 L.A. Woman opens with the Morrison @-@ penned track " The Changeling " , which the Doors wanted to be the album 's first single . Taken from one of Morrison 's notebooks written in 1968 , Holtzman overruled the group 's decision in favor of " Love Her Madly " and the non @-@ album B @-@ side " ( You Need Meat ) Don 't Go No Further " . Author James Riordan has noted the song 's mention of the " changeling " , or spirit child , may be another reference to Morrison 's difficult childhood . The funky James Brown @-@ esque composition also appears to anticipate the singer 's departure from Los Angeles with the line " I 'm leavin ' town on the midnight train " . 
