About the Song

“Behind Closed Doors” is a country song written by Kenny O’Dell and recorded by Charlie Rich. It was released in 1973 as the title track of Rich’s album of the same name. The song topped the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1974 and was also a crossover hit, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100. The song has been covered by many artists, including Dolly Parton, Don Williams, and Kenny Rogers.

The song is about a man who is in love with a married woman. He knows that their relationship is wrong, but he can’t help himself. He sings about the pain and frustration of being in a secret love affair. The song is full of emotion and heartbreak. Rich’s rich, expressive voice perfectly captures the pain and longing of the lyrics.

“Behind Closed Doors” is a classic country song that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful ballad about love, loss, and forbidden desire. The song is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of a secret love affair.

Here are some additional details about the song:

  • The song was written by Kenny O’Dell, who was inspired by a real-life affair he had with a married woman.
  • The song was originally recorded by Billy Sherrill, but it was not released until after Rich’s version became a hit.
  • Rich’s version of the song was produced by Billy Sherrill and released on the Epic Records label.
  • The song was a critical and commercial success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
  • The song won the Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance in 1974.
  • The song has been covered by many artists, including Dolly Parton, Don Williams, and Kenny Rogers.

“Behind Closed Doors” is a classic country song that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful ballad about love, loss, and forbidden desire. The song is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever experienced the pain of a secret love affair.

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Lyrics: Behind Closed Doors

My baby makes me proud
Lord, don’t she make me proud
She never makes a scene
By hangin’ all over me in a crowd

‘Cause people like to talk
Lord, don’t they love to talk
But when they turn out the lights
I know she’ll be leavin’ with me

And when we get behind closed doors
Then she lets her hair hang down
And she makes me glad that I’m a man
Oh, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors

My baby makes me smile
Lord, don’t she make me smile
She’s never far away
Or too tired to say “I want you”

She’s always a lady
Just like a lady should be
But when they turn out the lights
She’s still a baby to me

‘Cause when we get behind closed doors
Then she lets her hair hang down
And she makes me glad I’m a man
Oh, no one knows what goes on behind closed doors
Behind closed doors

You Missed

Dolly Parton turned a simple handmade coat into one of the most powerful songs of her life because to her, it was never really about the fabric. “Coat of Many Colors” sprang directly from Dolly’s growing-up years in East Tennessee. Her mother, Avie Lee, pieced the jacket together by sewing colorful rags the family already owned. Cash was mighty tight, so there was no running down to the store for brand-new clothes. Instead, Avie Lee took what was on hand and stitched together something warm for her little girl to wear. While the needle flew, she shared the Bible story of Joseph and his coat of many colors, turning an ordinary piece of clothing into something special in Dolly’s eyes. Proudly wearing that coat to school, Dolly felt rich, but the other kids saw it differently. They laughed at the patches and teased her for having so little. Years down the road, Dolly penned those childhood memories into “Coat of Many Colors.” Released in 1971, the tune became a shining example of why her songwriting touched so many souls. She never tried to hide hard times or dress up her youth to look prettier than it was. She simply laid the sting of teasing side-by-side with the deep love that stitched the coat together, letting that honest truth speak for itself. The song eventually grew far beyond that original vinyl record. Its spirit inspired the 2015 television movie Dolly Parton’s Coat of Many Colors, followed by Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love the very next year. Those films opened a window into Dolly’s mountain home, introducing folks to the hardworking parents and siblings who shaped her long before the bright lights found her. By then, Dolly had worn glittering stage gowns worth more than her family could ever have dreamed. Yet the garment folks remember best remains that humble little coat stitched by a mother’s loving hands when buying something new simply wasn’t in the cards. That is why the memory stayed alive. The scraps faded away, but the lesson underneath never did.