Spanish Caravan

July 11, 1968

Spanish Caravan is a song by American rock group The Doors. It is the first track on Side 2 of the album Waiting for the Sun from the year 1968.

Melody

Characteristic of the piece is reminiscent of Spanish flamenco music melody. The one minutes long riff that is played at the beginning, took over the Doors of Andrés Segovia. This was the classical piano piece Asturias from the Suite Española by Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz adapted for the guitar. Originally, the intro should be a few minutes longer, but was cut by the producers. Even the famous flamenco Granadinas stood for the godfather song what the Doors an action for copyright infringement brought, pulled the compensation paid to their intellectual property by itself.

Some points of playing the guitar were processed electronically for the song, also an additional acoustic bass was used to Leroy Vinnegar played.

Text

The text comes from the pen of guitarist Robby Krieger. It consists of twelve lines, spread over two stanzas à six lines. They are an expression of a deeply felt longing for the realm of Spain or Portugal. To achieve this, a caravan is requested:

Carry me caravan take me away Take me to Portugal, take me to Spain Andalusia with fields full of grain

The last line alludes to the autonomous region of Andalusia, in the due to the fertile soil and mild climate, particularly much grain is grown. In the following chorus, which is repeated in the second stanza, the caravan is implored with haunting words, take the lyric I:

I have to see you again and again Take me, Spanish Caravan Yes, I know you can

I need to see you again and again Take me, Spanish Caravan Yes, I know you can do it

After a lengthy instrumental game follows the second verse. It refers to the satisfaction of materialistic needs, which is expected from the lyrical I on the Iberian Peninsula. It thinks here especially of galleons laden with gold, which were sunk during the trip and now rest on the seabed:

Trade winds find Galleons lost in the sea I know where the treasures are waiting for me Silver and gold in the mountains of Spain

The song ends with the repetition of the chorus.