open the door, richard

Jack McVea locked up the charts with this adaptation of a locked out drunken vaudeville routine. Ralph Bass talked him into recording 'Open the Door, Richard' for Black & White Records and it went to number one on Billboard's Honor Roll of Hits. Later, there was a dispute over the rights to the song. McVea had come up with the musical refrain; but the lyrics had come from a routine that had been attributed to Bob Russell. Eventually, Dusty Fletcher and John Mason were given credit for the lyrics and McVea, Frank Clark, and Dan Howell given credit for the music. 'Open the Door, Richard' became a hit for several other acts to follow.

Old man's been out at the club havin' a little ball tonight. My friend Richard went home early, you know. He's got the only key to the house. I'm about to knock on the door, see if I kin get in.

(Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat)

Open the door, Richard!! Ya see, Richard sleeps in the back room.

It's kinda hard to hear. Maybe I better knock a little louder.

(Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat)

Open the door, Richard!! I don't think Richard heard me yet.

Knock one more time. Let's see what's gonna happen here.

(Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat)

Open the door, Richard

Open the door and let me in

Open the door, Richard

Richard, why don't you open that door?

(Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat)

Open the door, Richard

Open the door and let me in

Open the door, Richard

Richard, (Richard!?) why don't you open that door?

Richard, open up the door, man-it's co-hold out here'n this air.

Now look! There's that woman 'cross the street lookin' out the windah

Every time I'm late; always like 'where's he been; where's he been?'

She's tryin' to find out what's happenin'. Yes, it's me

and I'm late again!

(Did you hear what the lady's sayin'?)

No, what is she sayin'?

(She said you sure look common out here'n the street.)

Common? Man, I got class I ain't never used yet. I'm gonna knock again.

Richard's got to get up.

(Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat)

Open the door, Richard!! Man, you got a key to the house?

(No, I don't have a key. I don't have a key)

Somebody's got to get in the house.

We can't climb in the transit

(Oh, I know he's in there.)

How you know he's in there?

(I can hear him breathin')

Ooooh, let's try it one more time!

(Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat)

Richard, open that door, man. Maybe Richard's gone.

I know he's in there

(How you know he's in there?)

Why, you got on the suit

I know I got on the only suit. Ain't got but one suit between

us. That's the reason why I don't like to rooooom with nobody

(Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat)

Open the door, Richard

Open the door and let me in

Open the door, Richard

Richard, why don't you open that door?

Richard, why don'tcha open the door, man?

Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five

Count Basie and his Orchestra

The Three Flames

Dusty Fletcher (Parts 1 and 2)