Critically acclaimed though perceived as commercially disappointing, their debut contained tracks such as a spirited version of the Bobby Troup chestnut "The Girl Can't Help It", and it brought them a cult following. Their second album, 1970's 'Flamingo', revealed a musical approach that continued to draw upon 50s rock and roll as well as upon the more tuneful work of The Beatles and the The Rolling Stones. 'Flamingo' is also notable as well as the only album by the group to feature an apostrophe after "Flamin" (all the others are credited to "The Flamin Groovies"). It also was the first of their two albums for the label Kama Sutra.
Their next album, and last with musician Roy Loney, was the 1971 classic 'Teenage Head'. Continuing their streak of critical praise, this album appears in the famous book '1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die'. Mick Jagger praised the work as an excellent album with parallels to the Stones' work at the time which, like 'Teenage Head', revisited both 50s music and roots rock. 'Teenage Head' is also considered to be a classic in the proto-punk music canon.
Still, Roy Loney left the Flamin' Groovies, and he was replaced by singer-songwriter and guitarist Chris Wilson, who, along with Jordan, began to move the group in a more overtly power pop direction. Between 1971 and 1976, very little was heard of the band except their 1972 anti-drug song "Slow Death". In 1976, they teamed up with British producer and famous retro rock artist Dave Edmunds, and recorded an album entitled 'Shake Some Action'.
With Cyril Jordan and George Alexander the lone holdouts in the band after their line-up changes, their sound found them fully embracing melodic 60s British invasion music and putting on a suit and tie public image reminiscent of those groups. The album even breaking into the Billboard 200 chart, reaching the #142 slot, it picked-up massive critical acclaim. Title track "Shake Some Action" became somewhat of a 'signature song' for the group, and the album has been viewed as a landmark release of the Anglo-American power pop movement.
The following effort, 1978's 'Now', continued to be a good example of their self-conscious attempt to revive the sound of classic 60s rock. As Cyril Jordan told an interviewer, "The time that we were personifying had died in America years before. We were trying to put it into a capsule." The Groovies continued in the same style until somewhere early in the 80s, almost folding entirely and shifting into a sporadic, on-again/off-again existence as the American music scene changed into a more new wave and alternative rock based direction.
In retrospect, the band has been praised by critics as being "one of America's greatest, most influential, and legendary cult bands", in the words of Allmusic. Their siren song of a last album, 1993's 'Rock Juice', has also attracted attention as a great underground release. As time goes by, many punk and powerpop leaning bands have took inspiration from the Groovies.
Keep A Knockin'
Flamin' Groovies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep a knockin' , but you can't come in.
Keep a knockin' , but you can't come in,
Come back tomorrow night and try again.
You said you love me, but you can't come in.
You said you love me, but you can't come in.
You said you love me, but you can't come in,
The Flamin' Groovies' "Keep a Knockin'" is a classic rock and roll tune that has gained popularity for its fun and catchy lyrics. The song's lyrics are simple and repetitive, but they convey a message of persistent pursuit and not giving up until one has achieved what they want. The line "Keep a knockin', but you can't come in" is particularly intriguing, as it implies that there is a barrier or obstacle in place preventing the person from entering, but they should not give up and try again. This could be interpreted in several ways, such as a personal relationship or even societal barriers.
The second verse "You said you love me, but you can't come in" adds a layer of complexity to the song. It seems that the person trying to enter is not just anyone but someone who claims to love the singer. Yet, the singer still insists on the same message of persistence, suggesting that love alone is not enough to overcome the barrier in place.
Overall, "Keep a Knockin'" is a fun and upbeat tune with a message of not giving up, even when faced with obstacles. The Flamin' Groovies' track is timeless and reminds listeners to keep pushing for what they want, even if it takes several attempts.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep a knockin' , but you can't come in.
I hear you knocking at my door, but you cannot enter my life.
Keep a knockin' , but you can't come in.
I'm warning you that your attempts to enter my life will be in vain.
Keep a knockin' , but you can't come in,
I am making it clear that you are not welcome in my space at the moment.
Come back tomorrow night and try again.
Perhaps you can attempt to enter my life at a more suitable time.
You said you love me, but you can't come in.
Your declaration of love for me will not grant you access to my life.
You said you love me, but you can't come in.
I am rejecting your notion that love is enough to enter my personal space.
You said you love me, but you can't come in,
I don't want to dismiss your feelings, but they don't grant you access to my life.
Come back tomorrow night and try again.
Perhaps we can revisit this conversation at a later time when I am more open to your advances.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: J. MAYO WILLIAMS, BERT MAYS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind