It is cold and dark in my bedroom as I awaken to the sound of a knock – two knocks – on the front door (well it sounds like the front door and where else would anyone knock?).
“What time is it?” I ask myself but I’m not fully awake yet and therefore I’m unable to rouse myself to bend forward and turn to look at the alarm clock, which gains time anyway.
Instead, I focus on the window. The blind is shut but thin slivers of light escape from the edges; it must be after dawn, not much after because it’s so cold. I pull the covers up over my ears and shiver (I may be getting a cold).
“Crikey, it’s cold for Australia,” I think to myself.
The rap on the door begins again – about six knocks in quick succession.
“Maybe it’s the postman,” the thought flits through my mind, “The Postman Always Rings Twice” (and I smile to myself because my subconscious is making funny links – besides, the postbox is out by the gate!).
I wonder why Roland hasn’t answered the door yet. Surely he doesn’t expect me, a guest, to get up and answer his front door? He must be up by now – he ought to go… I stay put.
“Who’s that knocking on the door at half-past six in the morning?” Roland calls out from the passageway.
“Ah, half-past six,” I observe silently in my head.
I can hear the front door opening and shutting. (My bedroom is the one closest to the front door.)
“What the…” Roland pauses and laughs.
He knocks on my bedroom door before opening it a crack, then a little more.
“Who was it?” I ask, my face emerging from my huddle of quilts.
“It wasn’t the door at all. Do you remember I told you about that big kookaburra that keeps pecking at his reflection on your computer room window..?” he bursts out laughing.
“Who’s that knocking on the door?” I sing (to the tune of Paul McCartney’s “Inside Thing” song).
“Who’s that ringing the bell?” Roland sings back.
“Or should it be, ‘I’m gonna knock on your door’…?” I begin another song.
“Tap on the window too,” Roland joins in and we sing together.
It’s only just gone half-past six in the morning and it’s dark and cold (for Australia) and I think I have a cold coming but I’m still laughing to myself.
Here are the lyrics to both Paul McCartney’s very long “Inside thing” song and “I’m Gonna Knock on your Door” by Eddie Hodges :-
Inside Thing
(knock knock)
Someone’s knocking at the door (outside)
Somebody’s ringing the bell (inside)
Someone’s knocking at the door (outside)
Somebody’s ringing the bell
It’s an inside thing (open the door, open the door, open the door)
It’s an inside thing (an inside thing)
like rides that only take the tall
The water running down the wall
Your nose is pressed against the glass
You left the club without a pass
They closed the door
You can’t get in
I don’t know where the hell you’ve been
This behaviour isn’t great
Seems to me I’m always late
No matter what you have to say
It’s always me that’s gotta to pay
Your only just a kiss away
You left me here and yes
It’s cold out here
So cold
When the night comes down
Always get so lonely here
In this old town
You gotta change the atmosphere
If I had wings
I’d fly my body out of here
Cause when you get the feeling
You need a little healing
You just need protection
Loving and affection
(that’s all) Love and affection
Oh, Oh, Oh
There’s a ghost outside the window
Oh, Oh , Oh
Don’t know where he’s been
Oh, Oh, Oh
When that old cold wind blows
Open the door and let’em in, oh yeah
Someone’s knocking at the door (outside)
Somebody’s ringing the bell (inside)
Someone’s knocking at the door (outside)
Somebody’s ringing the bell
It’s an inside thing (open the door, open the door, open the door)
It’s an inside thing
Some hearts are made of solid gold
And some are magic I’ve been told
But ever time that I’ve been kissed
I’m so aware of all the risks to take
But my bold heart is bare
Cause there’s many things in there
Even when we are miles apart
It doesn’t matter where we are
Cause you and I knew from the start
The answer lives within the heart
So why are you looking so suprised
You know where the truth survives
Spread your wings (spread your wings, let us sing)
When you see my face
Better look behind my eyes
Cause I don’t show
Everything I feel inside
Sometimes boy
I’ve been known to wear disguise
When I get the feeling
I need a little healing
I might need protection
Loving and affection (love and affection)
Oh, Oh, Oh
Ghost outside the window
Oh, Oh , Oh
Don’t know where he’s been
Oh, Oh, Oh
When that old cold wind blows
Open the door, let’em in, oh yeah yeah
Someone’s knocking at the door (outside)
Someone’s ringing the bell (inside)
Someone’s knocking at the door (outside)
Someone’s ringing the bell
It’s an inside thing (open the door, open the door, open the door)
It’s an inside thing
Oh, no, no, babe
I ain’t gonna ride
I ain’t gonna run
No, no, no babe
I ain’t gonna use a gun
You should know babe
When all is said and done
You could be the one
And maybe sometimes we could even have some fun
Oh yeah
Well if I knock knock on the door
You gotta let me in
And if I tap tap on the window
Even if it’s in
I wanna hip hop all night
You know how old cool boo
With Paul Mac and Lulu
Shouting at the new school
Bringing in the new cools
For students that were tardy
So were fine
Bring your fellows
Cause were having a party
Outside it’s getting funky
So let me bring
The moral here “Make it an inside thing”
Someone’s knocking at the door (Outside)
Somebody’s ringing the bell (inside)
Someone’s knocking at the door (Outside)
Somebody’s ringing the bell
It’s an inside thing (open the door, open the door, open the door)
It’s an inside thing
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Someone’s knocking at the door door
(it’s an inside thing)
Somebody’s ringing the bell
Somebody’s knocking at the door, now, now
Somebody’s ringing the bell
Ring-ding-ding-ding-a-ding-ding-ding
Ringing the bell
That’ll be him
I’m Gonna Knock On Your Door 2:05
Eddie Hodges
(Aaron Schroeder, Sid Wayne)
Cacence Records Single #1397
Pop Chart #12 June 19, 1961
Transcriber: Awcantor@aol.com
I’m Gonna Knock on Your Door
I’m gonna knock on your door
Ring on your bell
Tap on your window, too
If you don’t come out tonight, when the moon is bright
I’m gonna knock and ring and tap until you do
I’m gonna knock on your door (how-how)
Call out your name (how-how)
Wake up the town, you’ll see (how-how)
I’m gonna hoo-hoot and howl like the lovesick owl
Until you say you’re gonna come out with me
Hey little girl (how-how) this ain’t no time to sleep
Let’s count kisses ‘stead of countin’ sheep
How (how-how) how can I hold ya near
With you up there and me down here?
I’m gonna knock on your door
Ring on your bell, tap on your window, too
If you don’t come out tonight when the moon is bright
I’m gonna knock and ring and tap until you do
(Instrumental and guitar & piano)
Hey little girl (hey little girl)
This ain’t no time to sleep (how-how)
Let’s count kisses ‘stead of countin’ sheep (how-how)
How (how-how) how can I hold ya near (how-how)
With you up there and me down here?
I’m gonna knock on your door
Ring on your bell, tap on your window, too
If you don’t come out tonight, when the moon is bright
I’m gonna knock and ring and tap until you do
I’m gonna knock and ring and tap
And knock and ring and tap
And knock and ring and tap
And knock and ring until you do.
If maybe you had thought it was a case of : “Knock three times on the ceiling (if you want me)”, hopefully you would immediately leaned out of the window to tap “Twice on the pipe (if you ain’t gonna show)”! Very amusing – as long as the kookaburra wasn’t tapping your phone as well!
P S Wow! I never realised just how much the redoubtable Sir Paul went on and on (and on) in his Magnum Opus, “Inside Thing”. Mind you, I always thought the title “Inside Thing” sounded a bit like a cockroach or something unpleasant one found crawling under the bed!,