There is a man that live next door
In my neighborhood
In my neighborhood
And he gets me down

He gets in so late at night
Always a fuss and fight
Always a fuss and fight
All through the night

I've got to get away from here
This is not a place for me to stay
I've got to take my family
We'll find a quiet place

Hear the pots and pans they fall
Bang against my wall
Bang against my wall
No rest at all

He gets in so late at night
Always a fuss and fight
Always a fuss and fight
All through the night

I've got to get away from here
This is not a place for me to stay
I've got to take my family
We'll find a quiet place

There is a man that live next door
In my neighborhood
In my neighborhood
And he gets me down

He gets in so late at night
Always a fuss and fight
Always a fuss and fight
All through the night

Got to get away


Lyrics submitted by Selfmutilized

Man Next Door Lyrics as written by John Holt Howard Anthony Barrett

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Man Next Door song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

33 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    I always play this song loud enough to annoy my neighbors, just in case they get the joke.

    Sidney Yamahataon December 04, 2009   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    It's creepy how distressed Horace Andy sounds.

    I feel like there's a slight Jekyll and Hyde feel to this song. Why is he so obsessed with this man next door?

    janeireon December 07, 2009   Link
  • +4
    My Opinion
    even without me really liking his voice, this is easily one of my top three MA songs.
    ninety6tearson April 01, 2010   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    As someone said, this is a cover of an old Reggae song. But in this album's context it's about Paranoia. As I see it, Mezzanine is all about various mental disorders - obsession (Angel), depression (Dissolved Girl)...

    ElSon October 19, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I believe the song's about a drug dealer in the neighbourhood. I adore Horace Andy as a reggae singer. There is an interesting delay sequence used on the drums at the beginning and throughout the track that sounds superb combined with Horace's vocals. He also sang "One Love" from Blue Lines, which is also a simple yet effective track. Massive Attack have the power to produce very simple tracks that always pulls the right strings.

    ming mingon December 23, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    How could anyone dislike this song? FFS

    subverton May 13, 2007   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Can't believe people don't appreciate the brilliance of this tune.

    And I actually can't comprehend that people don't like Horace's voice. He is definitely right up there along side the best reggae vocalists.

    Newcsyon September 25, 2009   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    The only version I've heard is by Dennis Brown, and I love it. I agree it's very straightfoward. A man want's to raise his family in peace and quite and is frustrated by his noisy and maybe abusive neighbors. Beautiful song.

    gasolinegradyon April 08, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Opinion

    If you compare the lyrics with the actual video of the song, you will notice that the song does not actually describe an annoying/abusive neighbor, but a schizoid man which probably has experienced trauma with the break up of his family... really sad... but what can I say, art is special; there is nothing disgusting or bad with this, just a matter of taste and/or understanding/establishment of the song.

    GodaAon March 26, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is really trippy and amazing.the whole album is good.MA dont have any bad ones

    venusinvelveton March 18, 2007   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!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.