Men At Work – Who Can It Be Now

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Who Can It Be Now" Ringtone to Cell

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

Oh Who can it be now?
Oh Who can it Who can it
Yeah yeah yeah

Send "Who Can It Be Now" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by numb

Track duration: 03:23

"Who Can It Be Now" as written by Colin James / Hay

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Who Can It Be Now song meanings
Add your thoughts

18 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    Song Meaning:I'm starting to think this song has no particular meaning, it was a true artist that wrote this to relate to a variety of people. Whether it was intended to be for an addiction or schizophrenia, in a way - both are mental illnesses. Anyone who has been there, I'm sure would agree. Maybe. Both are very similar, what you are doing is subconsciously known as wrong and you start to question yourself and lose trust in those around you - or the ones coming to get you. But I do like the earlier post of: Is someone coming to take him away from the place, whether it be they've already been admitted and getting them out or if they are taking them in. Also the debt collectors could be after them? Never really looked too far into this song and its very strange 80's corny music video. But after looking at the lyrics and the comments of this site...started on pondering. Maybe it is what it is, just an arrangements of words that sounded right. Kurt Cobain did the same kind of writing - I'll throw this down on paper, maybe it has meanings or maybe this song comes on and it just applies to you in a way that has nothing to do with someone else who feels the same lyrics applies to them. Maybe we were never supposed to know? Hope I'm not actually 30 years late of throwing a comment up for this.
    Flag Cavired99on May 29, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's about just wanting to be alone. Alone with his own thoughts...and voices.
    Flag Thia007on December 05, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is a result of clear dementia which was
    due inproper misuse of drogs and alcohol.

    Colin Hay is still one smashing bloke
    though and he has been clean for a long
    time now (just listen to the song
    "I wish I was still drinking).

    Still... this song is still jolly damn good.
    Flag KajaGooGooon June 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:... Get your minds out of the gutter.
    Flag jedidivemasteron March 31, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When the song came out, Colin Hay said it was about the bill collectors that used to come to his (and his buddy's) apartment to collect. They would hide and pretend that they weren't home to buy themselves some time.

    Masturbation...
    Flag jedidivemasteron March 28, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I don't think it's about masturbation, like whymighti proposes, but paranoid schizophrenia sounds about right; perhaps the "It's not the future that I can see,/It's just my fantasy" is not self-directed, instead being another person speaking of the narrator's delusional behavior.
    It could also be self-reassurance or denial, which would go well with "There's nothing wrong with my state of mental health."
    Bouts of par. schiz. would fit, as would manic-depressive attacks.
    Then again, it could be about just a very shy man with reclusive tendencies or a bad past relationship.
    Flag OlOleanderon March 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:About a person struggling with paranoid schizophrenia: he know's he's not right in the head, but he moves in an out of sanity and can't help it.

    The tension between sanity and insanity is what makes this song.
    Flag Sonofagunzelon July 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I can remember being told this song dealt with a adult mans obsession with masturbation. "Childhood friend' is a common euphemism for penis. Given the rest of the words it is possible thats what it is about...paranoid of getting caught, he'll run & hide, he keeps to himself etc etc. But I guess only the writer knows for sure.
    Flag whymightion July 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's when those adult trick or treaters come by my house and it's well into the bar hours. They don't want the Milky Ways, they want chicken wings. Unbelievable!!
    Flag jumpy73on June 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I can relate to this song.
    I guess the best place to hide is in your house.
    Some people think that other people are crazy and might hurt someone sooner or later. Leave me alone because you are not me.
    Flag PERHAPSon June 05, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain