"I Hear You Knocking" (or "I Hear You Knockin'") is a rhythm and blues song… Read Full Bio ↴"I Hear You Knocking" (or "I Hear You Knockin'") is a rhythm and blues song written by American musician Dave Bartholomew. The first recording was in 1955 by American rhythm and blues singer Smiley Lewis.

The version by Welsh singer and guitarist Dave Edmunds was released as a single in 1970. It reached number one in the UK for six weeks and was in the top 10 in several other countries.

I Hear You Knocking
Dave Edmunds Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You went away and left me long time ago
Now you're knocking on my door
I hear you knocking, but you can't come in
I hear you knocking, go back where you been

I begged you not to go but you said goodbye
And now you're telling me all your lies
I hear you knocking, but you can't come in

I hear you knocking, go back where you been, oh yeah

You better get back to your used-to-be
'Cause you're kinda love ain't good for me
I hear you knocking, but you can't come in
I hear you knocking, go back where you been

I told you way back in Fifty-two
That I would never go with you

I hear you knocking but you can't come in
I hear you knocking, go back where you been

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dave Edmunds’s “I Hear You Knocking” talk about a person who has left the singer and now wants to come back into their life. The song is about how the singer is reluctant to let the person back in because they hurt them before. They hear the person knocking at their door, but they won’t let them in. The singer reminds the person about how they begged them not to go, but they didn’t listen. The person is now telling them lies, and the singer is not going to fall for it.

The singer tells the person that they better go back to their “used-to-be” because their kind of love is not good for the singer. The “used-to-be” may refer to another relationship or a time when they were not together. The singer then reminds the person that they had told them back in “Fifty-two” that they would never go with them. The reference to 1952 may be symbolic, as it was a time when rock and roll was emerging, and love was often depicted in music.

Overall, “I Hear You Knocking” is a song about a person who has been hurt before and is not willing to let the person who hurt them back in. The lyrics suggest that the pain caused by this person has left a lasting impression on the singer, who is not willing to let their guard down again.

Line by Line Meaning

You went away and left me long time ago
You left me a long time ago.

Now you're knocking on my door
Now you are trying to reconnect with me.

I hear you knocking, but you can't come in
I hear that you want to come back, but I won't let you in.

I hear you knocking, go back where you been
I hear that you want to come back, but I won't let you in. Go back to where you have been.

I begged you not to go but you said goodbye
I asked you not to leave, but you didn't listen and said goodbye.

And now you're telling me all your lies
Now you're lying to me.

You better get back to your used-to-be
You should go back to your previous partner.

'Cause you're kinda love ain't good for me
Because your kind of love is not good for me.

I told you way back in Fifty-two
I told you in the past.

That I would never go with you
That I would never be with you.

I hear you knocking but you can't come in
I hear that you want to come back, but I won't let you in.

I hear you knocking, go back where you been
I hear that you want to come back, but I won't let you in. Go back to where you have been.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Pearl King, Dave Bartholomew

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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