The perfect moment that Jim Morrison sang the word “higher” on The Ed Sullivan Show, September 17, 1967 (Photo: SOFA Entertainment; used with permission)

‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ was a platform for most famous performers through the decades of its success. ‘The Doors’ played on the show in 1967, and things didn’t go quite how Ed planned.

‘The Doors’ sang their great hit ‘Light My Fire.’ Ed asked the band to change the lyrics for TV and the CBS censors. The band refused to change the word ‘higher’ while performing their number one hit.

According to the band’s drummer, Ed Sullivan was raging, yelling, ‘You will never do this show again!’ Jim Morrison turned to him and said, ‘Hey, that’s okay. We just did The Ed Sullivan Show.’

‘The Doors’ made TV history by tricking the censors and Ed Sullivan into thinking they would alter their lyrics. Instead of singing the requested line, ‘Girl, there’s nothing I require,’ Morrison sang the actual lyrics, ‘Girl, we couldn’t get much higher.’

It was one of the legendary moments on the Sullivan show, and the ramifications changed how censors approached live TV. For the band, it was the purest rock n’ roll moment.

The Doors performing “Light My Fire” on The Ed Sullivan Show, September 17, 1967 (Photo: SOFA Entertainment; used with permission)

Morrison performs with his eyes closed, singing with his simply passion. The band rocks out behind him against a red and yellow background. Jim’s drummer, guitar player, and organ accompany him in real rockstar fashion.

‘The Doors’ formed in 1965 and released six studio albums in five years. By 1972 they had sold over four million albums and close to eight million singers. Their influence on culture and rock music is still felt today.

Watch the infamous clip of The Doors on The Ed Sullivan Show