Knock On Wood (1985 7" Remix)

Song Meaning

This track captures a dizzying sense of infatuation, where the narrator is so overwhelmed by a lover's affection that it borders on the terrifying. The immediate feeling is one of precarious joy, a good thing that feels too good to be true. The narrator doesn't want to lose this love, acknowledging its superior quality compared to any other experience. The central tension lies in the contrast between the ecstatic feeling of being loved and the fear of losing it. The love is described as "thunder, lightning," powerful and potentially destructive, making the narrator feel "frightening[ly]" overwhelmed. This intensity fuels a desperate need to ward off bad luck, hence the repeated plea to "knock on wood." The lyrics cleverly blend a genuine appreciation for the lover's touch with a superstitious anxiety. While the narrator admits to not being "superstitious," they can't "take no chance" with this exceptional love. The feeling of being "spinnin', baby" and in a "trance" highlights the disorienting, almost magical effect of this love, which paradoxically necessitates a ritual to keep it grounded. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics comes from their raw, almost childlike expression of overwhelming emotion. The simple, repetitive structure, especially in the chorus and outro, mirrors the obsessive thought pattern of someone trying to hold onto something precious. The fear isn't of the lover, but of the fragility of happiness itself, making the plea to "knock on wood" a universal expression of wanting to preserve a perfect moment.