CAN’T YOU HEAR MY KNOCKING
THE ROLLING STONES
SONGWRITERS: KEITH RICHARDS & MICK JAGGER
COUNTRY: U.K.
ALBUM: STICKY FINGERS
LABEL: ROLLING STONES RECORDS
GENRE: ROCK
YEAR: 1971
"Can't You Hear Me Knocking" is a song by
English rock band the Rolling Stones from their 1971 album Sticky Fingers. The
song is over seven minutes long, and begins with a Keith Richards open-G tuned
guitar intro. At two minutes and forty-three seconds, an instrumental break
begins, with Rocky Dijon on congas; tenor saxophonist Bobby Keys performs an
extended saxophone solo over the guitar work of Richards and Mick Taylor,
punctuated by the organ work of Billy Preston. At 4:40 Taylor takes over from
Keys and carries the song to its finish with a lengthy guitar solo.
The Rolling Stones are an
English rock band formed in London, England in 1962. The first stable line-up
consisted of Brian Jones(guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger(lead vocals), Keith
Richards(guitar, backing vocals), Bill Wyman(bass), Charlie Watts(drums), and Ian
Stewart(piano). Stewart
was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued as a touring member
until his death in 1985. Jones left the band less than a
month prior to his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor,
who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place
in 1975 and has been on guitar in tandem with Richards ever since. Following
Wyman's departure in 1993, Darryl Jones joined as their touring bassist.
Touring keyboardists for the band have been Nicky Hopkins(1967–1982), Ian
McLagan(1978–1981), Billy Preston(through the mid-1970s) and Chuck Leavell(1982–present).
The band was first
led by Brian Jones, but after teaming as the band's songwriters, Jagger and
Richards assumed leadership while Jones dealt with legal and personal troubles.
The Rolling Stones were at
the forefront of the British Invasion of bands that became popular in the US in
1964, and identified with the youthful and rebellious counterculture of the
1960s. Rooted in blues and early rock and roll, the group began a short period
of musical experimentation in the mid-1960s that peaked with the psychedelic album
Their Satanic Majesties Request(1967). Subsequently, the group returned to its
"bluesy" roots with Beggars Banquet(1968) which along with its
follow-ups Let It Bleed(1969), Sticky Fingers(1971) and Exile on Main St.(1972)
is generally considered to be the band's best work and is seen as their
"Golden Age". During this period, they were first introduced on stage
as "The World's Greatest Rock and Roll Band". Musicologist Robert
Palmer attributed the endurance of the Rolling Stones to their being
"rooted in traditional verities, in rhythm-and-blues and soul music",
while "more ephemeral pop fashions have come and gone".
Yeah, you got satin shoes
Yeah, you got fancy boots
Y'all got cocaine eyes
Yeah, you got speed freak jive
Can't you hear me knockin' on your window
Can't you hear me knockin' on your door
Can't you hear me knockin' down the dirty street
Hey, help me baby,
I ain't no stranger
Help me baby,
I ain't no stranger
Help me baby,
I ain't no stranger
Can't you hear me knockin' when you're safe asleep
Can't you hear me knockin' down the gas light street
Can't you hear me knockin' throw me down the keys
Allright now
Hear me ringing big bells toll
Hear me singing soft and low
I've been begging on my knees
I've been kickin' Help me please
Hear me prowlin I'm gonna take you down
Hear me growlin', yeah I've got flatted feet
Now, now, now hear me howlin'
I'm all around your street now hear me knockin'
I'm
around your town.