NEW YORK (AP) – A handwritten poem by Jim Morrison found among his possessions in the Paris hotel where he died in 1971 ends with the line “Last words, Last words out.”
Written on the last page torn out of a thick notebook, the double-sided document is the highlight of an online auction that went live Thursday. Auctioneer Paddle8 said bidding through June 25 is expected to reach between $60,000 and $80,000.
The lead singer and songwriter of the 1960s rock group the Doors died at age 27. The exact cause of death was never determined and speculation has abounded.
Whether the poem’s words were a foretelling of what was to come is anyone’s guess. The flamboyant rocker famous for such iconic tunes as “Light My Fire,” ”L.A. Woman” and “Riders on the Storm” was known for his darkly poetic lyrics and alcohol and drug use.
“He was kind of obsessed” by the theme of death from the very first album, said Simeon Lipman, a specialist who works on Paddle8’s “Legendary” series of music memorabilia auctions.