The Changeling (The Doors song)


"The Changeling" is a song by the American rock band The Doors. It is the opening track on their sixth album and final with Jim Morrison, L.A. Woman. It was also released as the B-side of "Riders on the Storm" which peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Background

"The Changeling" was the first song that the band recorded during the recording of L.A. Woman.
Taken from one of Morrison's notebooks written in 1968, the song's title makes reference to the "changeling", a human-like creature found in folklore and folk religion throughout Europe. Author James Riordan has noted that the song's mention may be another reference to Morrison's difficult childhood. The funky James Brown-esque composition also appears to anticipate the singer's departure from Los Angeles with the line "I'm leavin' town on the midnight train".
The band wanted to be the album's first single. Jac Holzman overruled the group's decision in favor of "Love Her Madly" and the non-album B-side " Don't Go No Further". Morrison cited "The Changeling" as one of his favorite Doors songs.

Reception

Richie Unterberger of Allmusic called the song one of "their better little-heeded album tracks." Will Hermes of Rolling Stone called "The Changeling" a "garage-style classic." Georgiy Starostin, on the other hand, said the song was the "album's second weakest track", criticizing "its repetitive riff and pounding arena-rock beat" that "tries to emulate 'Roadhouse Blues' but is nowhere near as epic or melodically successful."