Jordan was one of the first black recording artists whose popularity crossed over into the mainstream white audience and who scored hits on both the "race" charts and the mainstream white pop charts. He is now acknowledged as one of the most successful African-American musicians of the 20th century, ranking fifth in the list of the all-time most successful black recording artists.
Jordan scored at least four million-selling hits during his career, regularly topping the "race" charts, as well as scoring simultaneous Top Ten hits on the white pop charts on several occasions. Many of the songs he wrote or co-wrote have become 20th century popular music classics.
With his dynamic Tympany Five bands (which also pioneered the use of electric guitar and electric organ) Jordan largely mapped out the main parameters of the classic R&B, urban blues and early rock'n'roll genres with a series of hugely influential 78 rpm discs for the Decca label that presaged virtually all of the dominant black music styles of the 1950s and 1960s and which exerted a huge influence on many leading performers in these genres.
Keep A Knockin'
Louis Jordan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keep knockin' and you can't come in,
Keep knockin' and you can't come in,
I guess you better let me be.
Kinda busy and you can't come in,
Kinda busy and you can't come in,
Kinda busy and you can't come in,
Got your daddy and you can't come in,
Got your daddy and you can't come in,
Got your daddy and you can't come in,
I guess you better let me be.
Yes, yes, I know you want to come in. I'm so sure you can't come in 'cause I ain't even botherin'.
You can open the transom but you can't come in.
You can open the transom but you can't come in.
You can open the transom but you can't come in.
I guess you better let me be.
I hear you tippin' but you can't come in.
I hear you tippin' but you can't come in.
I hear you tippin' but you can't come in.
I guess you better let me be.
Knock, knock, knock. I know you're worried, big boy.
Shake my doorknob but you can't come in.
Shake my doorknob but you can't come in.
Shake my doorknob but you can't come in.
I guess you better let me be.
I know you're worried, but you can't come in.
I know you're worried, but you can't come in.
I know you're worried, but you can't come in.
I guess you better let me be.
Knock, knock, knock! You can't come in here!
"Keep A Knockin'" is a classic blues song by Louis Jordan with lyrics that carry the theme of expression from a character's unrequited love, potentially symbolizing a broader desire or longing for freedom. The repetition of the phrase "Keep knockin' and you can't come in" emphasizes the singer's independence and strength, while also hinting at a sense of isolation. The refusal to allow others to enter the singer's space reflects a boundary set up to protect themselves from vulnerability and rejection. The song's upbeat tempo, however, suggests that the singer is having a good time and enjoying their solitude, rather than merely keeping up a defensive stance.
The repeated use of "you can't come in" implies a number of interpretations, from the literal (that someone is at the door asking to enter) to the metaphorical (that society or convention is preventing the singer from fulfilling their desires). The singer's repetition of the line suggests a determination and defiance in the face of outside forces, lending an air of persistence and resilience to the song. The final exclamatory line, "Knock, knock, knock! You can't come in here!" serves as a climax to the song, emphasizing the singer's individuality and confidence.
Line by Line Meaning
Keep knockin' and you can't come in,
Kinda busy and you can't come in,
I guess you better let me be.
Yes, yes, I know you want to come in. I'm so sure you can't come in 'cause I ain't even botherin'.
Got your daddy and you can't come in,
Got better company than you, and you can't come in.
You can open the transom but you can't come in.
You can try to sneak through the window, but you still can't come in.
I hear you tippin' but you can't come in.
I can hear you knocking, but I still won't let you come in.
Knock, knock, knock. I know you're worried, big boy.
You can keep knocking, but I won't open the door for you.
Shake my doorknob but you can't come in.
You can try to force your way in, but it won't work.
I know you're worried, but you can't come in.
I know you're anxious, but I won't let you come in.
Knock, knock, knock! You can't come in here!
You can knock all you want, but I won't let you in.
Writer(s): Annabel Fay, Brady Blade, Linn Segolson, Chuck Anthony, Bob Dunham
Contributed by Ellie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
CAt From Outer Space
this waz the jam' back in tha' day ...
aahh-yea the Summer of '39
Layed-back In the rumble-seat of
the family '38 Open-Top-Motor-Car ... .. .
w/ my very-first blonde Dame
in red lip-stick the Lady-of-Lust
......Mood-Maker-Matilda
the Promiscuous neighbor girl
Late-night pulled-bak in the far-end
of the faintly-Illuminated empty'
parking lot - @ the mid-town Cinema
the local Moving-Picture-Theatre
jus' Me & Miss-Maybe-Moody-Matilda
up-close-&-personal under that Full-Moon
right after taking in a Late-evening
.........moving picture show ... .. .
w/ this-here Good-ol' Louie Jordan jam
Rambling-on the Static AM Radio .. ..
Into the Bleek Darkness of night
one sure-az-Hell of a night ... .. aaahhh
Miss-Mess-Maker-Matilda?! ..Yupp she left me
the very next-day ... ..one-night-stand of '39
THE WORLD IS YOURS
I does not matter where u heard the old school songs from. The only Thing that matter, is that you enjoy the music and it makes you happy and you are smiling 🙂
a century of black music
the most underrated musician of the 20th century, r i p louis jordan.
mogen OOF
23rd*
Djanck000
If you discovered Louis Jordan playing Mafia in 2002, you can't be mad about people comming from fallout in 2016.
Jay Payment
Djanck000 such a good game
thefreshprincer
Mafia 2 was fucking Dope
BOHEMIAN
people get mad because just come because it in the game but enjoy the song it self
Just a Brooklyn Nets Fan #31
I played mafia 2 and 3 but I'm coming from fallout 4 lol
cheezmebaby
For real? This song was in another game?
RiChiq
I love Louis Jordan b4, but now, NOW, I love him even more!!!!!!!! I love this song. To find out he made the original is awesome!