What is the running time of the album version of 'Light My Fire'?

The album version of “Light My Fire” runs for 7 minutes 6 seconds. Its long instrumental passages were central to the recording’s identity, giving The Doors room to move beyond a conventional pop-song structure.

The track began as a Robby Krieger composition, then expanded through contributions from the entire band. Ray Manzarek supplied the Bach-influenced keyboard opening, John Densmore shaped the rhythmic feel, and Jim Morrison added important lyrics. Producer Paul A. Rothchild helped preserve the extended arrangement for the debut album.

Radio programmers wanted a shorter version, especially for AM radio, so Elektra issued an edited single lasting less than three minutes. That version removed most of the instrumental improvisation and made the song easier to program, while the album cut retained the expansive performance listeners associated with The Doors’ psychedelic style.

The album recording is sometimes confused with the shorter single edit, which is why running-time questions should specify the version.