Hello, I Love You

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This article is about the song by The Doors. For the similarly named song by Roger Waters, see Hello (I Love You).
"Hello, I Love You"
Single by The Doors
from the album Waiting for the Sun
B-side "Love Street"
Released June 1968
Recorded February–May 1968
Genre Psychedelic rock, acid rock, psychedelic pop
Length 2:13
Label Elektra
Writer(s) Jim Morrison
Producer(s) Paul A. Rothchild
The Doors singles chronology
"The Unknown Soldier"
(1968)		 "Hello, I Love You"
(1968)		 "Touch Me"
(1968)
Waiting for the Sun track listing
"Hello, I Love You"
(1)		 "Love Street"
(2)

"Hello, I Love You" is a hit song by the American rock band The Doors from their 1968 album Waiting for the Sun. It was released as a single that same year, reaching number one in the United States and selling over a million copies in the U.S. alone. In Canada, it hit number one as well.[1] The single also became the band's first big UK hit, peaking at number fifteen on the chart.

This was one of the six songs performed by the Doors on the demo for Aura Records in 1965.

Sometimes the title is listed as "Hello, I Love You (Won't You Tell Me Your Name?)" or "Hello, I Love You, Won't You Tell Me Your Name?" The title that is printed depends on how early of a pressing the record is.

Composition

The song was composed while the band was recording their third album, Waiting For The Sun. There was some difficulty as Morrison's drinking was making work impossible. Drummer John Densmore threatened to quit the band and the rest of the band decided to look through some of Morrison's old poems in an effort to calm him down. One of the poems, "Hello I Love You", had been written one afternoon, while Morrison and Ray Manzarek watched a girl walking on the beach. Early American pressings of the single used the title Hello I Love You Won’t You Tell Me Your Name.[2]

Plagiarism controversy

In the liner notes to the Doors Box set, Robby Krieger has denied the allegations that the song's musical structure was stolen from Ray Davies, where a riff similar to it is featured in The Kinks' "All Day and All of the Night". Instead, he said the song's vibe was taken from Cream's song "Sunshine of Your Love". According to the Doors biography No One Here Gets Out Alive, courts in the UK determined in favor of Davies and any royalties for the song are paid to him.

Real life influences

The last verse was written by Jim Morrison three years prior to the album recordings, reportedly about an African-American girl whom he dreamed about while living on Venice Beach.

"Sidewalk crouches at her feet
Like a dog that begs for something sweet.
Do you hope to make her see you, fool?
Do you hope to pluck this dusky jewel?"

Personnel

  • Jim Morrison - vocals, songwriting
  • Robby Krieger - electric guitar, songwriting
  • Ray Manzarek - keyboards, backing vocals, songwriting
  • John Densmore - drums

Cover versions

The song has been covered by Oleander, Buddy Rich, Missing Persons, The Cure (on the 1990 compilation Rubáiyát), Eurythmics, Simple Minds, Anal Cunt, Neil Young, Adam Ant, Adam Freeland, Siouxsie Sioux, Kiyoharu, the Lithuanian postmodernist rock band Antis, and the Persian alternative singer Mohsen Namjoo.

It is also referenced in the Dresden Dolls' song "The Perfect Fit" and Pulp's "Dogs Are Everywhere". Hip Hop artist Necro mixed and released this tune as "You Ho".

Chart performance (U.S.)

The song not only spent two weeks at #1 (see below), but was also in the Top 5 at the same time as Jose Feliciano's version of "Light My Fire". This put two of the Doors' tunes simultaneously in the Top 5.

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
United States (RIAA)[3] Gold 1,000,000

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References

  1. ↑ "Top Singles - Volume 9, No. 23_24, August 19 1968". Collections Canada. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

Preceded by US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
August 3, 1968 (two weeks)		 Succeeded by
"People Got to Be Free" by the Rascals
Preceded by Canadian RPM 100 number-one single
August 19, 1968 (one week)		 Succeeded by
"People Got To Be Free" by the Rascals
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