The song begins with a guitar intro that both Keith Richards and Mick Taylor contributed to, evolving into a rhythm riff played by Richards. At two minutes and forty-three seconds, an instrumental break begins, with Rocky Dijon on congas; saxophonist Bobby Keys performs an extended saxophone solo over the layered guitar work of Richards and Taylor. Taylor then takes over from Keys and carries the song to its finish with a lengthy guitar solo.
Can't You Hear Me Knocking
The Rolling Stones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, you got plastic boots
Y'all got cocaine eyes
Yeah, you got speed-freak jive
Can't you hear me knockin' on your window
Can't you hear me knockin' on your door
Can't you hear me knockin' down your dirty street, yeah
Help me baby, ain't no stranger
Can you help me baby, ain't no stranger
Help me baby, ain't no stranger
Can't you hear me knockin', ah, are you safe asleep?
Can't you hear me knockin', yeah, down the gas light street, now
Can't you hear me knockin', yeah, throw me down the keys
Alright now
Hear me ringing big bell tolls
Hear me singing soft and low
I've been begging on my knees
I've been kickin', help me please
Hear me prowlin'
I'm gonna take you down
Hear me growlin'
Yeah, I've got flatted feet now, now, now, now
Hear me howlin'
And all, all around your street now
Hear me knockin'
And all, all around your town
The lyrics of The Rolling Stones's song Can't You Hear Me Knocking seem to be about a man who is deeply in love with a woman who is leading a dangerous lifestyle. The lyrics depict how the woman has a few flaws and how the man is ready to accept her as she is. The man is begging her to be with him and is trying to enter her life, which has been portrayed throughout the song by repeatedly knocking on her window, door, and dirty street.
The lyrics also mention the woman's consumption of drugs by describing her "cocaine eyes" and "speed-freak jive," which hints that she is on a path of self-destruction. The line "I've been begging on my knees, I've been kickin', help me please" depicts the man's desperation to be with her and to help her to steer away from her self-destructive tendencies.
The song's tempo and the back-to-back guitar solos have made it quite an iconic track. It has also been praised for its innovative use of guitar riffs and its fusion of rock, funk, and jazz. Overall, the lyrics of the song Can't You Hear Me Knocking present a story of unrequited love, obscure desire to help someone, and the consequences of living a life in the fast lane.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, you got satin shoes
You have expensive and fancy clothes and accessories.
Yeah, you got plastic boots
You also have cheap and tacky clothes and accessories.
Y'all got cocaine eyes
Your eyes are showing signs of drug use, specifically cocaine.
Yeah, you got speed-freak jive
You're exhibiting the behavior of a drug user who is wired and jumpy from taking amphetamines.
Can't you hear me knockin' on your window
I am trying to gain your attention by tapping on your window, probably to communicate with you in a hidden or secretive way.
Can't you hear me knockin' on your door
I am trying to gain access to your home and I am knocking on your door to get you to let me in.
Can't you hear me knockin' down your dirty street, yeah
I am coming to your neighborhood and walking through the street to your house, probably with an urgent need to see you.
Help me baby, ain't no stranger
I need your help, but I am not a complete stranger to you.
Can you help me baby, ain't no stranger
I am asking you if you're willing to help me, and I am emphasizing that I am not completely unknown to you.
Help me baby, ain't no stranger
I am repeating my plea for your help, and reminding you that I am not a complete stranger to you.
Can't you hear me knockin', ah, are you safe asleep?
I am wondering whether you are sleeping and not able to hear me or just ignoring me intentionally.
Can't you hear me knockin', yeah, down the gas light street, now
I am still trying to get your attention and let you know that I am approaching your neighborhood, probably walking through the gas-lit streets at night.
Can't you hear me knockin', yeah, throw me down the keys
I am asking you to give me access to your house by throwing down the keys, probably because I urgently need to get inside.
Hear me ringing big bell tolls
I am making a lot of noise and drawing attention to myself, like the ringing of a big bell for everyone to notice.
Hear me singing soft and low
I am changing my approach and trying to communicate with a softer tone, hoping to connect more intimately with you.
I've been begging on my knees
I am using an expression of humility to convey how much I need your help or attention.
I've been kickin', help me please
I am saying that I have been trying to get your attention in different ways, but now I am asking you directly for help.
Hear me prowlin'
I am trying to sneak up on you or move around discreetly without being noticed like a predator on the prowl.
I'm gonna take you down
I am planning to overcome whatever obstacle is keeping me from seeing you or getting what I want.
Hear me growlin'
I am expressing frustration or anger at the situation or the people involved in keeping me from my goal.
Yeah, I've got flatted feet now, now, now, now
My feet are sore and tired from all the walking or running I have been doing to get to you.
Hear me howlin'
I am crying out in despair or agony, probably from the pain or frustration of not being able to see you or reach my objective.
And all, all around your street now
I am trying to get your attention from all sides and angles, coming at you from different directions as I move through the streets near your home.
Hear me knockin'
I am still trying to get you to hear me and respond to my need for help or attention as I knock on your door or window or just make a lot of noise around your street and town.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: Keith Richards, Mick Jagger
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Dizi LiziD
LYRICS:
Yeah, you got satin shoes
Yeah, you got plastic boots
Y'all got cocaine eyes
Yeah, you got speed-freak jive now
Can't you hear me knockin' on your window?
Can't you hear me knockin' on your door?
Can't you hear me knockin' down your dirty street, yeah?
Help me baby, ain't no stranger
Help me baby, ain't no stranger
Help me baby, ain't no stranger
Can't you hear me knockin', ah, are you safe asleep?
Can't you hear me knockin', yeah, down the gas light street, now
Can't you hear me knockin', yeah, throw me down the keys
Alright now
Hear me ringing big bell tolls
Hear me singing soft and low
I've been begging on my knees
I've been kickin', help me please
Hear me prowlin'
I'm gonna take you down
Hear me growlin'
Yeah, I've got flatted feet now, now, now, now
Hear me howlin'
And all, all around your street now
Hear me knockin'
And all, all around your town
Dan Klug
All these years later and that opening guitar riff is still killer.
Burt472
Yep.....
billy mc
No doubt. Today's music just lacks a gritty, smoke filled room sound this song has in bundles.
SuperZombiechic
Totally playing this song at my wedding
Jesse
Killer is right. On par with who are you opening by The Who
Jazzhawkus
Best ever into riff of all time
stellar wind
This song is a cohesive masterpiece. Keith’s opening riff, Mick’s vocals, Bobby Key’s saxophone, Watts on drums, Wyman on bass, and Mick Taylor’s solo at the end. The Stones at their musical peak.
Robert Ragolia
Right on bro!!! I can dig it!!!
Thomas McLoughlin
This. The Power. Suck it up Alain Dellon. Certain songs are perfect in their own shape and definition. I have a list of maybe 6 or 7. Not all same style or type just full cut through wonder, is what it is. My list at the least. That solo at the end, yeah. I bet Clapton wanted that for himself.
robert kennedy
I agree their best lineup Ever