I'm Knocking
Penny Mclean Lyrics


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(At your door)
(I'm knocking)
(At your door)
(I'm knocking)
(At your door)
(I'm knocking)
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Oh, hear me
(At your door)

Why can't you hear my heart beating?
Why do you just walk on by?
I always think when you leaving
How can I get to you like

(I'm knocking) I'm knocking
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Yeah, I'm knocking
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)

(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Can't you hear me?
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Won't cha, won't cha
(At your door)

Why can't I say when I'm feeling?
Why can't you see how I tried?
My eyes could never conceiving
I want to get to you like

(I'm knocking) Please let me in
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Please, please
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) I wanna be with you
(At your door)
(I'm knocking) Please
(At your door)

I'm knocking (at your door)




I'm knocking (at your door)
(Knock, knock, knock) I'm knocking, yeah

Overall Meaning

Penny McLean's song "I'm Knocking" is an emotional ballad about unrequited love. The singer addresses a person they deeply care about but who seems to be oblivious to their feelings. The lyrics paint the picture of trying to get someone's attention by knocking at their door continuously, but they are refusing to answer. The singer feels frustrated and confused as to why their love interest continue to ignore them.


Throughout the song, the singer keeps asking why the person can't hear their heart beating or why they can't see how hard they have tried to get their attention. The repeated line "I'm knocking" is the desperate plea for the person to let them in and let them be with them. The song portrays a situation where the singer feels helpless and powerless because they cannot change the feeling of the person they love.


The song has a simple melody that complements the melancholic lyrics of the song. The repetitive "knocking" sound is supposed to create a sense of urgency and desperation. The song is a classic from the disco era where love anthems were prevalent, and it still resonates with people who have experienced unrequited love.


Line by Line Meaning

(At your door)
The singer is physically present outside the person's door


(I'm knocking)
The singer is knocking on the door to get the person's attention


(Can't you hear me?)
The singer wonders why the person can't hear the knocking and the singer's own heart beating


(Oh, hear me)
The artist adds urgency to the request for the person to hear them


Why do you just walk on by?
The artist questions why the person ignores them and doesn't acknowledge their feelings


I always think when you leaving
The singer is constantly worried about the person leaving


How can I get to you like
The singer wonders how they can make a stronger connection with the person


(Yeah, I'm knocking)
The artist continues to knock on the door


(Can't you hear me?)
The artist repeats their plea for the person to hear them


(Won't cha, won't cha)
The artist adds a touch of desperation to their plea, asking the person to respond


Why can't I say when I'm feeling?
The singer wonders why it's so difficult to express their emotions to the person


Why can't you see how I tried?
The artist feels frustrated that the person doesn't see their efforts to connect


My eyes could never conceiving
The singer explains that their eyes can't cover up what's in their heart


(Please let me in)
The singer becomes more direct in their request, asking the person to let them in


(I wanna be with you)
The singer reveals their ultimate desire to be with the person


(Knock, knock, knock)
The artist continues to knock on the door, hoping the person will open up to them




Writer(s): Stephan Prager, Sylvester Levay

Contributed by Hailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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