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

Yeah

Who? Who? Who?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?
Who can it be now?

Oh, oh, oh
Who can it be now?
Oh we oh
Who can it, who can it
Oh, who can it be now?
Oh, we, oh
Yeah, yeah, yeah

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Lyrics submitted by numb

Who Can It Be Now? Lyrics as written by Colin James Hay

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Who Can It Be Now? song meanings

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25 Comments

+5
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.

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.

Reason:

OlOleanderon March 24, 2009 Link
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@OlOleander

i was thinking what you said but with anthropohobia *fear of people* thrown in.

underlyricks70on April 07, 2014
+3
General Comment
I always thought this was about mental illness. I'm surprised more other people have not thought so. The narrator sounds paranoid (is it the man come to take me away, why do they follow me, I'll be trapped) and anxious. He's aware that something is wrong with him (I'm not feeling right; here they come, those feelings again) but is trying to deny it (there's nothing wrong with my state of mental health.) He is having delusions but again, is denying it -- as apparent by one of the strangest lines, "it's not the future that I can see, it's just my fantasy." Obviously he has been feeling like he can see the future, but now he's trying to convince himself or others that he's normal. Then there's that weird line about being "here with my childhood friend" when he's actually alone. PS - Colin Hay's solo acoustic version is great; much better than the original.

I always thought this was about mental illness. I'm surprised more other people have not thought so. The narrator sounds paranoid (is it the man come to take me away, why do they follow me, I'll be trapped) and anxious. He's aware that something is wrong with him (I'm not feeling right; here they come, those feelings again) but is trying to deny it (there's nothing wrong with my state of mental health.) He is having delusions but again, is denying it -- as apparent by one of the strangest lines, "it's not the future that I can see, it's just my fantasy." Obviously he has been feeling like he can see the future, but now he's trying to convince himself or others that he's normal. Then there's that weird line about being "here with my childhood friend" when he's actually alone. PS - Colin Hay's solo acoustic version is great; much better than the original.

Reason:

sorrelon November 23, 2007 Link
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@sorrel
+2
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!!

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!!

Reason:

jumpy73on June 10, 2008 Link
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@jumpy73
+2
General Comment
sounds like a mix of anthropohobia -the fear of people-, constant paranoia, and schizophrenia and possibly full blown insanity. i say anthropophobia because it says "don't come in i'll only run and hide" meaning he is so scared of people his resort is to hide. i say paranoia because when it says "don't you invade my home," it is displaying he is paranoid of people breaking in. schizophrenia because he is hallucinating a "childhood friend" but he is all alone. finally "Is it the man come to take me away? Why do they follow me?" gives the impression (to me at least) that someone from a mental ward has came to take him in.

sounds like a mix of anthropohobia -the fear of people-, constant paranoia, and schizophrenia and possibly full blown insanity. i say anthropophobia because it says "don't come in i'll only run and hide" meaning he is so scared of people his resort is to hide. i say paranoia because when it says "don't you invade my home," it is displaying he is paranoid of people breaking in. schizophrenia because he is hallucinating a "childhood friend" but he is all alone. finally "Is it the man come to take me away? Why do they follow me?" gives the impression (to me at least) that someone from a mental ward has came to take him in.

Reason:

underlyricks70on April 07, 2014 Link
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@underlyricks70

so basically a mad man trying to avoid being taken into a mental ward.

underlyricks70on April 07, 2014
+2
My Interpretation
This song is about a guy wishing to not be bugged by people for a little while so he can relax. I really think it's no deeper than that.

This song is about a guy wishing to not be bugged by people for a little while so he can relax. I really think it's no deeper than that.

Reason:

travisbron July 31, 2014 Link
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@travisbr
+2
General Comment
I think that this song is about someone who knows he is a little strange, but wants to live his life on his terms and wants everyone else to stop trying to change him and leave him alone. Live and let live.

I think that this song is about someone who knows he is a little strange, but wants to live his life on his terms and wants everyone else to stop trying to change him and leave him alone. Live and let live.

Reason:

simple80sukuson November 18, 2015 Link
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@simple80sukus
+1
General Comment
This would appear to be a normal, "I want to be left alone" kind of song, but its much deeper. The following make it an 'abnormal' situation: 1) Nothing wrong with my state of mental health. 2) I like it here with my childhood friend (he is alone) Children have 'imaginary friends', can this be his insanity? No it cannot be, because whatever he is doing is illegal: Is it "the man" come to take me away". 1) Its not my furture that I can see (the consequenses) 2) Its just my fantasy (the consuming fire of the now) Drugs? Porn? The list goes on... Something he 'felt' as a child...

This would appear to be a normal, "I want to be left alone" kind of song, but its much deeper. The following make it an 'abnormal' situation: 1) Nothing wrong with my state of mental health. 2) I like it here with my childhood friend (he is alone) Children have 'imaginary friends', can this be his insanity? No it cannot be, because whatever he is doing is illegal: Is it "the man" come to take me away". 1) Its not my furture that I can see (the consequenses) 2) Its just my fantasy (the consuming fire of the now) Drugs? Porn? The list goes on... Something he 'felt' as a child...

Reason:

CHavenon September 03, 2007 Link
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@CHaven

I like this analogy. I think this song in part has to do with something I mentioned in another song about him. He's paranoid. He's afraid that someone's out to get him and he doesn't want to answer the door for fear he'll be taken away for something he did or because they are going to lock him away. "nothing wrong with my state of mental health...Is it the man come to take me away" the man in this case could be workers from a psychiatric clinic coming to take him away because they may believe him to be unstable.

robertBosson September 29, 2011
+1
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.

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.

Reason:

Sonofagunzelon July 29, 2008 Link
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@Sonofagunzel
+1
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...

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... <scoff>

Reason:

jedidivemasteron March 29, 2009 Link
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@jedidivemaster
+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.

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.

Reason:

KajaGooGooon June 02, 2009 Link
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@KajaGooGoo

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Who Can It Be Now?

Men at Work

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