The El Dorados began as a Chicago, Illinois, group known as the Five Stars,… Read Full Bio ↴The El Dorados began as a Chicago, Illinois, group known as the Five Stars, lead by Pirkle Lee Moses, Jr. The other members were Arthur Bassett (tenor), Jewel Jones (1st tenor), Louis Bradley (2nd tenor), James Maddox (baritone) and Richard Nickens (bass). Moses and the original bass, Robert Glasper, left the group to join the air force. Moses left the air force in ninety days while Glasper remained. Upon leaving the air force, Moses rejoined the Five Stars (actually there were six members now) and the group changed their name to the El Dorados.

At first, both Moses and Arthur Bassett shared lead duties with Moses singing the lead on My Lovin' Baby and Bassett singing the lead on Baby I Need You. Hazel McCollum, a female lead, sang the lead on Annie's Answer. Bassett later joined the air force and Moses took over lead duties singing most of the groups remaining records. The last records with Bassett in the group were One "More Chance" b/w "Little Miss Love." The group scored a big R&B hit and crossover hit with "At My Front Door" a real boppin' number in 1955 (Vee Jay 147). The B side was "What's Buggin You Baby."

In 1955, the group had another modest hit with "I'll Be Forever Lovin' You" on Vee-Jay which was originally recorded by a group known as the Five Knights of Rhythm but never released. Subsequently, the group recorded "I Began to Realize" upon which they lost their bass Richard Nickens who joined the army.

In 1957, the group members felt they were being mistreated and they left for Oakland, California. Moses remained and add members from the Delegates - Johnny Carter, Teddy Long, John McCall, and Douglas Brown. The new El Dorados recorded two more songs for Vee-Jay - "The Lights are Low" and "Three Reasons Why" in 1958. The group broke up in 1959. The remaining members of the El Dorados (Jones, Maddox, Bradley and new lead Marvin Smith) named themselves the Four El Dorados and recorded for Academy Records. They later added George Kemp and Melvin Morrow of the Moroccos and renamed themselves the Major-Minors. On December 17, 2000, Pirkle Lee Moses, Jr., died of cancer.

At My Front Door
The El Dorados Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Crazy little mama come knocking, knocking at my front door door door
Crazy little mama come knocking, knocking at my front door
Crazy little mama come knock, knock, knocking, just like she did before

Woke up this morning with a feeling of despair lookin' for my baby and she wasn't there
Heard someone knocking and much to my surprise
There stood my baby looking in my eyes
Crazy little mama come knock, knock, knocking, just like she did before

If you got a little mama and ya want to keep her neat
Keep your little mama off my street

Same thing will happen like it did before
She'll come knock, knock, knocking at my door
Crazy little mama come knock, knock, knocking, just like she did before
Crazy little mama come knocking, knocking at my front door door door
Crazy little mama come knocking, knocking at my front door
Crazy little mama come knock, knock, knocking, just like she did before

If you got a little mama and ya want to keep her neat
Keep your little mama off my street
Same thing will happen like it did before

She'll come knock, knock, knocking at my door
Crazy little mama come knock, knock, knocking, just like she did before
Yi yi yi yi yi yi
(Crazy little momma) Yi!

Crazy little mama come knock, knock, knocking, just like she did before
Oh oh oh oh ooo

Overall Meaning

In The El Dorados's hit song "At My Front Door," the lyrics describe a man who woke up feeling desperate and alone, looking for his lover who had disappeared. He then hears a knock at his door and is surprised to find his "crazy little mama" standing there, looking at him. Despite the singer's clear affection for her, he warns others to keep their lovers away from his street, as this situation has happened before and his "crazy little mama" will likely return.

The lyrics are a classic representation of 1950s R&B and doo-wop music, with a focus on love, relationships, and playful wordplay. The song is characterized by its catchy rhythm and upbeat melody, as well as its simple, repetitive structure that allows for the listener to easily sing along.

One possible interpretation of the song is that the singer is caught up in a tumultuous, yet passionate relationship with his lover, which explains why he refers to her as "crazy." Despite the challenges, he still wants to keep her close and is drawn to her, as evidenced by the refrain of "just like she did before."

Overall, "At My Front Door" is a fun, energetic song that captures the spirit of 1950s R&B music and reflects the themes of love and relationships that are common across many genres.

Line by Line Meaning

Crazy little mama come knocking, knocking at my front door door door
A woman is persistently knocking at my front door, even after I have previously encountered this situation.

Crazy little mama come knocking, knocking at my front door
A woman is persistently knocking at my front door, even after I have previously encountered this situation.

Crazy little mama come knock, knock, knocking, just like she did before
The woman is exhibiting the same behavior as before, relentlessly knocking on my front door.

Woke up this morning with a feeling of despair lookin' for my baby and she wasn't there
I am feeling hopeless because I cannot find my significant other, and they are not in my presence.

Heard someone knocking and much to my surprise
I was surprised when I heard someone knocking on my door.

There stood my baby looking in my eyes
Surprisingly, my significant other was standing directly in front of me, staring into my eyes.

If you got a little mama and ya want to keep her neat
If you have a significant other and would like to maintain a good relationship with them,

Keep your little mama off my street
then please do not let them come to my house and create issues.

Same thing will happen like it did before
If you do not keep your significant other away from my residence, the same situation will occur again.

She'll come knock, knock, knocking at my door
If you do not keep your significant other away from my residence, they will keep knocking on my door.

(Crazy little momma) Yi!
The woman knocking on my door is behaving erratically.

Oh oh oh oh ooo
Exclamation to bring attention to the situation at hand.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management
Written by: EWART G. JR. ABNER, JOHNNY MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@glennweaver3014

9y↑30

Nothing like a good old up-tempo doo wop song. This is one of the best.

@hillelschenker2504

9y↑26

Definitely one of the greatest Doo Wop rhythm and blues songs of all times, before there were Beatles, Stones and the rest. Used to love to sing along with this when it first came out. Imagine singing this in the New York subway echo chambers. And to think that Pat Boone tried to cover it!

@pilsudski36

6y↑2

YES. (And shame on Pat Boone for even trying!)

@buddymonger3970

6y↑3

the beetles and stones were just riding on the back of and making money from the original sound.

@michaelbarbetta8870

Boone also cover Tutti-frutti. Ugh

@billcunningham9256

@Michael Barbetta What a jerk. Should have stuck with "Love Letters in the Sand"

@hugginduff

I envy you. You heard this when it came out...and in NYC...I just heard 5 years ago...the greatest ever

@jimsweeney6014

2y↑2

Those of a certain age are immediately tuned to the lyrics & beat of this All Time
50's classic! The harmony & background sax is phenomenal. Do Wop lives on! Jim Sweeney Oct 2022

@kloanguy1

4y↑4

I heard this song for the first time tonight on the radio. Love it!!

@rafaelsolorzano700

3y↑4

Great memories to lift up my soul....

@serginhocarrasco2146

5y↑2

me gusta mucho esta música, gracias a youtube he podido conocer muchos grupos y cantantes que eran desconocidos aqui en Chile

@jeanettedemain8924

7y↑3

I just watched the film "Manchester by the Sea," and this was on the soundtrack. I remember listening to this record a lot as a kid - it was one of my parents' 78s. Great stuff.

@josephkane4753

6y↑3

another timeless Classic hit single from 1955 sounds too amazing to even nowadays as when it first came out in the 1950's

@annettewieselquist8186

4y↑3

Just heard it on my brother’s radio show. One of my favorite songs then.

@garydavid3267

9y↑19

"At My Front Door," recorded by the El Dorados on the Vee Jay label and released in 1955, was one of the few doo wop records my mother purchased; it was a 78 rpm record that I would play (I thought the title was "Crazy Little Mama") on the living room console, which also served as a record player. As it were, I quite literally played it to death when one day I accidentally shattered the fragile disc beyond repair (I was around six or seven). After that, my mother swore off buying records of any type.

@aattura1541

Oh! Mom Sylvia had those records too -- us kids broke quite a few. We were SO HAPPY when LP 33 rpms came out in plastic.

@Ghtthomps

4y↑1

@A Attura I had to use my paperboy money to replace any scratched or broken 78''s. That was the deal I had with my mother.

@aattura1541

Oh i looove that song!! I bet Crazy little mama as the title never woulda passed the censors. Im surprised Annie Had a Baby made it thru. Hey 6 yrs old. I understand. We little kids did our best with our little hands. But I guess my mom, who actually had a terrible temper was resigned to this happening.

@garydavid3267

4y↑1

@A Attura Hello! I enjoyed reading your comment and wanted to reply. Actually, the song was released as "At My Front Door" at the main title with "Crazy Little Mama" following in parenthesis ("At My Front Door (Crazy Little Mama"). This would sometimes happen when a song featured a supporting or secondary lyric more often than the title verse; the recording studio would print both titles on the record label to avoid confusion among the buyers. I would be willing to bet you that most of the record buyers at the time would go to the record store and request "Crazy LIttle Mama," rather than "At My Front Door," because that is the lyric they most often heard in the song. So, no, the title would not have been much of an issue with censors, if at all. If you listen to doo-wop era records as much and as long as I have, you will discover in time that a LOT of recordings house hidden sexual meanings beneath innocent-sounding titles--double entendres--so it's understandable that parents like your mother would have a hard time distinguishing one song from another based on the lyrics alone. It was something that appealed to the teenage market--what doo-wop music is really about.

@caroljansen1568

2y↑1

Upbeat and fun. Love it!

@josephkane1436

6y↑3

Another timeless Classic Hit Single from 1955 as it is also done by The EL Dorados as it is also Called At My Front Door

@seventimes2571

10y↑16

Doo woppers showed true talent .

@josephkane3215

6y↑1

One of the finest singles of 1955 as it is by The Eldorados as it is Called At My Front Door as it had Topped The R&B singles chart for 5 weeks

@miltonkanfer4229

7y↑3

One of my favs. Great falsetto. Rhythm all the way!

@josephkane4753

Such a timeless classic single by The El Dorados Called At My Front Door as it was R&B Number 1 hit in the 50's

@josephkane4753

Just a timeless Classic hit single by The EL Dorado's as it was called AT My Front Door as it was a hit for them in 1955

@josephkane2148

7y↑2

Just One Of My all-time favourite songs of 1955 as it was done by The El Dorados as it was Called At My Front Door' such a great sound from the 1950's

@soulman4692

10y↑12

All thumbs up for that great song !!!

@josephkane2148

6y↑3

Another great tune by The El Dorados as it is a real great hit single as it was Called At My Front Door as it came out in 1955

@josephkane4753

7y↑1

Such a timeless single from The EL Dorados Called At My Front Door as it was a R&B Number 1 hit single in the 1950's such feel good song from the 1950's

@josephkane2148

7y↑1

Just a timeless Classic hit single from 1955 as it was Done By The EL Dorado's as it was called At My Front Door just a great single from 1955

@shinobi5419

10y↑7

This is awesome!

@josephkane4753

Another timeless Classic hit single from The EL Dorado's with their Biggest selling hit single of all-time as it is Called At My Front Door as it came out around 1955

@josephkane2148

Such a timeless classic Hit single from 1955 as it was done by The EL Dorado's as it was Called At My Front Door as it topped the R&B singles chart for more than a month such a timeless classic single to bring out in 1955

@alexandrefueta5300

EL VERDADERO Y PURO ROCK

@josephkane7989

Another Timeless Classic hit single By The El Dorados as it is Called At MY Front Door as it had topped the R&B singles chart in the USA

@melissatauala5208

10y↑4

I love this!!!

@josephkane392

Got to be One of My all-time Favourite songs from 1955 just a great song to bring out

@josephkane4753

6y↑1

Some of these 1950's singles are just fantastic even now than when they first came out as this one came out in 1954 and they sound so great 64 years Later

@mlparks100

I found the original sheet music at a garage sale introduced to the Founding member of Mike and The Parking Meters and it became one of our favorites. We often played it as part of a trilogy along with All Shook Up and Be Bob A Lo La!

@josephkane3215

Just a real Gem of a Hit single as it had Topped The R&B singles Chart for the EL Dorados as it is Called At My Front Door

@josephkane392

Just One Of The Top Hits of 1955 as it was Done by The El Dorado's as it was Called At My Front Door such great feel good song

@sandsoftime1954

8y↑35

Wow, 1955.This is considered ancient times to most and maybe it is. Now, 61 years later you'd think music must have progressed by leaps and bounds since then. Truth of the matter is it hasn't and in comparison to the old school stuff, the new stuff just doesn't measure up . If you don't agree with me, go tell it to your mother !

@deejaysilver9

Sands of time Pat Boone's stupid cover is stupid

@sandsoftime1954

7y↑1

A Dj Ah Yeah ,The stupid cover is stupid.In all fairness to Boone, I don't think this stuff was marketed towards us. More my parent's music, I'd say. The late forties early fifties was the time of the solo-crooner and they had some good ones. Perry Como, Harry Belafonte Dean Martin and Eddie Fisher and for women you had Dinah Shore, Patti Page , Ella Fitzgerald and Teresa Brewer . Excellent singers, excellent songs.

@jimmyratz

7y↑2

A Dj....I hate Pat Boone. Back in the fifties white racists hated the idea of young teenage white girls gyrating in front of the likes of Little Richard and other black groups or singers, so they invented The Great White Hope, Pat Boone who quickly began to steal songs by the likes of Little Richard and other black performers.

@thomasmelchiorre4860

7y↑4

Hi James, I was a white Italian kid and I felt like you did! I was lucky to live in Wildwood N.J. heard all the real music sung by the Black groups as I stood out in front of the night clubs!

@Jo-ix3qp

7y↑4

White girl in California and grew up with this music..I love all types of music but for just plain fun you can't beat 50's and early 60's music..I loved this music, loved these different groups and for me color was never an issue..but I have to say Pat Boone never did justice to Little Richard's songs..if you liked to dance slow or fast this is the music..

5 More Replies...

@njacapelladoowopenthusiast8449

10y

The eldos..one of the best!

@josephkane1436

Another Amazing Hit Single from The EL Dorados as it is also Called At My Front Door from 1955 as it had Topped The R&B hit singles Chart

@josephkane4753

Another Timeless Classic hit single as it is By The EL Dorado's as it is Called At My Front Door as it was a major hit single for them in 1955

@josephkane8103

Another Timeless Classic R&B Hit single from The EL Dorado's as it is also Called At My Front Door

@bobaldo2339

The "ending" starting at 1:44 is just great.

@josephkane4753

Just One Of the very best singles of 1955 as I do love listening to the songs of the 1950's as they are so good even Now a days

@josephkane4753

7y↑1

Just a timeless song from 1954 as this Was Done By The El Dorados and it was Called At MY Front Door and it did Top The R&B singles Chart to

@josephkane1436

One of My All-time Favourite singles from The EL Dorado's as it is Called At My Front Door from 1955

@keeganfree7339

This guys buggin out

@josephkane1436

Another Timeless Classic Hit Single from The EL Dorado's as it is also Called At My Front Door as it is had Topped Billboard R&B singles Chart for 9 weeks

@josephkane4753

One Of the very Best singles of 1954 By The EL DORADO'S Called At My Front Door just a great tune to bring out in 1954

@davidmooremoore8748

3y↑1

The El Dorados who were these magnificent singers they open the door for the sounds we have today they need to be recognized the other items thank you and your family God bless you

@josephkane1436

One of The Very Best Tunes of 1955 as it is done by The EL Dorado's as it is Called At My Front Door as it had Topped The R&B singles Chart in 1955

@josephkane1436

Another Timeless Classic hit single from 1955 as it is Called At My Front Door as it is By The ELdorado's from 1955

@josephkane1436

What A Truly Great Hit Single from the EL Dorados as it is also Called At My Front Door from 1955

@josephkane8103

Another Timeless Classic Hit Single from 1955 as it is also by The EL Dorados as it is also Called At My Front Door

@robertvanderclock2657

Loved this...might be the first doo wop song I ever heard (8 years old)

@josephkane1436

Another Classic Hit Single from The EL Dorados as it is Called At My Front Door from 1955 as it Had Topped The R&B singles Chart for them

@josephkane1436

One Of The Very Best Tunes of 1955 as it is by The EL Dorados as it is Called At My Front Door

@josephkane1436

One Of The Very Best Tunes of 1955 as it is also By The EL Dorados as it is also Called At My Front Door

@josephkane4753

Such a great single from 1955 as it topped The R&B singles chart For the El Dorado's as it was Called At My Front Door such great single from 1955

@josephkane2852

Just a Real Timeless Classic hit single from 1954 as it came from The El Dorado's With their No 1 hit single At My Front Door

@josephkane8103

Such A Truly Great Tune From 1955 as it is Called At My Front Door as it is By The EL Dorados

@rosemariesanchez9041

5y↑1

God Bless your grandfather he bought joy to many people 💖

@josephkane1436

Another One of My Favourite singles from 1955 as it is Called At My Front Door as it is also by The EL Dorados

@josephkane4753

Just a really Great hit single from 1955 as it is By The EL Dorado's as it is Called At My Front Door

@josephkane3215

Another timeless Classic hit single from the EL Dorado's as it is Called At My Front Door and I do hope that Angela does come to my front door as I will pull her in and make love to her all of the time

@CanisLupus123

Classic!

@gamingwithjenlol3409

7y↑107

My grandfather was the lead singer

@pilsudski36

6y↑7

He did a great job - much respect to him!

@jkrupp88

6y↑2

When I lived in Gary, We would listen to "Livin with Vivian"

@BigBobber19

6y↑2

AWESOME!!

@retailexplorationwithdanny8070

5y↑2

GamingWithJenLOL is he still alive

@theresatitus-lawson3431

5y↑1

Awesome! Great voice.....great group!

11 More Replies...

@josephkane8103

Another Truly Great single from 1954 as it is also By The EL Dorados as it is also Called At My Front Door

@hugginduff

the drummer is amazing

@Bamm412000

10y

Truly an Oldie but a Goodie

@tradecraft46

12y↑7

Thank you so much. I love this stuff and so little of it is posted here.

@joeythedrummer2959

3y↑1

Great old school rocker

@josephkane2148

I do Honestly Believe that My Beloved Angela would just love this Very Much as much as I do myself such a real feel good dance tune of 1955

@davedawson141

5y↑1

sitting in the park drinking so wine and hanging out with friends good times

@Mrjusbofficial

2y↑2

That's my uncle jewel third to the right standing up🙌🙌🙌

@1BrickMouse

9y↑67

One of, if not the best song about Jehovah's Witnesses.

@eddiesan2187

6y↑3

you got that right..

@eddieburrelli

5y↑4

BrickMouse just made my day.

@basementbomber

5y↑4

That's really fcukin funny! 😄

@UncleMikeNJ

5y↑3

Wouldn't that have to be TWO crazy little mamas?

@eddiesaninocencio6635

5y↑3

Brick damm your so correct i'm laughing.

2 More Replies...

@josephkane8103

Another Great Tune from 1955 as it is Called At My Front Door as it is By The EL Dorados

@countrychess

10y

Superbe !

@josephkane4753

Just a real classic hit Single from 1954 as it iwas done by THe EL Dorado's as it was Called At My Fron Door as it had Topped the R&B chart in 1955

@harptone55

12y↑2

GREAT!

@josephharris6062

I was about six or seven living in homestead fla. I liked the song then as I do after all the decades ago, maybe that's why I became a singer myself🎼🎤🎷🎸🎹📻📻📻🎵🎵🎵

@josephkane8103

Another R&B Classic Hit Single from 1955 as it is also By The EL Dorados as it is Called At My Front Door

@koolkatvintage1960

It’s heard in an obscure made for TV movie called Reunion starring Kevin Dobson when a young Linda Hamilton appears at his front door. 😄

@josephkane2148

As I had reached Angela's Front Door she just jumped into my arms and kissed the face off of me

@HaroldWilen

21w

Great DooWop

@bruceezzell3511

7y↑1

My dads favorite group! So we grew with the music! simp;y the best music!

@downtoearth13

man if you can't dance to this you can't dance to anything

@astrodaiseaa9316

harry nilsson cover of this song is great too

@edwardpasby5051

7y↑1

I like the Harry Nilsson version

@kimberlyreese7736

My father died I will sing this song at his funeral. Pray for me

@rockake

Great song by a great group. But I am not knociing off Pat Boone's cover. Texan rockabilly pioneer Johnny Carroll also made a cover of it when he cut some demos in 1955 before he was signed by Decca as their answer to RCA's Elvis Presley.But Carroll's version is quite bad.

@michaelsilverstein9887

FUN , FUN, REMEMBER THIS TUNE TRUE DOO-WOP SEND TO FRIENDS

@TomParmenter

6y↑4

"At My Front Door" is not doo-wop. Doo-wop is white streetcorner music from New York City. This is old-time rhythm and blues.

@lindakoschwitz7098

Well said..thank you.

@mikeduermyer209

That sounds stereotypical. Music transcends racial stereotypes and is what makes it the universal language. When the lyrics shout "Wop, wop... doodly wop..." how can you say it is not a Doo Wop? And why would rhythm and blues and doo wop be necessarily mutually exclusive? Answer: they do not have to be. There are too many great examples of the two styles married with both black and white groups from all over this country, North, South, East and West.

@kahlilboi

31w

😂false doo wop is a genre of rhythm and blues, doo wop came out of the black community and white people just copied the art from 😂 doo wop is black street corner music 😅 not sure where you get white people invented doo wop😂 that's comical. White people were copying black street corner music! Like the Italians and so fourth

@garrethspinn6266

9y↑1

Nilsson does it better.

@DoctorRazzArea4

+Garreth Spinn no

@sandsoftime1954

+ Garreth Spinn Stop Drinking !

@emilyleo1435

Amen

@georgeswift6292

Doo-wop rules!!!

@tkaazim

I REALLY FORGOT ABOUT THIS SONG !!!

@billlocurto8719

Great doo wop

@robertmorales1781

9y↑9

clean cut with ties!!!!! this style need to come back!!!!! get rid of hip hop shit and jeans falling below the crouch!!!!

@Boxscot49

9y↑5

Agreed

@michaelsilverstein7356

4y↑1

WOW

@josephkane4753

I Do Honestly Believe that My Beloved Angela will just love this type of music as I do as I am also madly in love with this Music and I do also feel the same for Miss Angela McLeod to

@pilsudski36

6y↑5

Fourth grade...when the big rush was having the only catcher's mitt in the neighborhood!

@johnthrussell1377

Fantasticrecord thanks

@miltonlevant2290

Rock n roll baby

@gyprosetti8083

8y↑27

Hey guys if you ever want to meet the lead singer of Eldorados his name is Mr Jones and he runs a soup kitchen at Manhattan bible church please stop by and pay a visit asked to speak to Mr. Jones from the love kitchen

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