Bruce was born in Keiser, Arkansas and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1957, at the age of 17, he went to see Jack Clement, a recording engineer for Sun Records. Bruce caught the attention of Sun owner Sam Phillips, for whom he wrote and recorded "Rock Boppin' Baby" (as "Edwin Bruce"). In 1962, he wrote "Save Your Kisses" for pop star Tommy Roe and in 1963 he reached No. 109 on the Billboard "Bubbling Under" chart with his own recording of "See the Big Man Cry" (Wand 140). Charlie Louvin recorded "See the Big Man Cry" (Capitol 5369) in 1965; Louvin's version reached No. 7 on the Billboard "Country Singles" chart.
In the early 1960s, Bruce recorded for RCA and some smaller labels like Wand/Scepter, singing rockabilly music, as well as more pop-oriented material such as "See the Big Man Cry." However, he didn't achieve significant success as a vocalist during this period.
In 1966, he returned to RCA and recorded "Puzzles", "The Price I Pay to Stay" and "Lonesome Is Me". He still did not achieve great charting action. He made money doing voice-overs for television and radio commercials.[1] He scored his first charted single with "Walker's Woods" in 1967, and also charted with his version of The Monkees' "Last Train to Clarksville." Both of these singles were minor hits. In 1969, Bruce signed with Monument Records, where he continued to have minor successes with "Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven" and "Song For Jenny". Meanwhile, he continued to write songs like "The Man That Turned My Mama On," which was a major hit for Tanya Tucker in 1974 and "Restless" for Crystal Gayle the same year. He signed with United Artists Records in 1973 and released several singles, but only one single in 1974 became a minor hit. He finally made the upper regions of the charts when he made the Top 20 on the country charts with his version of "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" in 1976.
In 1978, "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys" was recorded by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. It became a major hit, and put Bruce on an upward swing. Two more Top 40 hits followed for Bruce in 1976, and in 1977, he signed with Epic Records where he would score minor hits. In 1979, Tanya Tucker took Bruce's song "Texas (When I Die)" into the country Top 5.
In 1980, Bruce signed with MCA Records, where he would score his biggest successes. His early hits with MCA included "Diane", "The Last Cowboy Song", "When You Fall In Love (Everything's A Waltz)", "Evil Angel", and "Love's Found You And Me". His biggest hit, "You're the Best Break This Old Heart Ever Had" went to number one on the country chart in 1982. This also was Bruce's first Top 10 as a singer after 15 years. He had other hit songs that made the Top 10 like "Ever, Never Lovin' You", "My First Taste of Texas", and "After All".
In 1984, he returned to RCA Records and scored a No. 3 hit with "You Turn Me On Like A Radio" in 1985. His last Top 10 single was "Nights" in 1986 and his last Top 40 single (and last chart single to date) was "Quietly Crazy" in 1987.
During this time, Bruce began to act and do commercials. One of his biggest acting roles was as the second lead on the television revival of 1957's Maverick, called Bret Maverick. Starring James Garner as a legendary western gambler, the series ran on NBC-TV during the 1981-82 season but was unexpectedly cancelled despite respectable ratings. Bruce played the irascibly surly town lawman who found himself reluctantly co-owning a saloon with Maverick, with whom he seemed to maintain a surreally adversarial relationship more or less throughout the entire season. Bruce also sang and wrote the theme song to the show, while Garner himself sang the same song over the end titles at the show's close, albeit while being relentlessly interrupted by network announcements about upcoming programming.
After the 1986 album entitled Night Things and a 1988 self-titled follow-up, Bruce made a conscious decision to cut back on his music to focus on his acting career, appearing in several made-for-TV films. He hosted two shows in the late 1980s, Truckin' USA and American Sports Calvacade Bruce has also appeared in several theatrical releases, including Fire Down Below with Steven Seagal.
Bruce's son, Trey Bruce, is a songwriter and record producer.
Behind Closed Doors
Ed Bruce Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, don't she make me proud
She never makes a scene
By hangin' all over me in a crowd
'Cause people like to talk
Lord, don't they love to talk
But when they turn out the lights
I know she'll be leavin' with me
Then she lets her hair hang down
And she makes me glad that I'm a man
Oh, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors
My baby makes me smile
Lord, don't she make me smile
She's never far away
Or too tired to say "I want you"
She's always a lady
Just like a lady should be
But when they turn out the lights
She's still a baby to me
When we get behind closed doors
And she lets her hair hang down
Then she makes me glad I'm a man
Oh, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors
In "Behind Closed Doors" by Ed Bruce, the lyrics convey a sense of intimacy and secrecy within a romantic relationship. The song celebrates the singer's partner who, in public, maintains a composed and modest demeanor. Despite the rumors and gossip that often surround them, she never gives in to the temptations of causing a scene or seeking attention in public. However, once they are alone together, the dynamic between them changes dramatically. The facade is shed, and she becomes more relaxed and uninhibited, letting her hair down both literally and figuratively.
The singer is proud of his partner's ability to balance her public and private personas. In public, she is seen as a composed and respectable lady. But behind closed doors, she reveals another side, embodying the desires and passions that exist within their relationship. The secrecy implies a deep level of trust and security between the couple, where they can freely express themselves without fear of judgment or scrutiny.
The song highlights the dichotomy of public perception versus private reality, reminding listeners that what truly goes on behind closed doors often remains unknown and hidden from the outside world. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining a private space where couples can be themselves, away from the prying eyes and opinions of others.
Overall, "Behind Closed Doors" is a tender and heartfelt exploration of the complexities of love and the hidden depths of a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
My baby makes me proud
I feel a great sense of pride because of my partner
Lord, don't she make me proud
I can't help but feel immense pride due to my partner
She never makes a scene
She never seeks attention or causes a disturbance
By hangin' all over me in a crowd
By excessively clinging to me in public
'Cause people like to talk
Because people enjoy gossiping
Lord, don't they love to talk
People truly have a fondness for gossiping
But when they turn out the lights
However, when the lights are turned off
I know she'll be leavin' with me
I am aware that she will depart with me
When we get behind closed doors
When we are in a private setting
Then she lets her hair hang down
At that moment, she allows herself to relax and be natural
And she makes me glad that I'm a man
She brings me joy and affirms my masculinity
Oh, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors
No one truly understands the dynamics of our private relationship
My baby makes me smile
My partner brings a smile to my face
Lord, don't she make me smile
Undoubtedly, my partner brings joy into my life
She's never far away
She is always nearby
Or too tired to say "I want you"
Or too exhausted to express her desire for me
She's always a lady
She consistently behaves with grace and dignity
Just like a lady should be
In the manner of a model woman
But when they turn out the lights
However, when the lights are switched off
She's still a baby to me
She remains innocent and vulnerable in my eyes
When we get behind closed doors
When we are alone together
And she lets her hair hang down
And she allows herself to be free and relaxed
Then she makes me glad I'm a man
At that moment, she reaffirms my gratitude for being a man
Oh, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors
The truth of what occurs in our private life remains unknown to others
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kenny O'dell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rebecca D
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Good Morning
Ed Bruce 🎶🎶🎶
Great Talent Great Vocal
God Bless You and Family. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐