Celebration of the Lizard

"Celebration of the Lizard"
Composition by the Doors
from the album Absolutely Live
Published1970
Released
  • 1970 (live version)
  • 2003 (studio version)
GenrePsychedelic rock
Length
  • 14:28 (live version)[1]
  • 17:01 (studio version)[2]
LabelElektra
Composer(s)The Doors
Lyricist(s)Jim Morrison
Producer(s)Paul A. Rothchild

"Celebration of the Lizard" is a performance piece by American rock band the Doors, featuring lyrics written by lead singer Jim Morrison and music by the Doors. Composed as a series of poems, the piece includes both spoken verse and sung lyrics, musical sections, interpretive dance, audience reaction (triggering by performing the piece after telling the audience that they were going to perform "Light My Fire" instead), and passages of allegorical storytelling, though the Doors often performed abridged renditions which omitted some or even most of these elements.[3][4]

"Celebration of the Lizard" was performed in its entirety at several Doors concerts, with a complete live performance of the piece appearing on the band's 1970 live album Absolutely Live and on the 1991 live compilation album In Concert. A complete studio-recorded version appeared on the compilation album Legacy: The Absolute Best in 2003, and as a bonus track on Rhino's 40th Anniversary edition of Waiting for the Sun (2007).

  1. ^ Absolutely Live (Liner notes). The Doors. Elektra Records. 1970. LP labels. EKS-9002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Waiting for the Sun (Liner notes). The Doors. Rhino Records. 2007. R2-101191.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Goldstein, Richard (August 5, 1968). "The Shaman as Superstar". New York. New York.
  4. ^ Wall, Mick (October 30, 2014). Love Becomes a Funeral Pyre: A Biography of the Doors. UK: Hachette Books. pp. 302–303. ISBN 978-1409151258.