marching. When the soldiers come to a halt, there is a gunshot. While performing this song live, The Doors would reenact this scene, where Krieger would aim his guitar at Morrison and make a loud pop which simulated the gunshot. This is where we see the death of the unknown soldier. As a typical funerary procession occurs, we “make a grave” for the dead. The lyrics “nestled in your hollow shoulder” give use the allusion that one person’s head is resting in another’s shoulder, crying, or mourning the unknown soldier.
While “The Unknown Soldier” is a protest song against the Vietnam War, there are elements of which pay tribute to the fallen soldiers. The Doors use the lyrics “For the unknown soldiers, it’s all over” several times throughout the song. These lyrics are used in a way that connotes the soldiers will not be returning home. At the time, many were so badly injured, they were unable to identify the bodies. Hence, The Unknown Soldier. Considering most of the soldiers were part of the Draft, many people had a loved one or knew someone who was fighting in the Vietnam War. Which is why The Doors used these lyrics to bring a sense of realism to the listener which connects to the audience both sympathetically and empathetically. By using these lyrics The Doors are able to relate the song with a vast majority of the population. Which is what led to this songs popularity in the 60’s and 70’s.
It was during this time that we began to see the news coverage of the war become more normalized and mainstream in the household through television, radio, and newspaper. The lyrics “breakfast where the news is ready, television children fed,” is The Doors’ symbolism of this new normal. As the 60’s was the era of the Nuclear family (i.e. Leave it to Beaver), most families would begin their days with eating breakfast and reading the newspaper. Thus, “breakfast where the news is read.” Also, “television children fed” refers to the increase of children watching TV. News and other media coverage normalized the tragedy of war for most Americans. With the normalizing of the news and media coverage of the war, and the stagnation of many American’s in their “comfort zones,” The Doors wanted to remind the audience that while many soldiers come home to their families after the war, there were those who won’t return. This is yet another aspect of the song which connects to the listener’s emotions sympathetically and empathetically.
Just before the lyrics “Make a grave for the unknown soldier, nestled in your hollow shoulder,” The Doors use a group of soldiers marching. When the soldiers come to a halt, there is a gunshot. While performing this song live, The Doors would reenact this scene, where Krieger would aim his guitar at Morrison and make a loud pop which simulated the gunshot. This is where we see the death of the unknown soldier. As a typical funerary procession occurs, we “make a grave” for the dead. The lyrics “nestled in your hollow shoulder” give use the allusion that one person’s head is resting in another’s shoulder, crying, or mourning the unknown soldier.