"Love Me Two Times" is a song by The Doors. It was written by the band and first appeared on the 1967 album Strange Days. It was released as the second single (after "People Are Strange") from that album, and reached #25 on the charts in the US.
Ray Manzarek played the final version of this song on a harpsichord, not a clavichord. See Ray Manzarek's book, Light My Fire on page 258.
"Love Me Two Times" was considered to be somewhat risqué for radio airplay.
The lyrics were written by guitarist Robby Krieger. According to band members, the song was about a soldier/sailor on his last day with his girlfriend before shipping out, ostensibly to war (Vietnam).
Live versions
- In 1968, the Doors went on a European Tour and recorded the song live. The live version went on the 1983 compilation album Alive, She Cried. This version had an alternate "Key Solo" between the verses that was much less complicated than the initial recording. It also had more organ effects than the original.
- In 1972, the Doors played this song live in concerts after Jim Morrison's death. As a trio, Ray Manzarek was on the lead vocals (as well as the organ and the piano bass).
- In both versions, the words are slightly altered, as most other songs at Doors concerts and tour did.
Cover versions
- "Love Me Two Times" was covered by Aerosmith for the soundtrack of the 1990 film Air America (whose producers, Carolco Pictures, would also produce a biopic about the Doors) and was also played at the band's MTV Unplugged performance that same year, where lead singer Steven Tyler dedicated the song to Jim Morrison, who performed with the Doors at the same venue of the Unplugged performance, the Ed Sullivan Theater, several years prior. The 1990 cover reached #27 on the U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. In 2001, the song was included on their greatest hits album, Young Lust: The Aerosmith Anthology. In addition, their version was included on the Doors tribute album Stoned Immaculate.
- It was also covered by pianist George Winston on his album Night Divides the Day - The Music of the Doors.
- The song is also briefly covered in the song "Bitchin' Camaro" by the Dead Milkmen, albeit with slightly altered lyrics.
- "Love Me Two Times" was also covered by Joan Jett, and included on the compilation The Hit List.
Trivia
- The song appears in the soundtrack to the video game Guitar Hero World Tour, and as downloadable content for the video game Rock Band 3.
