Case moved around often as a child, spending the largest part of her youth in Tacoma, Washington. She left her parents at age 15 and three years later she started playing drums for several bands around the Northwest's punk rock scene. In 1994, she moved to Vancouver, BC to enter art school, and simultaneously joined the punk group Maow, who released a record on the Mint label. She also played with roots rockers the Weasles, and eventually formed her own backing band, the Boyfriends, which initially featured alumni of the Softies, Zumpano, and Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.
Case released her solo debut, The Virginian, in 1997, delving wholeheartedly into traditional country via a mix of covers and originals. She went on to perform with Carolyn Mark in the old-timey side project the Corn Sisters, and recorded with the Vancouver indie supergroup the New Pornographers, which she continues to be a member of. In 1998, Case completed her studies and, with her student visa expired, returned to Washington and began work on her second solo album. The lovely, melancholy Furnace Room Lullaby was released on Bloodshot Records in 2000 and won high praise from most critics.
Case subsequently relocated to Chicago, home of a thriving alt-country scene, and released the home-recorded Canadian Amp EP in 2001. Its moody, late-night ambiance carried over to 2002's Blacklisted, a darker yet more eclectic affair; it garnered Case her strongest reviews up to that point, making many year-end critics' polls, and landed her a tour slot opening for Nick Cave. Blacklisted was recorded at Wavelab Studio in Tuscon AZ, where Case had moved to in 2002.
In 2004, Case signed with Anti Records in the United States, and that year she released a live album, The Tigers Have Spoken, recorded during several dates with Canadian surf-country band the Sadies.
Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, hailed by critics as an instant classic and Case's most realized work yet, followed in 2006. Calexico's Joey Burns and John Convertino contributed guitar, cello, bass, and drums to the album.
On March 3, 2009, Case released Middle Cyclone. It was her first album to reach the top ten's on the Billboard charts in the US.
Middle Cyclone was followed by "The worse things get, the harder I fight, the harder I fight, the more I love you" which came out September 4th 2013.
Case now lives on her farm in Vermont.
Knock Loud
Neko Case Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just sleeping to pass the time
Wondering if you'll come by to visit me
Ten years have passed
Since you walked out of my life
But late last night in the pharmacy
You were in the line in front of me
Knock loud I'm home
I wrote in black felt pen
Took that sign and taped it to the door
If you come in
To see how I have been
Make sure the door is closed behind you
Stand above me
While I poised do plunge
Through my heart attack
Kills the worst of me
Said I was sorry
Drink to forgive
I wake up alone
Knock loud I'm home
In the song "Knock Loud" by Neko Case, the lines "Knock loud, I'm home, just sleeping to pass the time, wondering if you'll come by to visit me" suggest a sense of longing and loneliness. The singer seems to be waiting for someone to visit them, possibly an ex-lover. The line "ten years have passed since you walked out of my life," further emphasizes the theme of lost love and the passage of time. This feeling is intensified when the singer sees the person at the pharmacy and quickly hides, perhaps indicating that they're not ready to confront the past.
The phrase "poised to plunge" suggests a sense of despair or hopelessness, but the following lines, "through my heart attack, kills the worst of me," seems to suggest that the singer is ready to let go of the pain and move forward. The final line "knock loud, I'm home" brings the song full circle, emphasizing the feeling of being alone and wanting someone to check in on them.
Overall, the song captures the emotions of heartbreak and hopelessness, while also suggesting the possibility of healing and moving forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Knock loud, I'm home
I'm waiting for you to visit me, so knock loudly at my door.
Just sleeping to pass the time
I'm pretending to sleep because I'm bored and have nothing else to do.
Wondering if you'll come by to visit me
I'm hoping that you'll come see me soon.
Ten years have passed
It's been a decade since you left me.
Since you walked out of my life
You left me and we haven't seen each other in ten whole years.
But late last night in the pharmacy
I saw you last night at the drug store.
You were in the line in front of me
You were standing in front of me in the checkout line.
So I ran away to hide
I got scared and ran away to avoid talking to you.
Took that sign and taped it to the door
I wrote a note and taped it to my door to let you know that I'm home.
If you come in
If you decide to visit me,
To see how I have been
To check up on me and see how I'm doing,
Make sure the door is closed behind you
Please close the door behind you when you enter.
Stand above me
Stand over me and watch as I,
While I poised do plunge
As I prepare to harm myself,
Through my heart attack
During my heart attack,
Kills the worst of me
It kills the worst parts of me.
Said I was sorry
I apologized,
Drink to forgive
I drank to forgive myself.
I wake up alone
I wake up to an empty house.
Knock loud I'm home
I'm still here waiting for you to come see me.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jesus Lopez
This song is instant tears man!
I was gonna commit suicide and this kept me going through all the pain and shit. Still here
Daringto Internet
Years later, still thinking of you.
Robert Sears
@Jesus Lopez Thanks man
Jesus Lopez
@Robert Sears stay strong, look forward to hearing from you down the road
Robert Sears
@Jesus Lopez Take care of yourself, brother...
peace
Jesus Lopez
Barely seeing all these comments, thank you for your encouraging words
Stay strong as well
jeffthrow6892
Great song from the awesome "Canadian Amp" EP, love this version too.....
Jessica Sakas
Goosebumps
Danielle Rogers
❤ ❤ ❤
eight winged bird
Trying to learn this song on the guitar... I'm a super beginner but it looks like i might be able to play.. anyone know what these chords are? Thanks!