Yesterday Teri at Coloring Outside the Lines had a photo of an old beat up green door. Well it happens that I remember a good song from the 1950' the Green Door. I liked the music but didn't listen too closely to the lyrics. The blogger made reference to green door being code for a speak easy. That twigged something and I remembered more of the lyrics..."the old piano behind the green door". "What's that secret you're keepin?"
So it all came back. The singer was not allowed behind the green door but wanted to get behind the green door and enjoy the fun.
I think speakeasies were from the prohibition era so these were illegal establishments for selling booze.
Now the song was a 1956 hit for Jim Lowe. (Anybody remember him?) (I don't either and I liked the song) The song was written by Marvin Moore and the music was composed by Bob Davie. Many performers recorded the Green door and had some success, but Jim Lowe had the most success. You still hear it sometimes.
So how many of you golden oldies remember this song?
i always say blogging is educational. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's always something new!
DeleteWell, well, well. I didn't recall the name but the words that you quoted rang a bell. I must have heard it at one of the folk or country music clubs I went to because as soon as I played the Jim Lowe version I recognised it. MInd you I suppose I could just have heard the original on the radio. Anyway I liked it too.
ReplyDeleteHere the tune was big on radio and I still hear it once in awhile.
DeleteI do!
ReplyDeleteYou probably remember a lot more songs that I like!
DeleteI don't know the song about the green door, only "the little green bag" :)
ReplyDeleteWell, I never thought of it being in Dutch? Now I'm going to have to look up the little green bag!
DeleteAlas, for a change I am too young! :)
ReplyDeleteProudly, you say you're too young!
DeleteI wish I could say I did, but I don't. And I am definitely a Silver Oldie. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt was #1 in 56 but was crowded out by Elvis
DeleteI remember singing and dancing to that tune many times........"Green Door".....I sang that last part :)
ReplyDeleteIt had a very bouncy sound!
DeleteI'm waaaaayy too young! :-)
ReplyDeleteOkay and before we go farther, I would have a hard time with modern music.
DeleteI wasn't sure if I know this song so I went to look it up. And sure enough, I don't know it. But it's a great tune. Very catchy!
ReplyDeleteIt's still played from time to time so many people like you would remember it if you had a reminder.
DeleteFirst time I've heard that expression, Red.
ReplyDeleteI did have a friend whose relative ran liquor over the Canadian border . . .
Prohibition caused more problems than it solved.
DeleteHi Red, I definitely remember that song, and, as happens quite often, your post has piqued my curiosity about something. Well, you mentioned prohibition. Now I am wondering about history ... When the US went into prohibition did Canada do the same? If not, I am going to guess that border travel was affected quite a bit! :-) Whenever I visit Vancouver BC and pass across the border the entry guard asks ... Why are you coming to Canada? I can imagine the smiles if the answer is For a good drink! :-)
ReplyDeleteWe did have prohibition but it wasn't the same time as yours. The Montana border is wide open now and in the 20's there was no problem to go across on some distant trail.
DeleteI don't know that song and never knew that a green door indicated a speakeasy. Interesting! Wasn't "Behind the Green Door" also a famous early porn movie? (I feel obliged to say that although I know the title I have never seen it. :) )
ReplyDeleteYes, there was a pron movie by the same name!
DeleteI hadn't heard of that song before, though I know quite a bit about the Prohibition era.
ReplyDeleteYou sometime wonder about all the meaning we miss in a song!
DeleteI remember hearing it but the words didn't really sink in. I had no idea then what a speak easy was.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny how we hear things for years and don't know what it means.
DeleteDidn't ring any bells.
ReplyDeleteI guess some of you listened to one small music genre like country???
DeleteSorry, but I don't recall it.
ReplyDeleteAdmit it . You're too young!
DeleteHmmmm. I vaguely remember that song. I'm not sure I remember that version though. ;)
ReplyDeleteYes, I certainly DO remember this song. It was played regularly on WNEW, an AM station out of New York. There were several DJs who played music and one I especially recall is William B. Williams whose program was named "The Make Believe Ballroom." This radio station was always on in my home while growing up in NJ. Your post certainly brought back memories for me today. And, in fact, I searched online for the song and listened to it again!
ReplyDeleteI am too young! BUT we had a Bar in a town not too far away called the Green Door when it was a hit in the late 1960's I was still too young to go inside:)
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Red, now I'm off to google The Green Door and give it a listen.
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend!
Fun to read your post Red. Reading other blogs sends me on a lot of memory journeys.
ReplyDeleteForgot to mention, Red, that Jim Lowe was also a DJ on the radio station, WNEW in NY.
ReplyDelete