Family Man
Hall And Oates Lyrics


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She had sulky smile
She took her standard pose as she presented herself
She had sultry eyes
She made it perfectly plain that she was his for a price

But he said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite
He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might

She wore hurt surprise
As she rechecked her make up to protect herself
Dropped her price and pride
She made it totally clear that she was his for a night

But he said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite
He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might

She gave him her look
It would have worked on any other man around
He looked her up and down
She knew he couldn't decide if he should hold his ground

But he said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite
He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might

She turned, tossed her head
Unlike her opening move, her final exit line
He waited much too long
But by the time he got his courage up she was gone

And he screamed, leave me alone, I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite
He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might

He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
And I don't think I want you tonight
He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might

He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite
He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might





He said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
Don't leave me alone 'cause I got to go hungry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hall and Oatesā€™s song Family Man describe a man who is trying to resist the advances of a woman who is offering herself to him for a price. She presents herself with sulky and sultry looks and makes it clear that she is available to him for the right price. Despite her intentions, the man informs her that he is a family man and is not interested in her advances. He warns her that his bark is worse than his bite and if she pushes him too far, he may act out of character. The woman drops her price and tries to win him over for the night, but the man stands his ground and repeats his statement that he is a family man.


As the woman leaves, the man calls out to her once more, pleading with her not to leave him alone for the night because he will go hungry. The song is a commentary on the temptations and pressures that men may face, both in their personal and professional lives. The singer in the song is a man who is struggling with the pressure of maintaining his familyā€™s security and his own desires. The lyrics highlight the importance of staying true to oneā€™s commitments and standing up for oneself in the face of temptation.


Line by Line Meaning

She had sulky smile
She wore a displeased smile on her face


She took her standard pose as she presented herself
She stood in a way she believed was most attractive


She had sultry eyes
She looked at him with seductive eyes


She made it perfectly plain that she was his for a price
She hinted that she was willing to have a sexual relationship with him in exchange for money


But he said, leave me alone, I'm a family man
He rejected her advances because he is married and has family responsibilities


And my bark is much worse than my bite
He is not as tough as he appears to be


She wore hurt surprise
She looked surprised and disappointed by his rejection


As she rechecked her make up to protect herself
She fixed her make up, perhaps to look more attractive in case she changed his mind


Dropped her price and pride
She lowered her request for money and dignity just to be with him


She made it totally clear that she was his for a night
She was willing to have a one-night stand with him


She gave him her look
She looked at him seductively


It would have worked on any other man around
Her look could have easily seduced most men


He looked her up and down
He assessed her physical appearance


She knew he couldn't decide if he should hold his ground
She realized that he was uncertain of what to do next


She turned, tossed her head
She turned and shook her head, disappointed by his indecision


Unlike her opening move, her final exit line
Her final words were not as assertive as her initial approach


He waited much too long
He waited too late to make a decision


But by the time he got his courage up she was gone
He gathered the courage to go after her but it was too late, she had already left


And he screamed, leave me alone, I'm a family man
He yelled, reiterating that he is committed to his family and does not want to cheat on his spouse


And I don't think I want you tonight
He has reconsidered and no longer wants to have a sexual relationship with her


Don't leave me alone 'cause I got to go hungry
He does not want to be alone because he needs companionship, but he does not want to cheat on his spouse




Lyrics Ā© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: DAVID BROUGH PERT-MORRIS, EDDIE FENN, MAGGIE REILLY, MICHAEL GORDON OLDFIELD, MIKE FRY, TIMOTHY KJELL CROSS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@edkeaton1085

Any song from "Hall and Oates" from the 80's will always be a classic to me. They have a lot of heart and soul. Awesome group!

@markgoodwin7442

Love these guys so does my pop who is 74

@edkeaton1085

Mark Goodwin Right on! I have been a big fan of Hall & Oates since the eighties, bro!

@tracyconner1497

Ed Keaton same šŸ˜‹

@ozzyhoang3499

@@edkeaton1085 I have 30 favorite bands of the '80s, but since the '90s up till now 2022..... I have none, big 0 band to like....Music is dead!

@alexandermakrianis

Yes sir, you are right on the money! 1980s Hall and Oats is the best!

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@rodneycox5798

One of the most underated Hall and Oates songs EVER

@nexxxus7498

GE Smith kills it on the lead guitar. He is so underrated!!! He is one of the greatest guitarist out there. He doesnā€™t get his due because he was mostly a studio player. The guy is absolutelyšŸ”„šŸ”„šŸ”„!!!

@micway71

He was getting it!! You know he could probably hang with just about anyone plucking! Nice sound too!

@lauramayfield5410

He was with the house band for SNL back in the day xo

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