open the door, Richard
open the door and let me in
open the door, Richard
Richard, why don't you open that door

I met old zeke standin on the corner the other day.
that cat sure was booted with the liqour.
he was what?
he was abnoxicated.
he was what?
he was inebriated.
he was what?
well, he was just plain drunk.
well, alright then!

he was sure salty with the bartender.
the bartender's tryin to make him by another drink.
zeke told the bartender,
there ain't no need of me buyin no drinks when everyone else is buyin them.
i'm goin to drink to everybody's health, till I ruin my own.

open the door, Richard!
why don't he know who he's throwin outta that joint?
why i'll go back in that joint and take a short stick and bust it down to the ground!
open the door, Richard!
but I hate to be caught out on the street like this cause I got class I ain't never used yet.
but I guess I better get on in the house cause I don't want my pastor to catch me out like this.
open the door, richrd!

now look at that old woman across the street,
done stuck her head outta the window callin her sister.
look at her and her sister sayin, 'ain't that him, ain't that him?'
yes it's me, and i'm drunk again.
open the door, Richard!

I know he's in there cause I got on the clothes.
they can't throw him out cause I owe just as much back rent as he does.
imagine that old woman chargin us three dollars a month and gettin mad cause we 12 months in the arears.
come meetin me last thursday sayin,
'ain't you boys goin to give me some back rent?'
I told her she'd be lucky if she got some front rent.
open the door, Richard!

come on, open the door.
cause i'm standin here scratchin in my pants pocket
and standin here gropin in my coat pocket
and standin here feelin in my shirt pocket
and I can't find the key.
open the door, Richard!

open the door, Richard
open the door and let me in
open the door, Richard
Richard, why don't you open that door