Knocking At Your Back Door

Album: Perfect Strangers (1984)
Charted: 68 61
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song takes place in a strip club and is about anal sex, hence "Back Door." Like "Pictures Of Lily," it was an effort to push the limits of what could be inserted lyrically in a song that receives airplay. It did surprisingly well, charting at #61 in the US and getting substantial airplay on rock radio.
  • The Perfect Strangers album features the Mark II lineup of Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Roger Glover, Ian Paice and Jon Lord. It was the first Deep Purple album with this lineup since their 1973 effort Who Do We Think We Are.

    In re-forming this permutation of the band, they froze out David Coverdale, who was with them from 1973-1976. According to Ian Paice, Coverdale was not happy about it, but understood the decision. Paice said the Mark II lineup was the only one he would have re-formed with. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Mark - Londonderry, NH, for above 2

Comments: 3

  • Jon Rocks On The North Coast from Elyria, Ohio"When Lucy met the Rocket" then she knew what was knocking at her back door!
  • Sim from Cleveland RocksPowerful song. The DEEP PURPLE WALL of SOUND
  • Jef from Passaic, NjI heard this song was about convincing a woman to have anal sex.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Album Cover Inspirations

Album Cover InspirationsSong Writing

Some album art was at least "inspired" by others. A look at some very similar covers.

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Weezer

WeezerFact or Fiction

Did Rivers Cuomo grow up on a commune? Why did they name their albums after colors? See how well you know your Weezer in this Fact or Fiction.

Wedding Bell Blues

Wedding Bell BluesSong Writing

When a song describes a wedding, it's rarely something to celebrate - with one big exception.

Eric Burdon

Eric BurdonSongwriter Interviews

The renown rock singer talks about "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood."

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors Examined

Deconstructing Doors Songs With The Author Of The Doors ExaminedSong Writing

Doors expert Jim Cherry, author of The Doors Examined, talks about some of their defining songs and exposes some Jim Morrison myths.