Who Can It Be Now
Men at Work Lyrics


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Who can it be knocking at my door?
Go 'way, don't come 'round here no more
Can't you see that it's late at night?
I'm very tired, and I'm not feeling right
All I wish is to be alone
Stay away, don't you invade my home
Best off if you hang outside
Don't come in, I'll only run and hide

Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?

Who can it be knocking at my door?
Make no sound, tip-toe across the floor
If he hears, he'll knock all day
I'll be trapped, and here I'll have to stay
I've done no harm, I keep to myself
There's nothing wrong with my state of mental health
I like it here with my childhood friend
Here they come, those feelings again

Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?

Is it the man come to take me away?
Why do they follow me?
It's not the future that I can see
It's just my fantasy

Yeah

Who? Who? Who?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?

Oh, oh, oh
Who can it be now?
Oh we oh
Who can it, who can it
Oh, who can it be now?




Oh, we, oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Men at Work's song "Who Can It Be Now?" describe a person who's already exhausted and struggling with mental health issues, who suddenly hears someone knocking on their door. They plead for the person to go away, claiming it's already late at night and they're not feeling well. The singer is desperate to be alone and insists that the stranger stays away and doesn't invade their home. They become agitated at the thought of someone breaking their boundaries, to the point where they might hide if the stranger doesn't leave.


The chorus of the song - "Who can it be now?" - expresses the singer's overwhelming anxiety and paranoia about who might be waiting for them outside. They become increasingly frightened by the idea of potential danger, believing that the stranger might be coming to take them away. The singer's fearful state of mind is further elaborated on with the lyrics "It's not the future that I can see, it's just my fantasy."


Overall, "Who Can It Be Now?" is a song that vividly portrays anxiety, paranoia, and the sense of being trapped by one's own mind. It's clear that the singer is not only afraid of what might be waiting for them outside but also of themselves and the mental state they find themselves in.


Line by Line Meaning

Who can it be knocking at my door?
I am curious about who is at my door


Go 'way, don't come 'round here no more
Please leave and don't come back again


Can't you see that it's late at night?
It's late at night and not a good time for visitors


I'm very tired, and I'm not feeling right
I am very tired and not in a good emotional state


All I wish is to be alone
I wish to be left alone


Stay away, don't you invade my home
Please stay away and don't come in my house


Best off if you hang outside
It would be best if you stayed outside


Don't come in, I'll only run and hide
If you come in, I will run and hide


Who can it be now?
I'm still wondering who it could be


Make no sound, tip-toe across the floor
If you're coming, please be quiet and walk softly


If he hears, he'll knock all day
If the person hears me, they will keep knocking all day


I'll be trapped, and here I'll have to stay
I will feel trapped if they come in and will have no choice but to stay


I've done no harm, I keep to myself
I haven't done anything wrong and usually stay to myself


There's nothing wrong with my state of mental health
I'm mentally stable and there's nothing wrong with me


I like it here with my childhood friend
I like being here with my childhood friend


Here they come, those feelings again
I'm starting to feel anxious and uncomfortable again


Is it the man come to take me away?
Is it someone who has come to take me away?


Why do they follow me?
Why do I feel like someone is following me?


It's not the future that I can see
I can't see what will happen in the future


It's just my fantasy
It's just my imagination


Yeah
Just an exclamation of emotion


Who? Who? Who?
Still wondering who is at my door


Oh, oh, oh
Just an exclamation of emotion


Oh we oh
Just an exclamation of emotion


Who can it, who can it
Repeated wondering about who it could be


Oh, who can it be now?
Still wondering who is at my door


Oh, we, oh
Just an exclamation of emotion


Yeah, yeah, yeah
Just an exclamation of emotion




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Colin James Hay

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@scooterthepog3763

I love the sax in this. I also have other suggestions for amazing sax uses during the 80's

Men At Work - Overkill
Daryl Hall & John Oates - I Can't Go For That
The Alan Parsons Project - Don't Answer Me
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Maneater
Pink Floyd - The Gunner's Dream
Daryl Hall & John Oates - Possession Obsession (12 mix)
Sade - Your Love Is King
Huey Lewis And The News - The Heart Of Rock & Roll
Billy Ocean - Caribbean Queen
Huey Lewis And The News - I Want A New Drug
George Michael - Careless Whispers (even though everyone knows that sax)
Sade - Smooth Operator
Quarterflash - Harden My Heart
Quarterflash - Right Kind of Love
Duran Duran - Rio
Tears for Fears - The Working Hour
INXS - Never Tear Us Apart
Moving Pictures - What About Me
The Suburbs - Rainy Days
Listen to any song by Oingo Boingo, great use of brass instruments.





(This isn't 80's but The Stranglers - Get A Grip On Yourself has an amazing sax)



All comments from YouTube:

@wienerz_

the saxophone is one of the most beautiful instruments, especially in a song like this

@Blessedsantiago5807

Listen " Confessions" by BADBADNOTGOOD and Tell me if you like

@UmUs

​@@Blessedsantiago5807Dayum, thanks for the recommendation!

@AIDENALMIGHTYY

I also love the bass, they go well together

@Ma888_9

It's epic

@kmessenger93

I prefer trumpets

1 More Replies...

@geranistico._.

Who can it be now? 🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🎷🎷

@madmilkgaming6091

👩🏻

@Bootyeater566

WHO CAN IT BE NOW🗣️🔥🔥🎷🎷

@johnshedIetsky

Who can it be now‼️⁉️❗️⁉️🗣️🗣️🗣️🎷🎷🎷

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