Crawling King Snake by The Doors Lyrics Meaning – Uncoiling the Mystique of Rebellion and Desire
Lyrics
And I rule my den
I’m the crawlin’ king snake
And I rule my den
Yeah, don’t mess ’round with my mate
Gonna use her for myself
Caught me crawlin’, baby, window
Grass is very high
Keep on crawlin’ ’til the day I die
Crawlin’ king snake
And I rule my den
You better give me what I want
Gonna crawl no more
Caught me crawlin’, baby
Crawlin’ ’round your door
Seein’ everything I want
I’m gonna crawl on your floor
Let’s crawl
And I rule my den
Come on, give me what I want
Ain’t gonna crawl no more
I have crawled a while
Come on, crawl
Come on, crawl
Get on out there on your hands and knees, baby
Crawl all over me
Just like the spider on the wall
Ooh, we gon’ crawl, one more
Well, I’m the crawlin’ king snake
And I rule my den
Call me the crawlin’ king snake
And I rule my den
Yeah, don’t mess ’round with my mate
Gonna use her for myself
In the pantheon of blues-influenced rock, The Doors stand as enigmatic guardians of a psychedelic era that delved deep into the human psyche. Their 1971 rendition of ‘Crawling King Snake,’ a song with roots in early blues, slithers into the dimly-lit corners of primal desire and territorial dominion. Originally a blues standard, the track becomes a vessel for lead singer Jim Morrison’s hypnotic and sometimes sinister vocal delivery.
Yet, behind the obvious bravado and dark shadows that Morrison casts with his voice lies a complex interplay of symbolism and power dynamics that are ripe for a closer look. Understanding the meaning behind ‘Crawling King Snake’ requires us to dissect the layers under its scaly surface, tuning into the subtext of what is left unsaid as much as the overt machismo of the lyrics.
An Ode to a Blues Ancestor: The Song’s Historical Roots
The incarnation of ‘Crawling King Snake’ by The Doors pays homage to a long line of bluesmen who have taken up the mantle of this enigmatic character. From the Delta blues of Big Joe Williams to the electric slickness of John Lee Hooker, the Crawling King Snake has been a symbol of rugged individualism and unapologetic virility.
The Doors’ version, though steeped in the age-old tradition, carries a new weight with Morrison’s moody theatricality and the band’s psychedelic flair. Morrison doesn’t just recite the words; he becomes the Crawling King Snake, a transformation that gives the song a sultry, dangerous edge.
Dominion and Desire: The Confident Proclamations
‘Well, I’m the crawlin’ king snake, And I rule my den’ – the repeated declaration of being the ‘Crawling King Snake’ isn’t merely Morrison laying claim to a room or a physical space; it’s a metaphorical assertion of control over one’s domain, be it personal, sexual, or social.
The not-so-veiled threat to ‘use her for myself’ speaks to a possessiveness and an assurance in one’s power to satisfy desires without seeking permission. In the era of The Doors, this was not just a personal statement but a social defiance against the establishment.
Creeping Into Consciousness: The Seduction of Rebellion
There’s a seductive quality to rebellion, and ‘Crawling King Snake’ embodies this allure through its relentless rhythm and raw blues undercurrent. The crawl is not just a physical action but indicative of persistence, commitment to a cause, and the patience to wait for the perfect moment of strike.
When Morrison sings ‘Keep on crawlin’ ’til the day I die,’ he could be alluding to the relentless pursuit of free expression under the weight of societal expectations or the dogged determination to retain individuality amid conformity.
The Hidden Meaning: Symbols of Power and Sexual Agency
Beneath the track’s overt masculinity lies a subtler narrative of power dynamics, symbiotic relationships, and sexual agency. The snake is both feared and revered, a creature with the power to hypnotize before it strikes and the cunning to navigate varied terrains.
To crawl, historically viewed as a lower form of movement, is elevated to a throne of dominance when Morrison claims his rulership. The repeated lines become a mantra, a declaration of owning one’s desires and the ability to fulfill them on one’s own terms.
Memorable Lines: ‘Gonna Use Her for Myself’
The lyric ‘Gonna use her for myself’ reverberates with a stark resoluteness that could easily be criticized in today’s more enlightened conversations about gender roles and objectification. However, in the context of the song and its time, it brandishes the sexual liberation and the honesty of carnal instincts.
Whether it’s interpreted as a straightforward pronouncement of sexual intent or a metaphor for the band’s commandeering of the blues genre itself, the line is laced with confidence and an unadulterated embrace of one’s natural impulses.
