The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat) Lyrics
Comes out of the Virginia swamps, cool and slow
With plenty of precision
The back beat narrow and hard to master
Some call it heavenly in its brilliance
Others, mean and rueful of the Western dream
I love the friends I have gathered together on this thin route
We have constructed pyramids in honor of our escaping
This is the land where the Pharaoh died
The negroes in the forest, brightly feathered
They are saying, forget the night
Live with us in forests of azure
Out here on the perimeter, there are no stars
Out here we is stoned, immaculate
Now listen to this, and I'll tell you 'bout the heartache
I'll tell you 'bout the heartache and the, loss of God
I'll tell you 'bout the hopeless night
The meager food for souls forgot
I'll tell you 'bout the maiden with wrought iron soul
I'll tell you this, no eternal reward will forgive us now
For wasting the dawn
I'll tell you 'bout Texas Radio and the Big Beat
Soft driven, slow and mad, like some new language
I'll tell you about the Texas, radio
I'll tell you 'bout the hopeless night
Wandering the western dream
Tell you about the maiden with wrought iron soul
About
“The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)” is a 1971 song written and performed by The Doors from L.A. Woman, the band’s final album with frontman Jim Morrison.
Morrison’s spoken word lyric was a reworked poem from 1968 he had written entitled ‘'Texas Radio’‘ and often recited at concerts.
The poem itself (see also Stoned Immaculate) was performed as a sort of break between music, giving Morrison a chance to shine as a vocalist/insightful thinker escaping the trappings of his rock god image.
The band would play along to Jim’s poetry in an infusing fashion like they do in the poetic break of When The Music’s Over, where the sounds and subtleties of who’s playing at what time helps to give extra pronunciation to the words and overall meaning.
The song really came together at the L.A. Woman sessions, Morrison’s vocal double-tracked to great effect effortlessly driving the blues groove laid down by Robby Krieger’s guitar, Ray Manzarek’s organ and John Densmore tight drumming tied together by a real “stick it to ‘em” bassline from Elvis Presley bassist Jerry Scheff.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 5.L.A. Woman
- 6.L’America
- 9.The WASP (Texas Radio and the Big Beat)
