The Knock

Released: May 4th, 2015

Produced by: Hop Along & John Agnello

Harp: Mary Lattimore

Background

A live demo of the track was performed at the Weathervane Studio Concert in 2013. The demo's lyrics and sound are very different from the final release, though the theme is apprently the same.

The disappointed reaction to the intended meaning of this song is what caused Frances to keep their intended interpretations a secret for many tracks.

You know, someone came up to me after a show recently and asked me what "The Knock" was about-- but first they told me what they thought it was about. [...] I almost liked their idea of the meaning better. Then they asked me what it "really" was about. [...] And I told them what I'd meant when I initially wrote it. Their expression fell. They looked utterly disappointed. I still regret telling them. So I think it's best if I leave it to your interpretation.

Lyrics

8:45 A.M.
The dream just escaped me again
Over breakfast, I could hear you in the garage, building insects
I know that knock
Come on, I just put on the coffee
I know that knock
They wanna come inside and speak with me

At the door came the knock of
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you

Did you see the look on the face of the kid he brought with him?
I never once seen a teenager look so radiant
You said, "Why did you get so sentimental over them?"
I wasn't, it's just, it's been a long time since I was moved to crying

At the door came the knock of
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you

The witnesses just want to talk to you
And in the car you said, "Everyone is suffering"

At the door came the knock of
At the door came the knock of
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you
The witness just wants to talk to you

Had a dream last night, but I forgot it by breakfast
Could hear you in the garage, building insects
At the door came the knock of the witness, the witness, the witness
Made me wish I had a job now

What does he want?
Can't he see I've seen your beautiful garden
We don't get anything for ourselves
He brought his Aunt's son with him, fourteen, smiling
Two qualities that never come together
They wanted to speak with me

At the door came a knock of
The witness, the witness, the witness
At the door came a knock of the sweet
Witness

I called you when frightened of the younger one, especially
I didn't expect you to be so moved then, moved to crying, you
Said the smile was warm and radiant, radiant
It made me think of my old church days
Closets and nuns, and that's about it

All this talk, talk, talk, puts me right back in the dark
All this talk, talk, talk, puts me right back into the dark
Made me wish I had a job now

I stepped out and came back
Everyone was gone, even all the love within the talk
I found you in the kitchen, your eyes were red
There seemed to be less of you then
You said, "But everyone in this world is suffering"
You said, "Everyone is suffering

And then, we were back together in a lovely little garden
A lovely little garden
And then, we were back together in a lovely little garden
A lovely little garden, lovely little garden, oh