The Unknown Soldier (song)

at the Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia, which was the source of inspiration to Morrison's lyrics. "The Unknown Soldier" has been perceived as Jim Morrison's reaction to the Vietnam War and the way that conflict was portrayed in American media at the time. Lines such as "Breakfast where the news is read/ Television children fed/ Unborn living, living dead/ Bullets strike the helmet's head", concerned the way news of the war was being presented in the living rooms of ordinary people.{{cite web ==Composition==

Matthew Greenwald of AllMusic described "The Unknown Soldier" as one of the Doors' "most complex recordings". He analyzed the song's musical structure as moving into various distinctly different sections before erupting into a coda: ==Release and reception==

The released single was edited in which a different gunshot sound was used and does not include the cheering crowds nor the tolling bells at the end. Reportedly, producer Paul A. Rothchild was so particular about how the song came out that it ultimately took over 130 takes to finish. Upon completion, the song became the band's fourth Top 40 hit in the US, peaking at number 39 on the Billboard Hot 100, and enjoying an 8-week appearance on the Billboard Hot 100 list overall. "We Could Be So Good Together" served as the B-side. However, the lyrics were controversial at the time and many radio stations refused to play it. Billboard described the single as "one of the most unusual and intriguing disks of the week in both arrangement and material" that "should prove a top chart item." Cash Box said that the "strong beat, instrumental majesty and a midway break unlike any dramatic effect on a single put together a smash outing," and also praised the "sheer passion" of the song. In retrospect, Richie Unterberger declared "The Unknown Soldier" as one of the "first-rate tunes" of the album. He described it as "spooky" and "uncompromisingly forceful as anything the band did." == Personnel ==

Taken from the liner notes of the Waiting for the Sun deluxe edition: The Doors • Jim Morrison – vocals • Robby Krieger – guitar • Ray Manzarek – keyboards • John Densmore – drums Additional musicians • Kerry Magness – bass ==Charts==