Songs That Were Banned: The Doors – Love Me Two Times

This was released as a single in December 1967, the same month Jim Morrison was arrested at a show in New Haven when he delivered an on-stage rant against a police officer who confronted him backstage with a young girl.

This incident, combined with the lyrics of “Love Me Two Times,” scared them away from some family-friendly radio stations that refused to play the song. The song was considered to be somewhat risqué for radio airplay, being banned in New Haven for being “too controversial”.

Robby Krieger credited a rather obscure song for inspiring the guitar lick on this song: “Southbound Train” by John Koerner, whose trio Koerner, Ray & Glover was one of Krieger’s favorite acts.

The song peaked at #25 in the Billboard 100 in 1968.

From Songfacts

Doors guitarist Robby Krieger wrote this song after their keyboard player Ray Manzarek implored the band members to go home and write some songs. Krieger came up with this one “Light My Fire” in about an hour. It was a rare Doors song where lead singer Jim Morrison did not contribute lyrics.

Krieger’s lyrics were inspired by both The Doors going on the road and American soldiers going to Vietnam. The theme is sex as a way to survive in strange times, and the need to be “loved two times” before going away. Keyboard player Ray Manzarek called it, “Robby’s great blues/rock classic about love and loss, or multiple orgasms.”

Through most of the song, Jim Morrison left off the “s” in “two times,” creating a double meaning to the phrase.

This continues the theme on Strange Days of an uncertain future. It continues the story of the estranged lover from “You’re Lost Little Girl.”

Although this was released as a single and became a hit, it was recorded for the first Doors album, but didn’t make the cut. When it came time to record the second Doors album Strange Days, “Love Me Two Times” was ready to go.

Ray Manzarek played a clavinet on this track.

Aerosmith recorded this in 1990 for the Air America soundtrack. In 2000, Robby Krieger and Ray Manzarek added slide guitar and keyboards to the existing recording, which was remixed & included on The Doors tribute album Stoned Immaculate. >>

In 2000, the surviving members of the Doors taped a VH1 Storytellers episode with guest vocalists filling in for Morrison. Pat Monahan from Train sang on this.

Love Me Two Times

Love me two time, baby, love me twice today
Love me two time, girl, I’m goin’ away
Love me two time girl, one for tomorrow,
One just for today
Love me two times
I’m goin’ away
Love me one time, could not speak
Love me one time, yeah, my knees got weak
Love me two time, girl, lasts me all through the week
Love me two times, I’m goin’ away
Love me two times, I’m goin’ away
Alright, yeah
Love me one time, could not speak
Love me one time, baby, yeah, my knees got weak
Love me two times, girl, lasts me all through the week
Love me two times, I’m goin’ away
Love me two time, babe
Love me twice today
Love me two time, babe, ’cause im goin’ away
Love me two time, girl, one for tomorrow,
One just for today
Love me two times, I’m goin’ away
Love me two times I’m goin’ away
Love me two times I’m goin’ away

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player.

19 thoughts on “Songs That Were Banned: The Doors – Love Me Two Times”

  3. I remember back in the late 70s the local station playing AT40- went from #40 to #38- which I found curious- then a few days later at the newsstand i got my hands on a copy of Billboard and looked at the chart- and the song the local fuddy duddy station banned from their airways “Paradise

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      1. Yep gives it even more attention… remember three live crew? that wouldn’t have gotten any attention if they hadn’t given it the negative attention- then everyone wanted to hear it.

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      2. He could be a space cadet I agree. I was never really into the Doors. I went through a small Doors faze as a teen…which I think all males in my generation had to do…they made a bit of a comeback during the 80s.

        Kilmer did a good job…he really did… I think his best role though was Doc Holiday in Tombstone.

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      3. Heh. I never had a Doors phase. They made a few pieces I liked.

        Kilmer was a stunning actor but, seeing him on late shows being interviewed? He is weird, up there with Joaquin Phoenix. But, there is something to be said about people who are weird enough to set aside their own personalities to “become” their character (the Scarlett Johansson arguement). The flip side of that is, you get John Wayne, Alan Alda, Al Pacino & Tom Cruise…men who read lines on camera. 🙄

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    1. I would have loved to have seen them but I was born in 67. Most of the music I like is the 60s and 70s…well that is probably obvious… I have seen the Who, Stones, Kinks, and McCartney but I would have liked to have seen them then.

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  8. Your website is evolving very well with the thematic series addition to your video postings.Compared to other music video blogs I read, yours is the most thorough in explanatory content.

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    1. Thank you for the compliment and the feedback especially on the theme posts. It throws a wrinkle in it and keeps it interesting to hopefully the readers and me.

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