Songs & Rhymes About Knocking

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 01:17 PM

Here's another children's cheer that includes a form of the word "knock":


Introduce yourself to shy introduce yourself I try my name (say your name) yeah I cheer for (say who you cheer for) my sign is (say your sign)and when I'm up I'm hot stuff And when I'm down don't mess around and when I'm me don't scream or shout or you'll get knocked out!
-De'ajaih; (African American girl; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 5/16/2006); cocojams.com


-snip-

My comments about this cheer:

This cheer has a "group/consecutive soloist" pattern. I've named children's cheerleader cheers that have this pattern "foot stomping cheers". Foot stomping cheers start with the group voice (depending on the cheer, this means either the entire group, or the group minus the soloist). The lines thereafter alternate between the soloist and the rest of the group. The brief cheer could end with the soloist saying a line, or with the soloist & the group saying the same line. Sometimes the cheer ends with the group saying the last line without the soloist. But the signature of "foot stomping cheers" is the cheer starting again from the beginning with the next soloist (the former soloist rejoins the group). This pattern of consecutive soloists continues until everyone in the group has had one turn during being a soloist for that cheer.

In the Pittsburgh area, footstomping cheers are usually done by two to five or so girls standing in a horizontal line. I've seen these cheers performed since the mid 1980s in that area by African American girls (usually 6-12 years old). The 1970s (African American school girls, Washington D.C.) is the earliest documentation I've found of this performance style which emphasizes the creation of bass sounding foot stomps that alternate with (individual) handclaps. Sometimes the foot stomps alternate with body pats (pattin' juba). "stompstompclap stompstomp clap" is usually the pattern for the syncopated beat that the girls make while chanting these cheers. This beat continues throughout the entire cheer. If one girl gets off-beat or messes up the words to the chant, the entire chant is "messed up" and the cheer has to start from the beginning. Usually, if a girl doesn't think she knows how to do the beat, or doesn't know the words to that particular cheer, she'll step aside until she learns it rather than risk the ire of the other girls for messing up that (usually informal) cheer performance.

For some foot stomping cheerrs, each new soloist says the same lines (except when they give their name and/or nickname or when they insert their favorite color, or their astrological [sun] sign or something else about themselves. For other footstomping cheers, the soloists are supposed to chant a lines/verses (from a repertoire of lines that fit the cheer)that hadn't already been chanted.

In the example given above everyone in the group except the first soloist says "Introduce yourself". The soloist then says "to[o] shy". The group then repeats its command "introduce yourself". The soloist then says "I ['ll] try". She then says "my name [is ___]"
The rest of the group says "Yeah". In memorized order, the soloist then gives additional identifying information about herself. Each time the soloist's information is followed by some brief statement by the rest of the group. For instance, if the soloist says "My sign is Pisces, the group says "Yeah". But if the soloist says "when I'm up I'm hot stuff", the rest of the group says "hot stuff". And when the soloist says "And when I'm down don't mess around", the rest of the group says "don't mess around". That particular cheer usually ends with the line "don't make me scream or you will be knocked out".

Some of these cheers fade away very quickly. But other cheers-like "Introduce Yourself"-have been remarkably consistent in words & performance style for decades, particularly in numerous African American communities.

For more information on foot stomping cheers, visit this page of my website:

http://www.cocojams.com/street_cheers_example%200104.htm


Azizi Powell

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: oldhippie
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 10:59 AM

"I'm Gonna Knock On Your Door" (and knock and ring and tap until you do).

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Acorn4
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 10:28 AM

Russ Abbott in his role as Julio Doubleglazias:-

"I don't care what the critics say,
I've been handling knockers for years"

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 10:01 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92NpzXXpQtg&feature=related

Eddie Floyd-Knock On Wood

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 09:42 AM

I'm feeling guilty for my rip on Tony Orlando & Dawn. I sincerely apologize to them and to their fans.

And in penance, I'm going off the subject and post this link to a video of their song which is part of American folk culture:

Tony Orlando & Dawn - Tie A Yellow Ribbon

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 09:16 AM

Mr. Happy, you should warn people that they are going to see & hear Tony Orlando and Dawn singing.

[Just kidding]

:o)


Thanks to all who have posted on this thread so far.

Keep 'em coming!

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 09:11 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7Jvsbcxunc

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 09:02 AM

I HEAR YOU KNOCKING BUT YOU CAN'T COME IN

(Smiley Lewis)

You went away and left long time ago
Now your knocking on my door
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

I begged you not to go but you said goodbye
Now your telling me all your lies
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

You better get back to your used to be
'Cause your kind of love ain't good for me
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

I told you way back in '52
That I would never go with you
I hear you knocking
But you can't come in
I hear you knocking
Go back where you been

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/moonlightmile/ihearyouknocking.htm

**

"...In November 1970 [Dave Edmunds from Wales] records his debut solo single called "I Hear You Knocking" that debuts in the US on 26 December and peaks at #4 on the pop chart and goes all the way to #1 in the UK. The record would eventually sell over 3 million copies worldwide. The song was written by blues singer "Smiley Lewis" who took it to #2 on the US R&B chart in 1955. It was also a #2 pop hit also in 1955 for "Gale Storm". "Fats Domino" covered the song again in 1961 but it only made it to #67 on the US pop chart for him."...

http://www.epinions.com/content_4038172804

**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDhhWvKNY2k&feature=PlayList&p=A616D3B065123D1D&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2
Smiley Lewis I Hear You Knocking (1955) -sound only

**

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqIQE4du6co
Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:48 AM

Here's a link to Bob Dylan - Knockin' on Heaven's Door (ORIGINAL)

The lyrics are given on the video screen.

For those who can't get YouTube, here are the lyrics to that song:

KNOCKIN' ON HEAVEN'S DOOR

(Bob Dylan)

Mama, take this badge off of me
I can't use it anymore.
It's gettin' dark, too dark for me to see
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

Mama, put my guns in the ground
I can't shoot them anymore.
That long black cloud is comin' down
I feel like I'm knockin' on heaven's door.

Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door
Knock, knock, knockin' on heaven's door

http://www.bobdylan.com/#/songs/knockin-heavens-door

**

"Knockin' on Heaven's Door" is a song written and performed by Bob Dylan for the soundtrack of the 1973 film Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. It reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. In 2004, representatives of the music industry and the press voted it #190 in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time issue."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knockin'_on_Heaven's_Door

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:46 AM

I hear you Knocking, but you can't come in!!!

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:45 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Blw5_H9aw-U

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:44 AM

Poverty Knock?

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:33 AM

Here's an example of a children's cheerleader cheer that includes the word "knock":


I'm a Cougar from Cougar town
and only a Cougar can knock me down
If you don't like my apples,
don't shake my tree
'cause I'm a Cougar
Don't mess with me!

Submitted by: Baby boy; http://cheerleading.about.com/od/cheerschantsyells/a/cheers12.htm

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:22 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xe990JYsbNo
Paul McCartney-"Let 'Em In"


LET 'EM IN

(Paul McCartney)

Someones knockin at the door
Somebodys ringin the bell
Someones knockin at the door
Somebodys ringin the bell
Do me a favor,
Open the door and let em in
Sister suzie, brother john,
Martin luther, phil and don,
Brother michael, auntie gin,
Open the door and let em in.

Someones knockin at the door
Somebodys ringin the bell
Someones knockin at the door
Somebodys ringin the bell

Do me a favor,
Open the door and let em in.




**

There is also a reggae version of this song by Shinehead which gives the names of reggae greats who have passed on. Unfortunately, I can't find the lyrics or a video of this song online.

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Steve Howlett
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:11 AM

"Who's that knocking at my door?
Daft Jennifer Eccles and she lives next door!
Curses, curses, she wants play at nurses
And I want to play at war!"

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:10 AM

Knock, Knock Who's there.
Poverty Poverty Knocks
Someones Knocking at the Door
Knock Knock Knocking on Heavens Door

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: GUEST,Bob Coltman
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:08 AM

Stop That Knocking on My Door
Who's That Knocking at My Window
Knock and the Door Shall Be Opened
Knockin' on Heaven's Door (Dylan)
I Hear You Knockin' But You Can't Come In

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Steve Howlett
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:06 AM

Idlers and Scivers (sic) by Keith Marsden has the chorus

But we're knocking at the door, knocking at the door,
And a penny in the poor man's hat will no longer do.
They'd better open wide and let us come inside
For the knocking's nearly over, then the door's coming through!

When we used to sing it we knew the song as "Knocking", and that's how we indexed it.

Subject: RE: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:06 AM

SOMEBODY'S KNOCKIN AT YOUR DOOR

Somebody's knocking at your door,
Somebody's knocking at your door,
Oh-oh sinner, why don't you answer?
Somebody's knocking at your door.

http://lyrics.astraweb.com/display/816/hymns..unknown..somebodys_knocking_at_your_door.html


Here's a slow version and a then a fast version of this song:

Janes Cleveland-"Somebody's Knocking At Your Door"

**

Gospelchor MBG Dierdorf auf dem Weihnachtskonzert 2004

**

For what it's worth, the "fast" version of this song sounds like the one I'm used to singing.

Subject: Songs & Rhymes About Knocking
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 07:55 AM

First, I need to give a hat tip to this thread Knock! Knock! (who's there?) which I also agree should be above the line.

**

Which songs can you think of that include the word "knock" or "knocking" in their title or lyrics?

I'll start the ball knocking? in my next post to this thread.

Thanks, in advance, for your participation in this thread.