"Been Down So Long" is a swaggering blues-rock track from The Doors' 1971 album L.A. Woman, rooted in a 24-bar blues form in E at 124 BPM. Written collectively by The Doors, the song draws on the deep well of American blues tradition, with Jim Morrison channeling the defiant spirit of classic blues shouters through lyrics about perseverance and refusal to surrender. Robby Krieger delivers two electric guitar solos over the extended blues structure, the first spanning a full chorus and the second arriving later in the track at roughly two-thirds of a chorus, both showcasing his distinctive bottleneck slide technique that defines much of the L.A. Woman album. The 24-bar form gives the solos ample room to develop, allowing Krieger to build tension through blues-based phrasing before resolving into the vocal sections. The track exemplifies the back-to-basics approach of the L.A. Woman sessions, recorded at the band's rehearsal space with minimal studio artifice. Ray Manzarek's keyboard work provides a rolling foundation, while John Densmore's drums maintain a steady, insistent pulse. Session bassist Jerry Scheff adds a robust low end that anchors the extended blues form. The song captures the earthy, unpolished sound the band pursued on what would become their final album with Morrison.
