Alan Thicke married actress Gloria Loring, known for starring in programs such as 'Days of Our Lives', in 1970, and he had the two sons Brennan Thicke and Robin Thicke. Half-brother Carter Thicke would become another member of the clan years later after Alan Thicke divorced and remarried. Brother Robin grew up in a household filled with music, with his dad being a singer (of tracks such as "Thicke of the Night") as well as a co-composer for several TV show theme songs and a seminal actor on both the big and small screens (examples being the shows 'Growing Pains' and 'How I Met Your Mother').
The young Robin Thicke taught himself to play piano at the age of twelve. Even at the age of fourteen, he found that he could play just about anything that he heard on the radio, feeling a drive to keep going further. Before his days as a singer-songwriter performing his own material,Robin Thicke wrote songs for the soul and pop groups 3T (with 1995's "Sexual Attention" bringing Thicke alongside Damon Thomas), Brownstone (with 1997's "Around You"), and Color Me Badd (an example being 1996's "Sexual Capacity"). He also collaborated with the acclaimed production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on several songs for Jordan Knight's 1999 self-titled album. Thicke seemed to receive a great omen when Knight's album was certified Gold and gained huge fan acclaim.
In 2000, Thicke went to work on material for his debut album, which ended up being titled 'A Beautiful World'. The album focused more on blue-eyed soul than his pop-centered offerings for other artists, and he mixed in influences from eclectic funk (in the vein of the British group Jamiroquai) and and modern neo-soul music (in the vain of Canadian crooner Remy Shand). Thicke hoped that he was primed for huge things by late 2002 when the album became ready for release.
Thicke's lead single, called "When I Get You Alone", had a distinctive music video made for it. The disco and slick rnb fueled track sounded rather unlike the commercial pop ethos of the time, having a distinctive sampling of Walter Murphy's 70s dance music hit "A Fifth of Beethoven" (which itself had been inspired by Beethoven's Fifth Symphony). The video featured an unshaven Thicke, with long, grungy hair, as a courier racing through the streets of Manhattan on a bicycle. It received some rotation on MTV 2 and BET's "Rated Next", the song being spun moderately on urban radio. On the Hot 100, it reached #29 quite quickly, yet it fell out the chart just as fast. Globally, however, the song was quite popular. With his single peaking at #17 in Australia, #15 in Belgium, #15 in Italy, #8 in New Zealand, and #5 in the Netherlands, Thicke felt that he wanted another shot at the 'big time' in the U.S.
Devising the re-release of this album, which it then gaining its final title of 'A Beautiful World', Thicke added a few extra songs that he seemed confident of. Yet the album received very little corporate promotion, irritating Thicke despite the release of a second single, a Prince-like groove mixing funk with rock called "Brand New Jones". The album debuted at #152 in the Billboard 200 and didn't do much from there, selling a mere 59,000 copies. Still, his work ended up being received well by many critics and musical peers, with Trevor Nelson and Lil' Wayne (Weezy's 2005 release 'Tha Carter, Vol. 2' would even include some of Thicke's work) lauding Thicke's music, as well as many fans.
In 2004, artist Pharrell Williams asked Jimmy Iovine, CEO of Interscope, “What are you doing with Robin Thicke?” A few months later, Robin was recording a new single, titled “Wanna Love You Girl” with Pharrell in Miami, as a newly signed artist on Pharrell’s label, Star Trak Records. With the two musicians sharing the same love for genre-hopping, deliberately 'retro' music, the single immediately attracted the attention of radio and club DJs across the world after its August 2005 release. The song often given revamped names such as "Wanna Love U Girl", "Wanna Love You Girl (Feat. Pharrell)", and the like, it ended up doing very well in the U.K. in particular, hitting #5 on Trevor Nelson's BBC Radio 1 "Soul Nation" chart.
Now appealing more to the mainstream, Thicke cut off his trademark long hair in an attempt to further recreate himself. By October 2006, when his second album, titled 'The Evolution of Robin Thicke', came out in its entirely, he had built up a ton of momentum, and his work paid off. Thicke earned the #1 slot on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and additional singles such as "Got 2 Be Down" and "Lost Without U" saw huge fan responses. As the months went by, his album even earned platinum certification by the RIAA.
Having 'made it' in the truest sense commercially as well as critically, Thick remarked, "My greatest desire with this album was to write songs that were completely honest and sing them with the emotion I was feeling when I wrote them, so that whoever listens to my music is brought as close to my experiences and life as possible."
With this intention, Robin created songs such as, “Lost without You” (the second single). An instant classic, this song is about Robin’s insecurities and his need to be desired and loved. With sweeping vocals over rhythmic Spanish guitar, this song takes you away and makes you sing along.
On the psychedelic, “High School Man” is where Robin infuses rock and hip-hop and poetically admits “I’m a hater” as he hates on those with more success than him realizing, ironically, he just wants what they have.
Finishing off The Evolution of Robin Thicke is the hopeful and encouraging “Thank You.” On this gospel inspired, piano ballad Robin sings, “maybe I’m the one who never gets up ‘till he falls,” making the discovery that he has to be thankful for everything that comes into his life…the tears, the joy, the failures and the successes.
Always carrying a heavy heart, Robin taught himself to play piano at the age of twelve so he could have an outlet to express himself. By the age of fourteen, he could play anything he heard on the radio. At sixteen, with no formal training, Robin began professionally writing and producing music for recording artists like Brandy and Brian McKnight. Over the years he has amassed dozens of gold and platinum records with artists including Usher, Mary J. Blige, Michael Jackson and Christina Aguilera.
Reflective, redemptive, passionate and etched with a soulfulness that is undeniable, The Evolution of Robin Thicke is an imaginative and heart-felt album that you cannot help but be moved by, bob your head to and smile throughout.
The album was released on October 3rd, 2006 and includes songs with Lil Wayne and Faith Evans, as well as Pharrell. The song "Got 2 Be Down" featuring Faith Evans was recently leaked (June '06). There will be two to three more videos released before the album comes out. Lately, there was a Busta Rhymes remix video shot for "Wanna Love You Girl," a Lil’ Wayne feat Robin Thicke "Shooter" video, and Robin has released the video for "Lost Without You," making that song the official 2nd single of the album.
Lock the Door
Robin Thicke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Three, four, she locked the door
I keep knockin' and knockin' and knockin' and knockin'
She was born in Paris
At the age of 21
Love knew her
But she didn't know love
Love didn't stand by her side
On the most important night, oh yeah
And now she's flyin' high
You can't hurt her no more
And now she's locked the door
'Cause you broke the key
And she got a bright spot on her face
Now that she got that little taste
She just wants more
She just wants more
She locked the door
I kept tryin' to tell you you were pushin' me too far
She locked the door
I kept tryin' to warn you you was slowly breakin' my heart
She locked the door
I kept givin' you all of it but you took way too much
She locked, locked, locked, locked, locked, locked that door
And I don't know what this is but I know this ain't love
One, two, look at you
Three, four, she locked the door
I keep knockin' and knockin' and knockin' and knockin'
One morning the tears started rolling down her empty face
That sparkle in her eye had been abruptly replaced
When I touched her she said wait, when I kissed her she pulled away
And I knew it was over, cause she had nothing left to say
But now she's flying high you can't hurt her no more
Now she's locked the door because you broke the key
Now a world without you she calls whole
She ain't leavin' no porch light on
She just wants more, she just wants more
She locked the door
I kept tryin' to tell you you were pushin' me too far
She locked the door
I kept tryin' to warn you you was slowly breakin' my heart
She locked the door
I kept givin' you all of it but you took way too much
She locked, locked, locked, locked, locked, locked that door
And I don't know what this is but I know this ain't love
One, two, look at you
Three, four, she locked the door
I keep knockin' and knockin' and knockin' and knockin'
Baby let me in, baby I miss my best friend, yes I do
She locked the door, you can't hurt her no more
She locked, locked, locked, locked, locked, locked that door
Hey yea, c'mon, I kept tryin' to tell you you were pushin' me too far
She locked the door
I kept tryin' to warn you you was slowly breakin' my heart
You can't hurt her anymore
I kept givin' you all of it but you took way too much
She locked the door
And I don't know what this is but I know this ain't love
She locked, locked, locked, locked, locked that
C'mon baby let me in
Don't leave me out here in the cold
Ooh turn the porch light on
At least open the doggy-door
Throw a friend a juicy bone
Baby please give me a little hope, all I need is a little hope
One, two, silly fool
Three, four, she locked the door
I keep knocking and knocking and knocking and knocking
"Lock the Door" by Robin Thicke is a breakup song following the story of a woman who locks the door on her past relationship, refusing to let the man back in. The song starts with a countdown which indicates that the woman has finally had enough and decides to take control of her life. The woman was born in Paris and at the age of 21, she knows love but love doesn't know her back. Love didn't hear her when she cried, love didn't stand by her side on the most important night. However, she's now flying high and has locked the door, preventing the man from hurting her anymore.
The chorus of the song repeats the woman's action of locking the door as the man keeps knocking, wanting to be let in. The man tries to convince her to let him back in, saying he misses his best friend and asking her to turn on the porch light. Yet, the woman remains steadfast and the repetition of the chorus indicates she won't let him back in. The song ends with the man pleading for a little hope.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, look at you
Observation of the situation with the person involved.
Three, four, she locked the door
The person has shut him out of her life.
I keep knockin' and knockin' and knockin' and knockin'
Despite her locking the door, the person still tries to get back in.
She was born in Paris
Describing the person's background and origin story.
At the age of 21
Specific detail about the person's age when something happened.
Love knew her
The person had a relationship before.
But she didn't know love
She was not aware of the true nature of love in the past relationship.
Love didn't hear her when she cried
The person's emotions were not acknowledged in the past relationship.
Love didn't stand by her side
The person did not have support in the past relationship.
On the most important night, oh yeah
Highlighting a significant event in the person's past.
And now she's flyin' high
The person has moved on and is doing well.
You can't hurt her no more
The person has overcome the pain from the past relationship.
And now she's locked the door
She has closed herself off from past hurt.
'Cause you broke the key
The person has lost trust in the other due to previous events.
And she got a bright spot on her face
The person has found happiness after moving on from the past.
Now that she got that little taste
The person has experienced happiness and wants more.
She just wants more
The person desires more happiness.
I kept tryin' to tell you you were pushin' me too far
He communicated his concerns about the relationship, but they were not heard.
I kept tryin' to warn you you was slowly breakin' my heart
He expresses how his feelings were hurt over time.
I kept givin' you all of it but you took way too much
He gave too much in the relationship and wasn't valued or appreciated.
And I don't know what this is but I know this ain't love
Reflecting on the past relationship and understanding that it was not true love.
One morning the tears started rolling down her empty face
Describing a moment when the person became emotional due to the past hurt.
That sparkle in her eye had been abruptly replaced
The person's happiness vanished due to the past relationship.
When I touched her she said wait, when I kissed her she pulled away
The person is not ready for physical affection after being hurt.
And I knew it was over, cause she had nothing left to say
She has no more words or feelings to share in the relationship.
You can't hurt her anymore
The person is no longer vulnerable to the negative effects of the past relationship.
Now a world without you she calls whole
The person is happy being alone without the previous partner.
She ain't leavin' no porch light on
She is not expecting or waiting for anyone to return to her life.
Don't leave me out here in the cold
He is asking for the person to let him back in and not leave him on his own.
Ooh turn the porch light on
A plea for the person to give him a chance to return to her life.
At least open the doggy-door
Asking for just a small opening in their relationship.
Throw a friend a juicy bone
A metaphorical reference to giving him a chance to be friends again.
Baby please give me a little hope, all I need is a little hope
A request for a chance to make things right and restart their relationship.
One, two, silly fool
Reflecting on his mistakes and regrets in the relationship.
I keep knocking and knocking and knocking and knocking
Persistent effort to be allowed back in the person's life.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROBIN A. THICKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind