Lyr Req: (You) Don't Knock (Roebuck "Pops" Staples

Subject: Origins: Door to Heaven don't need no key
From: GUEST,Stewart Dean
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 09:15 AM

I'm looking for a gospel song I remember be sung by a black women's group, with wonderful contending antiphony and some background ala Swingle singers. Would like to know origin, lyrics and performers. The chorus lyrics go something like:
'You don't knock, shout, hammer at the door
Door to heaven don't need no key,
just walk right in...

Subject: RE: Lyr req: Door to Heaven don't need no key
From: Joe Offer
Date: 03 Mar 03 - 11:43 AM

I renamed this to a lyrics request, and I'm bringing it back to the top.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: YOU DON'T KNOCK
From: wysiwyg
Date: 14 Feb 05 - 01:07 PM

There's an archived recording of it performed by the Hopeful Gospel Quartet HERE. Author listed as "traditional."

I'll take a stab at transcribing it. The Quartet is tossing in a lot of echo/exclamatory lines so if one were to do it solo, there'd need to be some adapting anyhow. I'm just going to put it how I'd lead it with OUR band.

~S~

=======================================

YOU DON'T KNOCK
Traditional

REFRAIN:
You don't knock, you just walk on in!
The door to Heaven's here.
There's love and joy for you to share
Well I know my friends are there
To rest in Heaven's nest [best????]
You don't knock, ring, push or hold
The door's wide open a-waiting for your soul;
You don't knock, you just walk on in.

1. Well I walked life's winding road, joy to be disclosed,
Traveled both night and day, so tired I could hardly pray.
Well, Jesus my Light and my Guide, He's ever by my side,
So I'm walking, not knocking, into Heaven with pride.

2. Well I have no need to fear-- He is ever near.
He'll know my work was true, so glad when the day is through
well, He'll want for me to stay any day I make my way
So I'm walking, not knocking, into Heaven, goodbye!

SH
@gospel

Subject: Lyr Add: (YOU) DON'T KNOCK (Roebuck "Pops" Staples
From: rich-joy
Date: 19 Aug 05 - 09:34 AM

Methinks "The Hopefuls" have some street cred already - look at that lineup!! :

" THE HOPEFUL GOSPEL QUARTET is a more diverse group than your standard gospel quartet: a Virginia couple who have nearly created their own musical genre, called Americana by the record industry, and who are both still in their first marriage; a Colorado blues, country, folk, R&B and jazz singer who fits both the 'belter' and the 'warbler' label; and a serious taller-than-average bass singer from Minnesota who has written humorous books and been nominated for numerous awards. None are cousins or siblings to any others. The Hopeful Gospel Quartet is: Robin and Linda Williams, Mollie O'Brien, and Garrison Keillor. "


This great belter is a Roebuck "Pops" Staples number (Mississippi?) and my partner, Poor Misery, has done a GREAT version of it since forever - he got from STEWIE, in Darwin, of course!! Here are the words he uses (and with our current group "Work in Progress") :
Yea - ea - ea - ea - eah !!!        
ch.
You Don't Knock!!       You don't knock, you just walk on in
The Door!                The door, to heaven's inn
There's Love!                There's love and joy for you
To Share!                To share, the whole day through
I Know!                        I know my friends are there
To Rest!                To rest in heaven's care
You Don't Knock! - Ring! - Push or Hold!
The Door's Wide Open, Waitin' For Your Soul
You Don't Knock!        [ Yeah! Yeah! ]                
You Just Walk On In!                                        

1.
WELL I WALKED up the windin' road         [ Oh Yeah! ]
Just to ease this load                        [ Oh Yeah! ]
TRAVELLED BOTH night and day                [ Oh Yeah! ]
So tired but not afraid                        [ YEAH !!! ]
JESUS MY LIGHT my guide                [ Oh Yeah! ]
He's ever by my side                        [ Oh Yeah! ]
When I'm walkin' not knockin' into heaven, WITH PRIDE         
                                        [Yeagh! Yeagh!]

2.        
WELL I HAVE NO need to fear                [ Oh Yeah! ]
If he is ever-near                        [ Oh Yeah! ]
HE'LL KNOW THAT my work was true        [ Oh Yeah! ]
So there when my day is through                [ YEAH !!! ]
HE'LL ORDER FOR me to stay                [ Oh Yeah! ]
And then I'll make my way                [ Oh Yeah! ]
Coz I'm walkin' not knockin' into heaven, GOODBYE!                                                [Yeagh! Yeagh!]


The Kingston Trio also had a version - attributed to Dave Guard I think! (+ their lyrics read as "punch a hole" - I rather prefer "push or hold"!!!) ...
Not sure whose version Stewie had (s'pose it could've been The Staples Singers??) but I don't think it had any women singing in it, just wonderful black-gospel style blokes!


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Door to Heaven don't need no key
From: Stewie
Date: 21 Aug 05 - 03:42 AM

Hi R-J, the version I gave was from the New Grass Revival. It was on their album 'On the Boulevard' Sugar Hill LP SH-3745 (1985). The line-up at that time was Sam Bush, John Cowan, Pat Flynn and Bela Fleck. The attribution was to W. Westbrook/C.A. Walton Red Rock Music Co. BMI.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Door to Heaven don't need no key
From: rich-joy
Date: 21 Aug 05 - 08:57 AM

Thanks, Stewie - good to know that source at last!!!


some more data on the song and 'Pops' :

" The original capitol release of "Going Places" credits "You Don't Knock" as follows: "Traditional Arr. Dave Guard." On the 1992 Capitol CD release of "Make Way / Going Places" credit is given to R. Staples and Wesley Westbrooks. A check of B.M.I. reveals "You Don't Knock" credited to Dave Guard (Sanga Music Inc., 250 West 57th St., Suite 1218, New York, NY 10107,) and another credit to Ceder Walton and Westbrooks (no publisher listed.) The Granada Music publication credit was taken from "Kingston Trio Delux Souvenir Album," H.P. Hansen Publications, INC. - 1964."
taken from :
http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/thesongs/YouDontKnock.htm

then :
" 1-13-2002 Bio for and image for Roebuck "Pops" Staples, credited composer of "You Don't Knock" is added to the pages of the LINER NOTES."
taken from :
http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/content/whatsnew.htm


plus :
Roebuck "Pops" Staples - bios and links :

http://users2.ev1.net/~smyth/linernotes/personel/StaplesR.htm
and :
http://www.shs.starkville.k12.ms.us/mswm/MSWritersAndMusicians/musicians/Staples.html#bio


Cheers! R-J