Green Door

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"(The) Green Door" is a popular song. The music was written by Bob Davie, the lyrics by Marvin Moore. The song was published in 1956.

According to the website Songfacts, the lyrics "Don't know what they're doin'/ But they laugh a lot behind the green door/ Wish they'd let me in/ So I could find out what's behind the green door" were inspired by a popular music club in Dallas, Texas where the kids who were not allowed in hung around outside a yellow door.[1]

The song has also been attributed to refer to the lesbian Gateways club (first opened in 1930), which had a green door and featured in the movie The Killing of Sister George.[2][3] although this is disputed.[4]

[edit] Recordings

The hit version of the song in the United States was recorded by Jim Lowe (backed by the orchestra of songwriter Davie, with Davie also playing piano), and it reached #1 on the Billboard chart in 1956.

In the United Kingdom, Lowe's version reached #8 on the charts, but a version by Frankie Vaughan was even more popular, reaching #2. Another UK recording, by Glen Mason, reached #24 on the UK chart. The most popular version was by rock and roll revival act Shakin' Stevens which spent four weeks at number one in July 1981.

The Cramps have also recorded the song on the 1981 album, Psychedelic Jungle. In 1964, Bill Haley & His Comets recorded a version for a single release on Decca Records during an unsuccessful attempt to make a comeback with the label that had made them famous with "Rock Around the Clock".

Other versions have been recorded by Roland Alphonso, Wynder K. Frog, Ray Hamilton, Danny Colfax Mallon, Gene McDaniels, Country Dick Montana, Eskew Reeder, Jumpin' Gen Simmons, Skip & Flip, and Skitzo.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The Green Door by Jim Lowe
  2. ^ Stephanie Theobold Great lesbian songs? Here's our top five The Guardian 6 March 2007
  3. ^ Brian Boyd The truth behind The Green Door The Guardian 8 September 2006
  4. ^ Mitch Mitchell "Doors of Perception" Film & Music letters: September 2006The Guardian 29 September 2006
Preceded by
"Ghost Town" by The Specials
UK number one single (Shakin' Stevens version)
July 26, 1981
Succeeded by
"Japanese Boy" by Aneka