Excerpted from: www.irememberjimmorrison.com
Please Help Me!
When Oliver Stone was about to shoot, “The Doors”, he paid a visit to the Admiral in an attempt to gain some insight into Jim through the eyes of the rock ‘n’ roll icon’s parents. After the visit, Stone would say that the Admiral did not seem to know who his son really was. This was particularly true, for Stone knew the Jim Morrison of “No One Here Gets Out Alive” fame and virtually nothing about Jim’s younger life.
The Admiral knew all about his first born son, but knew absolutely nothing about The Lizard King. He was, however, sure of one thing that few people knew: Jim had inherited a severe case of stubbornness from his mother, Clara, who never backed down, never gave up, and never asked more than once. Many people have tried to ingratiate themselves with the Morrison clan by claiming they hold letters written by Jim or last messages to be delivered only after his death – all of which have proven to be counterfeit.
Jim Morrison would have rather swilled down Drano than send a message asking for help from his parents or from any living soul on the planet, not even sister, Anne, whom he dearly loved, or brother, Andy. Jim was too proud and too stubborn. So, when Pamela called the Morrison’s home at two o’clock a.m., loaded on downers a year before Jim died, telling tales of their son’s downward spiral…her financial difficulties…the Miami trial…The Doors fighting over money…Jim’s excessive drinking culminating with:
“Jim-m-m-m r-e-e-e-e-e-a-l-l-l-y n-e-e-e-e-ds y-o-o-u-u-r-r-r-r h-e-l-l-l-p. He-e-e-e-e wa-a-nts y-o-o-u t-o-o-o h-e-l-l-l-p h- i-m-m-m!”
The Admiral soon dismissed the slurring woman with, “Well, you tell Jim, if he needs my help to call me.”
This seemingly callous and disinterested response to his son’s alleged cry for help was an astute analysis of the woman’s weak endeavor to curry favor with the family or to ally them to “Help Jim”.
The flaw in this plot to cajole is revealed by the contents of the counterfeit message.
Jim Morrison would never ask for help from his father or, for that matter, from anyone.
Jim knew that he couldn’t put the genie back into the bottle, which meant he couldn’t stand before his father and admit that he needed help and, in turn, the Admiral couldn’t ask Jim if he needed any help.
Father and son – unable to reach out to each other in the living years.
***********
“Every generation Blames the one before
And all of their frustrations Come beating on your door
I know that I’m a prisoner To all my Father held so dear
I know that I’m a hostageTo all his hopes and fears
I just wish I could have told himIn the living years…
Mike and the Mechanics / “In the Living Years”
**********“
Do you know how pale & wanton thrillful
comes death on a strange hour
unannounced, unplanned for
like a scaring over-friendly guest you’ve
brought to bed
Death makes angels of us all
& gives us wings
where we had shoulders
smooth as raven’s
claws”
― Jim Morrison
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“Goodnight, sweet prince/and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest”
spoken by Horatio in Shakespeare’s Hamlet.