Early in his career, he worked with guitarist Duane Eddy, and his own band, Guys and Dolls. He is best known for writing the country hit "Behind Closed Doors", which Charlie Rich recorded, and "Mama He's Crazy" for The Judds. "Behind Closed Doors" won a Grammy Award in 1973 for Best Country & Western Recording. O'Dell also wrote pop and soft rock songs, including Next Plane to London which was a Top 20 hit in 1967 for Rose Garden. O'Dell is credited as "Kenny Gist, Jr" on the record label.
Rich also had a top 10 hit in 1972 with the O'Dell-penned song "I Take It On Home". O'Dell was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. His only Billboard Top 40 appearance came in 1967 when "Beautiful People" climbed to number 38, and his only other Billboard Top 100 appearance came in 1968 with the local hit "Springfield Plane". O'Dell also had a top 10 country hit on his own with "Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'" in 1978.
When O'Dell first moved to Nashville, he ran Bobby Goldsboro's publishing company. He has had other hit covers including "Trouble in Paradise" by Loretta Lynn in 1974.
His 1973 b-side "Homecoming Queen" is still frequently misidentified as an unreleased song called "Penny O'Dell" from Paul McCartney and Wings, this being the result of a bootleg album from the latter 1970s erroneously making this claim.
Discography
Albums
Year Album Label
1968 Beautiful People Vegas
1974 Kenny O'Dell Capricorn
1978 Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'
Singles
Year Single Chart Positions Album
US Country - US - CAN Country
1962 "Old Time Love" — — — single only
1967 "Beautiful People" — 38 — Beautiful People
1968 "Springfield Plane" — 94 — singles only
"Happy with You" — 118 —
"Bless Your Little Heart" — — —
1970 "If I Was a Rambler" — — —
1971 "Jubal" — — —
1972 "Why Don't We Go Somewhere and Love" — — —
"Lizzie and the Rainman" — — —
1973 "Rock and Roll Man" — — —
1974 "You Bet Your Sweet, Sweet Love" 58 — — Kenny O'Dell
"I'll Find Another Way (To Say I Love You)" — — —
1975 "Soulful Woman" 18 — 36
"My Honky Tonk Ways" 37 105 — singles only
"I Can't Think When You're Doin'" — — —
1978 "Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'" 9 — — Let's Shake Hands and Come Out Lovin'
"As Long as I Can Wake Up in Your Arms" 12 — 14
1979 "Medicine Woman" 32 — — single only
Awards
1973—Grammy\Best Country Song\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—CMA\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—CMA\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—ACM\Song of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1973—ACM\Single of the Year\"Behind Closed Doors"
1984—Nashville Songwriters Association International\Songwriter of the Year
1984—NSAI\Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"
1985—BMI\Country Song of the Year\"Mama He's Crazy"
Behind Closed Doors
Kenny O'Dell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, Don't He Make Me Proud
He Never Makes A Scene
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 He'll Be Leavin' With Me
And When We Get Behind Closed Doors
Then We Let Out Hair Hang Down
Then He Makes Me Glad That He's My Man
And No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors
My Baby Makes Me Smile
Lord, Don't He Make Me Smile
I'm Never Far Away
Or Too Tired To Say I Want To
I'm Purring Like A Kitten
When E's Out In Public With Me
But When They Turn Out The Lights
He Brings Out The Tiger In Me
Behind Closed Doors
Kenny O'Dell's song Behind Closed Doors is a ballad that tells the story of a couple who keeps their romantic life private. The first verse talks about the singer's pride in her partner, a man who knows how to act in public and never makes a scene. Although they are often the subject of gossip, the singer knows that her partner will always stand by her side, even when the lights go out. The chorus switches to the explicit, as they are finally free to let their hair down behind closed doors. The song suggests that the couple's passions ignite in the privacy of their own world, and they share an intimacy that no one else can comprehend.
The second verse continues to explore the theme of public versus private personas. The singer confesses that her partner makes her purr like a kitten in public, but behind closed doors, the tables turn, and she becomes the tiger that he brings out. The song suggests that their relationship is a balance between two opposite states - one where they keep their passion hidden and another where they can let it run wild. Behind Closed Doors is a timeless classic, one that explores the complicated nature of human relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
My Baby Makes Me Proud
I am proud of my significant other.
Lord, Don't He Make Me Proud
My significant other makes me incredibly proud, even in the eyes of God.
He Never Makes A Scene
My significant other is calm and collected, and never causes a commotion.
Hangin' All Over Me In A Crowd
Even though my significant other is not causing a scene, they are affectionate towards me in public.
'Cause People Like To Talk
However, people still gossip about us.
Lord, Don't They Love To Talk
They love to talk so much, it seems like it's their favorite activity.
But When They Turn Out The Lights
When we are alone, away from the prying eyes of others.
I Know He'll Be Leavin' With Me
I am completely sure that he will stay with me.
And When We Get Behind Closed Doors
Once we are alone, in the privacy of our home.
Then We Let Out Hair Hang Down
We can finally let our guards down and be ourselves.
Then He Makes Me Glad That He's My Man
He makes me extremely happy and grateful that he is mine.
And No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors
The things that happen behind closed doors are completely private and no one else knows about them.
My Baby Makes Me Smile
My significant other always makes me smile and feel happy.
Lord, Don't He Make Me Smile
In fact, he makes me smile so much it's like it's a miracle from God.
I'm Never Far Away
I am always close to my significant other.
Or Too Tired To Say I Want To
And I never get too exhausted to show my love and affection towards him.
I'm Purring Like A Kitten
I am incredibly content and happy, like a cat purring with pleasure.
When E's Out In Public With Me
When we are in public together.
But When They Turn Out The Lights
Once we are alone and away from others.
He Brings Out The Tiger In Me
He is able to awaken my passion and desire, like a ferocious tiger.
Behind Closed Doors
All of the things that happen between us when we are alone, away from the public eye.
Writer(s): KENNY O'DELL
Contributed by Owen I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Luiz de Souza
O americano também curte uma dor de cotovelo.