Open the Door, Richard

Bob's proverb service:
Remember your memories
And forgive the sick.

"Open the Door, Richard" also known as "Open the Door, Homer," is a variation on the old Vaudeville number, though Dylan's version, recorded in the Basement Tapes sessions of 1967, sounds more of a piece with the homespun homilies of old-timey America. What elevates this song above other material from those recordings in Saugerties that summer is its mysterious admonitions about living a moral life, combined with the apparently nonsensical "Open the door, Richard" chorus. There are a ton of versions of this song, and "Open the Door Richard," apparently became a catchphrase for some time, appearing on TV shows, films, cartoons and so on. I've included a few versions of the song below, along with the completely different lyrics for the Dylan song. His version appeared on the 1975 Basement Tapes album, and a few other takes appeared on the complete Basement Tapes sessions that were released in 2014 as volume 11 of the Bootleg Series. I find this to be one of the most fascinating and mysterious songs that I've ever heard.

Now, there’s a certain thing
That I learned from Jim
That he’d always make sure I’d understand
And that is that there’s a certain way
That a man must swim
If he expects to live off
Of the fat of the land
Open the door, Homer
I’ve heard it said before
Open the door, Homer
I’ve heard it said before
But I ain’t gonna hear it said no more

Now, there’s a certain thing
That I learned from my friend, Mouse
A fella who always blushes
And that is that ev’ryone
Must always flush out his house
If he don’t expect to be
Goin’ ’round housing flushes
Open the door, Homer
I’ve heard it said before
Open the door, Homer
I’ve heard it said before
But I ain’t gonna hear it said no more

“Take care of all your memories”
Said my friend, Mick
“For you cannot relive them
And remember when you’re out there
Tryin’ to heal the sick
That you must always
First forgive them”
Open the door, Homer
I’ve heard it said before
Open the door, Homer
I’ve heard it said before
But I ain’t gonna hear it said no more

The original song, which was a black Vaudeville number, is about a drunk guy who leaves the bar to go home. It's raining, and his roommate Richard won't let him in. This became the basis for a lot of ad libbing, including complaints about racism from the cops and all sorts of other issues, though the basic tone of the song is comic. There are a few versions here.