"People Are Strange" is a single released by The Doors in September 1967 from their second album Strange Days which was also released in September 1967. The single peaked at the number 12 position of the U.S. Hot 100 chart and made it to the top ten in the Cash Box charts. It was written by Jim Morrison and Robby Krieger although credit was given to The Doors evenly.

"People Are Strange" was composed in early 1967 after guitarist Robby Krieger and a depressed Jim Morrison had walked to the top of Laurel Canyon. The band's drummer, John Densmore, recalled the song's writing process in his book Riders on the Storm. He and Doors guitarist Robby Krieger, who had then been roommates, were visited by Jim Morrison, who was acting "deeply depressed." At the suggestion of Krieger, they took a walk along Laurel Canyon. Morrison returned from the walk "euphoric" with the early lyrics of "People Are Strange." Krieger, intrigued by the new lyrics, was convinced that the song was a hit upon hearing the vocal melody.

[Morrison said] 'Yeah, I feel really good about this one. It just came to me all of a sudden ... in a flash - as I was sitting up there on the ridge looking out over the city. His eyes were wild with excitement. 'I scribbled it down as fast as I could. It felt great to be writing again.' He looked down at the crumpled paper in his hand and sang the chorus in his haunting blues voice.

According to its Allmusic review, the song "reflects the group's fascination with the theatrical music of European cabaret." The song is about alienation and being an outsider, and Jim Morrison may have addressed the song both to the hippie culture, to outsiders in general or to users of drugs such as LSD, or both. Drummer John Densmore believes that the song was the manifestation of Morrison's "vulnerability".

All tracks written by The Doors.

...
Wikipedia