Who Can It Be Now?

Song Meaning

The narrator is desperately trying to avoid an unwanted visitor, pleading for solitude late at night. They're exhausted and unwell, wishing only to be left alone and for the person to stay outside. This isn't just about a late-night disturbance; it's a profound need for personal space and an escape from intrusion. The repeated plea, "Go away, don't come 'round here no more," underscores a deep-seated desire for peace. The core tension arises from the narrator's internal state versus the external threat of intrusion. They claim to "keep to myself" and assert "There's nothin' wrong with my state of mental health," yet their frantic desire to hide and avoid contact suggests significant anxiety. This internal conflict is amplified by the persistent knocking, which the narrator fears will "knock all day," trapping them in their own home. The lyrics masterfully use repetition and a sense of escalating paranoia. The chorus, a simple, insistent question "Who can it be now?" mirrors the narrator's anxious uncertainty. This is further amplified by the bridge, where the fear crystallizes into a specific, albeit possibly imagined, threat: "Is it the man come to take me away?" The narrator quickly dismisses this as "just my fantasy," but the underlying dread remains palpable. This song hits hard because it taps into a universal feeling of wanting to retreat from the world, especially when feeling vulnerable. The craft lies in its direct, almost childlike pleas for avoidance, contrasted with the implied, potentially menacing, external force. The simple language and insistent rhythm create a claustrophobic atmosphere, making the listener feel the narrator's desperate need for peace and their fear of being discovered or confronted.