Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: psych-rock
Song Meaning of “Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)” by The Doors
Alabama Song (Whisky Bar) by The Doors is a modern take on a traditional German folk song which has an air of melancholia and a theme of longing for something out of reach.
The song is about a man who is looking for something in his life that he can’t have – love, companionship, safety, or whatever else he desires – so he turns to a bar and finds solace and temporary peace in a bottle of whisky. The singing of this song may be a desperate search for something to make sense of his world, and more importantly, to make sense of himself.
The lyrics also suggest that the protagonist is struggling to come to terms with the realization that there will never be a definitive answer to his search. In the chorus he sings “She told me, ‘Go to the end of the road, turn your back on the wind, you’ll find freedom there, and peace of mind’. But I can’t find the way and I can’t find the key”. This shows his desire to find a sense of peace and contentment in life and his belief that it is possible to find it but, in the end, he is unable to reach this goal.
The song also touches on the idea of having a price to pay for the choices we make.