Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?
This track by The Rolling Stones, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” is notably lengthy, clocking in at 7 minutes and 14 seconds. Mick Jagger’s vocal contribution concludes around the 2 minute and 45-second mark, allowing the remaining four and a half minutes to be dominated by an instrumental groove. During this period, the band was exploring various musical styles, and “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” exhibits a distinctive Santana influence.
The song features several notable musicians, including Bobby Keys on saxophone, Rocky Dijon on percussion, and Billy Preston on the organ. Keys, along with trumpet player Jim Price, joined The Stones for their 1970 European tour after contributing to “Sticky Fingers.” Keys’ extensive saxophone solo on this track was impromptu; he began playing, and Keith Richards loved it, so the tape kept rolling.
Interpreting the lyrics of this song can be a challenge, as even Mick Jagger isn’t entirely sure of some lines. Just before the album’s release, it was discovered that the lyrics for this track and a few others had not been filed for copyright, making them difficult to protect. Members of The Stones’ team had to transcribe the words by listening to acetate pressings. In one instance near the end of the song, they could only come up with “I’ve got flatted feet, now,” a line Jagger insisted he didn’t write but couldn’t recall the actual line, so it remained.
The iconic cover art for “Sticky Fingers” was designed by Andy Warhol. Jagger had cautioned Warhol about complex designs causing production delays but gave him complete creative control. Warhol responded with a cover featuring a functional zipper, creating production challenges. The cover depicted a man wearing extremely tight jeans with the functional zipper, often mistaken for Mick Jagger but actually featuring Joe Dallesandro, an actor and Warhol associate.
Stones producer Jimmy Miller played percussion on this track. In the 1960s, Miller had mixed records for The Spencer Davis Group and produced Steve Winwood’s next group, Traffic.
Before its official release on the “Sticky Fingers” album, The Stones performed a shortened version of this song a few times during their 11-date UK farewell tour. Following these shows, they didn’t include it in their live performances until 2002, when they had enough musicians to support it properly. Earlier attempts at playing the song either resulted in unconvincing reproductions of the album version or sloppy improvisations.
The song has been featured in several films, including “Casino” (1995), “Blow” (2001), “Without a Paddle” (2004), and “The Fighter” (2010).
At the time of recording, Mick Taylor served as the lead guitarist for The Stones, replacing Brian Jones, who passed away in 1969. Taylor reflected on the track in 1979, expressing his fondness for it and revealing that the jam at the end of the song was entirely unplanned and occurred by accident during the recording session. The musicians spontaneously continued playing after the song’s conclusion, resulting in a unique and one-take recording.
“Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” is also featured in the video game Guitar Hero II.
The song includes explicit drug references, such as “cocaine eyes” and “speed-freak jive,” reflecting the prevalent drug culture within the band’s social circle during that era.
Bill Wyman, the band’s bassist, considered this recording to be his favorite from the “Sticky Fingers” album. He praised the magical transition from the basic song into an extended jam, highlighting the spontaneous and fortunate nature of this musical moment.
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Lyrics Song
Yeah, you got satin shoes
Yeah, you got plastic boots
Y’all got cocaine eyes
Yeah, you got speed-freak jive nowCan’t you hear me knockin’ on your window?
Can’t you hear me knockin’ on your door?
Can’t you hear me knockin’ down your dirty street, yeah?Help me baby, ain’t no stranger
Help me baby, ain’t no stranger
Help me baby, ain’t no strangerCan’t you hear me knockin’, ah, are you safe asleep?
Can’t you hear me knockin’, yeah, down the gas light street, now
Can’t you hear me knockin’, yeah, throw me down the keys
Alright nowHear me ringing big bell tolls
Hear me singing soft and low
I’ve been begging on my knees
I’ve been kickin’, help me pleaseHear me prowlin’
I’m gonna take you down
Hear me growlin’
Yeah, I’ve got flatted feet now, now, now, nowHear me howlin’
And all, all around your street now
Hear me knockin’
And all, all around your town