The Merchant Hotel
William Blake, “If the doors of perception were cleansed, everything would appear to man as it truly is, infinite.”
William Blake talks about the prophetic “doors of perception” and the crossing of them. As he predicted, this would be the only way for humankind to escape this dirty, corrupt and agonising world. We have this desire, as humans, to remove ourselves from reality. We are intrigued by the unknown and we keep asking the same questions, “What is the meaning of life?” “What comes after death?” “Are we alone in the universe?”
These questions have countless answers, and will differ from one person to the next, based on their beliefs, lifestyle, upbringing, and surroundings. One thing is for sure, we are all in this confusing world together, and the urge to break on through to something other worldly is a daily desire.
“You know the day destroys the night
Night divides the day
Tried to run
Tried to hide
Break on through to the other side”
The Doors, 1967
Misty Waters Music Festival was formed around the roots of psychedelic rock and blues, always having the desire to create something other worldly. From the start, inspiration was drawn from The Doors, and Jim Morrison’s outlook on life. Morrison wasn’t a songwriter, he was a poet.
Break On Through
Break On Through is the song that summarises Morrison’s visionary poetics in the best possible way. It is an encouragement, an imperative, to open the passage to the other side. Morrison sings about arms that chain, and eyes that lie. These words create an overall sense of alienated impotence, where we are imprisoned, crushed between reality and imagination, between everyday life and visions.
Amidst the chaos, there is only one thing that is clear : we have to find the door, open up the pathway and reach the other side. The side of “life” where you see things as they really are.
“I like the ideas about breaking away or overthrowing of the established order. I am interested in anything revolt, disorder, chaos, especially activity that seems to have no meaning,” Jim Morrison.
If not for Jim Morrison and The Doors whispering sweet nothings into our ears, where would Misty Waters be? What would the foundation of Misty Waters be built on? This is a call to action! A call to realise, not only the importance of blues, rock and all that other non-pop melodies, but to strive every day to be different than the conformed norms and join a revolution that is breaking on through, to that other side. Whatever, and wherever it may be.
We have always strived to push the envelope and create an experience that is from out of this world. We hope to inspire you to do the same – push the boundaries, seek that pathway, and break on through to whatever side you so desperately desire. And we promise to Break On Through, not just this year, not only next year, but for as long as you crazy lunatics keep walking on the pathway to reach the other side of the door.
Now, take our hands, and let us all, Break On Through.