The Doors, “Break On Through (To The Other Side)” Live At Isle Of Wight 1970

August 29, 1970

The night The Doors took the stage at the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1970, the band was plagued by wind, bad weather, and bitter cold. Making their set even more difficult was frontman Jim Morrison’s unwillingness to have movie spotlights on the band, leaving The Doors to perform almost completely in the dark. Nevertheless, The Doors managed to deliver an outstanding performance, the highlight being a rendition of ‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’ that people are still talking about 45 years later!

Despite being commercially unsuccessful, ‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’ became a concert staple and remains one of the band’s signature and most popular songs.

‘Break On Through (To The Other Side)’ is somehow even more magical when seen performed in the near-dark; all we have are occasional flashes from cameras in the crowd of 600,000 festival goers with the occasional stage lighting hitting keyboardist Ray Manzarek just right or glancing over Jim Morrison as he wails his way through this bluesy classic. Regardless of the many, many issues plaguing The Doors that night, it’s their professionalism and dedication to their craft that really shines through in this performance!

+ Break On Through lyrics +

You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide

Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side, yeah

We chased our pleasures here
Dug our treasures there
But can you still recall
The time we cried?

Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side

Everybody loves my baby
Everybody loves my baby
She get, she get
She get, she get high

I found an island in your arms
Country in your eyes
Arms that chain
Eyes that lie

Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, auh, oh, yeah

Made the scene, week to week
Day to day, hour to hour
The gate is straight
Deep and wide

Break on through to the other side
Break on through to the other side
Break on through, break on through
Break on through, break on through
Hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey hey