Knockin' on Doors

Written by S. Nicks

Come lately, I just keep waiting
I see nothing out there
The sun keeps throwin' out the light from the clouds
But there's no light in here
I know that things have to change
But how to change them isn't clear
I'm tired of knockin' on doors
When there's nobody there
I'm tired of knockin' on doors
When there's nobody there

And the time keeps going on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I'm unsure; I can't see my way
And he says, "Lady, you don't have to see"

And the time keeps going on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I'm unsure; I can't see my way
He says, "Lady, you don't have to see"
And he says, "Lady, you don't have to see"
Mmm.....

Come lately, I just keep waiting
I see nothing out there
The sun keeps throwin' out its light from the clouds
But there's no light in here
I know that things have to change
But how to change them isn't clear
I'm tired of knockin' on doors
When there's nobody there
You say, "I'm tired of knockin' on doors
When there's nobody there"

And the time keeps going on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I'm unsure; I can't see my way
And he says, "Lady, you don't need to see"

And the time keeps going on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I'm unsure and I can't see my way
And he says, "Lady, you don't need to see"

And the time keeps going on by
And I wonder what is to become of me
And I'm unsure; I can't see my way
And he says, "Lady, you don't have to see"
And he says, "Lady, you don't have to see"
And he says, "Lady, you don't have to see"
Oh........

---

WEBMISTRESS speculates:

This song's tune is a little different from most of Stevie's tunes, a little bluesier, at least in the verse. This seems to be a song about someone who's uncertain of where she's going or even if she's on the right path - it seems like her future is bleak, she keeps running against blank walls, can't connect with anyone...she's not sure how to get out of this funk - "what is to become of" her if she can't? But I think the "Lady, you don't have to see" is saying, 'Don't stress out so much because you don't know absolutely everything about your future!' She doesn't have to know everything, she just has to keep on truckin'.

 

RUISRYAN speculates:

I think many verses and the general theme of this song is being forcefully cut off from real contact in a person to person way. This could refer to the time when she and Lindsey had just ended their relationship, and Stevie was writing a lot of songs that he refused to put to music, because they, according to him, were not good enough. This would be very frustrating to a prolific song-writer, who would feel that each song was a way of knocking on his door, and have him completely ignore her effort. I think the part about "what will become of me" can refer to the idea that a lot of her songs were turned down by FM, but the part about "Lady you dont have to see" is when she met Paul Fishkin who had great faith and ideas for many of Stevie's songs. So somehow, he became the knight in shining armor that would help Stevie release a lot more of her songs, and thusly herself to her fans.