Lyrics interpreted

[Abbey Marie]

Subject in our home tonight:
What do you think the lyrics to Riders on the Storm (The Doors) mean?

[darin]

Are they new? Is that Bieber's new band???

who?

[indago]

Subject in our home tonight:
What do you think the lyrics to Riders on the Storm (The Doors) mean?

According to band member Robby Krieger, it was inspired by the song "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend". Also, Jim Morrison mentions spree killer Billy Cook, in passing, during at least one interview. Cook killed six people, including a young family, while hitchhiking to California. In all likelihood, the Cook murders were inspiration for the song's lyric, "There's a killer on the road / His brain is squirming like a toad [...] if you give this man a ride/sweet family will die.. "

article (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riders_on_the_Storm)

1971 During the VietNam War. Probably has to do with being thrust into conflict.