Under the Hood: Ray Manzarek on Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love”

The Doors are known primarily for psychedelic epics like “Light My Fire,” “L.A.Woman” and “The End.” But like most every great rock band, they delved into the blues as well. The Doors recorded versions of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Back Door Man” and John Lee Hooker’s “Crawlin’ King Snake.” Another favorite at concert appearances was the Bo Diddley classic “Who Do You Love?” Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek remembers that song.

“Man, I heard those lyrics I couldn’t believe it. ‘I walked forty-seven miles of barbed wire. Wear a cobra snake for a neck tie. Now come along, take a little walk with me Arlene,’ whoever Alrene was, ‘and tell me who do you love?’ You know I hear this stuff in, I don’t know, ’55 ’56. And then ten years later I’m dealing with Jim Morrison and we start to explore the same sort of shamanistic hoodoo space, but from the psychedelic white boy’s perspective.” - Ray Manzarek