5 The Door I Held Open

1940s big band swing with jump blues and traditional Black gospel harmonies; full 17-piece orchestra, punchy trumpets, growling trombones, lively sax riffs, stride piano, walking upright bass, swinging drums, jazz guitar, finger snaps, brass call-and-response and stop-time breaks; 152 BPM, buoyant 4/4 swing, half-time gospel bridge, featured trumpet solo and clean fanfare resolution; authentic 1940s orchestral production; warm, slightly gravelly male baritone, playful storytelling and soulful phrasing, with gospel responses

[Intro - Snappy brass riff, walking upright bass, bouncing piano, finger snaps]

[Spoken - Warm male baritone, playful]
I thought it was just a door.

[Verse 1 - Bright swinging rhythm, playful saxophone]
I was headed for the exit of a crowded downtown store,
When a nurse in wrinkled scrubs came struggling toward the door.
She was balancing two paper bags, her eyes were running red,
And I nearly brushed right past her with a thousand things ahead.
But I held the door and asked her, "Are you doing all right?"
She said, "It's been a long one," and I walked her to the light.

[Chorus - Full swinging brass, joyful gospel harmonies]
The door I held open swung both ways,
Let a little kindness into an ordinary day.
No trumpet fanfare, no name in lights,
Just making room for someone in the middle of their fight.
I thought I gave a minute, but I found a better view,
When the door I held open let the kindness through!

[Verse 2 - Playful trumpet responses, lively piano]
A week or so went by, and I was eating down the street,
When a young man dropped a tray right at somebody's feet.
The room went quiet for a moment, then the grumbling began,
And I recognized that nurse as she reached to lend a hand.
She said, "Everybody drops things. Come on, let's get this done,"
And suddenly the whole room helped instead of blaming one.

[Chorus - Brass call-and-response, infectious swing]
The door I held open swung both ways,
Let a little kindness into an ordinary day.
No trumpet fanfare, no name in lights,
Just making room for someone in the middle of their fight.
I thought I gave a minute, but I found a better view,
When the door I held open let the kindness through!

[Verse 3 - Horns soften, intimate storytelling vocal]
Now kindness isn't flattery, it doesn't trade in lies,
It tells the truth with tenderness and looks you in the eyes.
It sees the one who's overlooked, it learns the weary name,
It knows a little dignity can change somebody's day.
It cannot end all sorrow or make every trouble cease,
But it gives a hurting stranger just a little room for peace.

[Bridge - Half-time gospel swing, finger snaps, rising brass]
One hand on the handle, one foot off the gas,
I can't change the whole world, but I can let somebody pass.
And if that little mercy travels farther than I know,
That's the Holy Spirit working, making kindness grow!

[Instrumental Break - Explosive trumpet solo, saxophone trading riffs, swinging trombone responses]

[Verse 4 - Prayerful, directly to God, building gospel harmonies]
Lord, You found me in a doorway I had closed against the world,
With a stubborn heart and empty hands and every flag unfurled.
You didn't pass me by, You called me by my name,
And planted something tender where I'd carried all that shame.
So when You send the weary to the places where I stand,
Let them find Your loving kindness in the welcome of my hands.

[Final Chorus - Triumphant full big band, gospel choir, soaring trumpets]
The door I held open swung both ways,
Let a little kindness into an ordinary day.
No trumpet fanfare, no name in lights,
Just making room for someone in the middle of their fight.
I thought I gave a minute, but I found a better view,
When the door I held open let the kindness through!

[Outro - Joyful call-and-response, full brass punches]

[Male lead]
Hold that door!

[Backing vocals]
Let somebody through!

[Male lead]
A little kindness!

[Backing vocals]
Can change the whole room!

[Male lead - Big swinging finish]
I thought I held it open for somebody passing through...

[Full gospel choir]
But the door I held open...
Opened me too!

[Instrumental Ending - Trumpet fanfare, swinging saxophone flourish, final full-band brass hit]

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[Intro - Snappy brass riff, walking upright bass, bouncing piano, finger snaps] [Spoken - Warm male baritone, playful] I thought it was just a door. [Verse 1 - Bright swinging rhythm, playful saxophone] I was headed for the exit of a crowded downtown store, When a nurse in wrinkled scrubs came struggling toward the door. She was balancing two paper bags, her eyes were running red, And I nearly brushed right past her with a thousand things ahead. But I held the door and asked her, "Are you doing all right?" She said, "It's been a long one," and I walked her to the light. [Chorus - Full swinging brass, joyful gospel harmonies] The door I held open swung both ways, Let a little kindness into an ordinary day. No trumpet fanfare, no name in lights, Just making room for someone in the middle of their fight. I thought I gave a minute, but I found a better view, When the door I held open let the kindness through! [Verse 2 - Playful trumpet responses, lively piano] A week or so went by, and I was eating down the street, When a young man dropped a tray right at somebody's feet. The room went quiet for a moment, then the grumbling began, And I recognized that nurse as she reached to lend a hand. She said, "Everybody drops things. Come on, let's get this done," And suddenly the whole room helped instead of blaming one. [Chorus - Brass call-and-response, infectious swing] The door I held open swung both ways, Let a little kindness into an ordinary day. No trumpet fanfare, no name in lights, Just making room for someone in the middle of their fight. I thought I gave a minute, but I found a better view, When the door I held open let the kindness through! [Verse 3 - Horns soften, intimate storytelling vocal] Now kindness isn't flattery, it doesn't trade in lies, It tells the truth with tenderness and looks you in the eyes. It sees the one who's overlooked, it learns the weary name, It knows a little dignity can change somebody's day. It cannot end all sorrow or make every trouble cease, But it gives a hurting stranger just a little room for peace. [Bridge - Half-time gospel swing, finger snaps, rising brass] One hand on the handle, one foot off the gas, I can't change the whole world, but I can let somebody pass. And if that little mercy travels farther than I know, That's the Holy Spirit working, making kindness grow! [Instrumental Break - Explosive trumpet solo, saxophone trading riffs, swinging trombone responses] [Verse 4 - Prayerful, directly to God, building gospel harmonies] Lord, You found me in a doorway I had closed against the world, With a stubborn heart and empty hands and every flag unfurled. You didn't pass me by, You called me by my name, And planted something tender where I'd carried all that shame. So when You send the weary to the places where I stand, Let them find Your loving kindness in the welcome of my hands. [Final Chorus - Triumphant full big band, gospel choir, soaring trumpets] The door I held open swung both ways, Let a little kindness into an ordinary day. No trumpet fanfare, no name in lights, Just making room for someone in the middle of their fight. I thought I gave a minute, but I found a better view, When the door I held open let the kindness through! [Outro - Joyful call-and-response, full brass punches] [Male lead] Hold that door! [Backing vocals] Let somebody through! [Male lead] A little kindness! [Backing vocals] Can change the whole room! [Male lead - Big swinging finish] I thought I held it open for somebody passing through... [Full gospel choir] But the door I held open... Opened me too! [Instrumental Ending - Trumpet fanfare, swinging saxophone flourish, final full-band brass hit]

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