He gained success in the 1960s and 1970s with his brand of Southern soul, which mixed the styles of country, gospel and rhythm and blues.
Born in Rogers, Texas, in 1935 and raised in Baytown, TX, Tex's career started after he was signed to King Records in 1955 following four wins at the Apollo Theater. Between that year and 1964, however, Tex struggled to find hits and by the time he finally recorded his first hit, "Hold What You've Got", in 1964, he had recorded thirty prior singles that were deemed failures on the charts. Tex went on to have three million-selling hits, "Hold What You've Got" (1965), "Skinny Legs and All" (1967) and "I Gotcha" (1972).
Joe Tex with the raspy voice & charm of a southern preacher and the linguistic skills of a true street hustler made a string of funky chart topping hits and occasional raps with moral themes. His peak as a hitmaker occured in the mid & late 60's, but extended into the 70's disco era.
His breakthrough 1965 song "Hold What You've Got" topped both the Pop and R&B charts. In 1966 he released "I Believe I'm Gonna Make It", which was the first major pop record associated with the Vietnam War. His style was usually more light hearted fare, like "S.Y.S.L.J.F.M. (The Letter Song)" and his biggest hit "Skinny Legs And All".
His last major record was 1972's funky jam "I Gotcha", a #1 song. It was after this release that he converted to Islam. After the death of Elijah Mohamed in 1975, Joe Tex received the blessing and approval of the Nation of Islam to begin recording and performing again. His career resurgence came as the disco years were in full swing. His late career comeback song was "Ain't Gonna Bump No More (With No Big Fat Woman)".
Close the door
Joe Tex Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'll be back, hey hey hey
Close your doors
Now I trust you to be a good baby
You know how to act, hey hey hey
Close your doors
But if your so-called friends
That I don't trust at all
So keep your friends outdoors
Keep both doors closed
Because nobody knows who comes and goes
When the doors ain't closed, hey hey hey
Close your doors
I don't mind you and your girlfriends
Playin' some cards, hey hey hey
Close your doors
Just as long as you play cards
Out in the yard, hey hey hey
Closе your doors
Now, you can even fix lunch
A-for the wholе bunch
And make them feel at home
But keep your freinds outdoors
Keep both doors closed
Because nobody knows who comes and goes
When the doors ain't closed, hey hey hey
Close your doors
Now, the next house I build
Won't have but one route, hey hey hey
Close your doors so the way you go in
That's the way you come out, hey hey hey
Close your doors
Now, it's such a shame to
Have knowin' the pain
And one door is bad enough
We'll keep that one door closed
And keep our friends outdoors
'Cause nobody knows who comes and goes
When the doors ain't closed, hey hey hey
Close your doors, alright
Hoo-wee, hey hey hey! Close your doors
Hey hey hey close your doors
Hey hey hey close your doors
In Joe Tex's song "Close the Door," the lyrics convey the singer's concern and caution towards their partner's behavior and the people they associate with. The opening lines indicate the singer's imminent departure but reassure their partner that they will return. They urge their partner to "close your doors," both physically and metaphorically, as a sign of trust and responsibility. The singer expresses their lack of trust in the partner's friends, particularly men, and emphasizes the importance of keeping them outside and away from their relationship. The repetition of the phrase "close your doors" serves as a plea for protection and secrecy, as the singer believes that nobody knows what happens when the doors are left open.
The lyrics further suggest that the partner can spend time with their friends, playing cards or even preparing lunch for them. However, the emphasis is on doing these activities outside the home, in the yard, to maintain privacy and avoid potential negative influences. The singer expresses their intention to build a new house with only one entrance, hinting at a desire for greater control over who enters and exits their lives. Ultimately, the repeated insistence to "close your doors" symbolizes the need for protection, loyalty, and discretion in the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, now I've got to go and leave you
My dear, I must depart from you
But I'll be back, hey hey hey
But rest assured, I shall return
Close your doors
Secure your entrances
Now I trust you to be a good baby
I have faith in you to behave well
You know how to act, hey hey hey
You know the proper behavior
Close your doors
Secure your entrances
But if your so-called friends
However, if your alleged friends
Especially the men
Particularly the male acquaintances
That I don't trust at all
Whom I utterly distrust
So keep your friends outdoors
Therefore, ensure your companions remain outside
Keep both doors closed
Ensure both entrances are shut
Because nobody knows who comes and goes
Since it is uncertain who enters and exits
When the doors ain't closed, hey hey hey
When the entrances are not sealed
Close your doors
Secure your entrances
I don't mind you and your girlfriends
I do not object to you and your female friends
Playin' some cards, hey hey hey
Engaging in a card game, oh yeah
Close your doors
Secure your entrances
Just as long as you play cards
As long as you engage in the card game
Out in the yard, hey hey hey
Outside in the backyard, oh yeah
Close your doors
Secure your entrances
Now, you can even fix lunch
Furthermore, you may even prepare lunch
A-for the whole bunch
For the entire group
And make them feel at home
And make them comfortable
But keep your friends outdoors
However, ensure your companions remain outside
Keep both doors closed
Ensure both entrances are shut
Because nobody knows who comes and goes
Since it is uncertain who enters and exits
When the doors ain't closed, hey hey hey
When the entrances are not sealed
Close your doors
Secure your entrances
Now, the next house I build
In my future construction projects
Won't have but one route, hey hey hey
There shall be only one entrance, oh yeah
Close your doors so the way you go in
Secure your entrances so the means of entry
That's the way you come out, hey hey hey
Matches the way you exit, oh yeah
Close your doors
Secure your entrances
Now, it's such a shame to
Currently, it is unfortunate to
Have knowin' the pain
Experience the agony
And one door is bad enough
And having one entrance is already problematic
We'll keep that one door closed
We shall seal that singular entrance
And keep our friends outdoors
And prevent our companions from entering
'Cause nobody knows who comes and goes
Since it is uncertain who enters and exits
When the doors ain't closed, hey hey hey
When the entrances are not sealed
Close your doors, alright
Secure your entrances, alright
Hoo-wee, hey hey hey! Close your doors
Oh my, oh yeah! Secure your entrances
Hey hey hey close your doors
Oh yeah, secure your entrances
Hey hey hey close your doors
Oh yeah, secure your entrances
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Joseph Arrington
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind