Let's focus on the rhythm of this song. While most songs have different sections (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.) that are mainly identified by different melodies, harmonies, and lyrics, "Break On Through" by The Doors is sectioned most notably by rhythm and lyrics. There are three main rhythmic sections: the song begins with the hushed, frantic pattern on the ride cymbal and the rim of the snare; the second is the two bars of hits that happen before every chorus with the lyrics such as "Can you still recall the time we cried?"; and finally, the third rhythmic section is the chorus' drum pattern with the snare on beats two and four and the slightly open hi-hat busting out the eighth notes. Very rarely, it seems to me these days in the midst of so much hip hop and indie music that makes use of electronic beats, does a radio hit have so much variation in drum patterns.
So, let's break down the structure of the song:
1) ride rhythm (verse 1)
2) hits
3) full out (chorus)
4) back to ride rhythm (verse 2)
5) hits again
6) full out (chorus) again
7) back to ride rhythm (organ solo)
-towards the end of the solo, Jim starts singing again, "Everybody loves my baby..." and the ride rhythm opens up a bit, but the rhythm is still basically the same.
8) ride rhythm (verse 3)
9) hits
10) full out (chorus)
11) chorus pattern is maintained and continues to grow with Jim's howling and further lyrics.
-the lyrics that he sings here are based on the rhythmic pattern of the two bars of hits, and this anticipates the last set of hits to come before the song comes to a close.
12) hits ("long and straight, deep and wide")
13) full out (chorus)
-and this builds to the song's zenith of energy until it comes to a dramatic, dead stop.
The most climactic moment of the song happens when the two bars of hits makes its last appearance with the lyrics "Long and straight, deep and wide" (list item number 12 above). When it appears at the end of the song, it is preceded by the full out drum beat of the chorus and succeeded by the same. Usually it comes as a transition between the more subdued verse pattern and the full out chorus pattern, but it's used differently here. We get something familiar (the two bars of hits) in a new context (in the midst of the full out drum beat).
Try focusing on rhythm to make a sense of direction in a song instead of focusing on harmonic progressions or melody alone. Another consideration about "Break On Through" and The Doors in general is that their music is very blues based, so harmonic progressions aren't so much a focus for them anyway at least when compared to other songwriters such as Billy Joel, The Beatles, or American Songbook composers such as Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin, and the like.
And here's a picture I took of Jim Morrison's grave when I had the privilege of visiting Paris a couple months ago.
