Who Can It Be Now?

Men at Work

About Who Can It Be Now?

"Who Can It Be Now?" is a song recorded by Australian band Men at Work. It was first released as a single in Australia in June 1981, prior to the recording of their 1981 debut album Business as Usual, on which the track was later included. "Who Can It Be Now?" reached No. 2 on the Australian singles chart in August that year, and was awarded a gold disc for sales of over 50,000 copies in Australia. The song also hit No. 45 in New Zealand. Released in Canada in early 1982, the track peaked at No. 8 in late July. This spurred an American release of the song, and the single, by then well over a year old, went on to hit No. 1 in the US in October 1982. "Who Can It Be Now?" was also a modest hit in the UK, reaching No. 45. As one of Men at Work's biggest hits, it was featured on their later compilation albums, and a live version can be found on Brazil. The song remains a popular symbol of new wave music and has been featured on numerous 1980s compilations. The band performed both this song and "Down Under" live on Saturday Night Live on 23 October 1982. 


Year:
2000
3:22
262 
#2

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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

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Men at Work

Men at Work is an Australian rock band who achieved international success in the 1980s. They are the only Australian artist to have a simultaneous No. 1 album and No. 1 single in the United States (Business as Usual and "Down Under" respectively). They achieved the same distinction of a simultaneous No. 1 album and No. 1 single in the United Kingdom. The group won the 1983 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, and have sold over 30 million albums worldwide.[citation needed] more »

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Written by: Colin James Hay

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Release and Reception
"Who Can It Be Now?" was released in 1981 and it became the first song to achieve international success for Men at Work. The track charted at No. 1 in Australia and Canada, while it reached No. 2 in the UK and was Men at Work’s first US Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hit.
Song Concept
Colin Hay, the band's lead vocalist, explained that he wrote these lyrics based on his experiences living in an apartment where he would often get knocks on his door from people looking for someone else, leading him to feel paranoid.
Album Success
The song was part of Men at Work's debut album "Business as Usual" which topped the Australian, New Zealand, and US charts for several weeks. The album went on to sell over 15 million copies worldwide.
Music Video
The music video for the song showcases a film noir-style narrative where the band plays in an old hotel while Hay's character deals with paranoia of various odd characters knocking on his door.
Saxophone Signature
One of the notable parts of "Who Can It Be Now?" is the catchy saxophone melody which was played by band member Greg Ham and became a signature of Men at Work's sound.
Award Wins
The song won "Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocals" at the 25th Annual Grammy Awards in 1983.
Parodies and Covers
The song has been covered and parodied by various artists in different genres over the years, demonstrating its enduring popularity.
Noteworthy Performance
Men at Work performed "Who Can It Be Now?" at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.
Continuing Relevance
Despite being released almost 40 years ago, the song remains one of the most recognizable hits of the 80s and continues to receive significant airplay on classic rock and pop stations globally.
Streaming Success
As of 2021, "Who Can It Be Now?" has over 97 million streams on Spotify, showcasing its continued popularity among listeners of different generations.

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    "Who Can It Be Now? Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3561911/Men+at+Work/Who+Can+It+Be+Now%3F>.

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    Who Can It Be Now?

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1982

    Billboard #1


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