Personnel: Willie Dixon - vocals, bass
Johnny Shines - guitar
Walter "Shakey" Horton aka Big Walter Horton - harmonica
Sunnyland Slim, Lafayette Leake - piano
Clifton James - drums
Back Door Man
Willie Dixon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am a back door man
Well the men don't know, but the little girls understand
When everybody's tryin' to sleep
I'm somewhere making my midnight creep
Yes, in the morning when the rooster crow
Something tell me I got to go
I am a back door man
I am, a back door man
Well the men don't know, but little girls understand
They take me to the doctor, shot full o' holes
Nurse cried, please save the soul
Killed him for murder, first degree
Judge's wife cried, let the man go free
I am a back door man
I am a back door man
Well the men don't know, but little girls understand
Stand out there, cop's wife cried
Don't take him down, rather be dead
Six feets in the ground
When you come home you can eat pork and beans
I eats mo' chicken, any man seen
I am a back door man
I am a back door man
The song "Back Door Man" by Willie Dixon is a classic blues tune which tells the story of a man who sneaks in and out of a woman's house through the back door, avoiding detection by her husband or any other men who may be around. The man is quick and quiet, making his "midnight creep" while others are sleeping. Though he may be caught and punished, the women he visits understand the thrill of the danger and secrecy.
The repetition of "I am a back door man" throughout the song emphasizes the confidence and bravado of the singer, as well as the secrecy of his activities. The line "the men don't know, but little girls understand" serves as a nod to the sexual undertones of the song, as well as the idea that women may have knowledge or insights that men do not possess.
The final verse of the song takes a dark turn, with references to violence and death. The man is shot and taken to the hospital, but ultimately his crime leads to his freedom rather than punishment. The cop's wife pleads for his release, while the man himself seems unaffected and simply notes that he prefers chicken to pork and beans.
Overall, "Back Door Man" is a classic blues tune that explores themes of secrecy, danger, and sexual power dynamics. It has been covered by numerous artists, including The Doors and Howlin' Wolf, and continues to be a staple of the blues canon.
Line by Line Meaning
I am a back door man
I am a man who sneaks in through the back door to see women
I am a back door man
I am a man that takes advantage of women in secret
Well the men don't know, but the little girls understand
Women know what I really want, even if men don't
When everybody's tryin' to sleep
When people are sleeping and not paying attention, I sneak around
I'm somewhere making my midnight creep
I'm creeping around in the night doing things I shouldn't be doing
Yes, in the morning when the rooster crow
I have to leave before morning comes and people start to notice
Something tell me I got to go
I have an internal warning that tells me it's time to leave
They take me to the doctor, shot full o' holes
I got shot trying to escape from someone angry about what I'm doing
Nurse cried, please save the soul
The nurse begged for me to be saved from death
Killed him for murder, first degree
I got in trouble with the law and was charged with first-degree murder
Judge's wife cried, let the man go free
The judge's wife thought that I should be set free despite the crime I committed
Stand out there, cop's wife cried
Even the wife of the cop who's arresting me knows what I've been up to
Don't take him down, rather be dead
The cop's wife would rather die than have me get arrested
Six feets in the ground
I would rather be dead than go to prison
When you come home you can eat pork and beans
When you come back from being away, you'll have food to eat
I eats mo' chicken, any man seen
When I'm alone, I eat a lot of chicken
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Willie Dixon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind