Hall & Oates

Released: September 1, 1981

Songwriter: Sara Allen Neil Kernon Daryl Hall John Oates

Producer: Neil Kernon Daryl Hall John Oates

Maybe I speak too soon
Maybe I play too hard
And I listen to major worries
In a minor way

You sent your message to me
You made a move that I'd understand
When you moved from a ticket in line
To a room in L.A

There was a time split second
I could have said please
Fool around and my guard was down
By a few degrees

An unguarded minute (Watch out)
Has an accident in it (Oh)
An unguarded minute (Watch out)
Has an accident in it (Oh)

I guess I should have tried a little bit
Yeah, I could have changed
I could be anything that you want
But it wouldn't be me

Do anything that you say
Use any thought to armor the way
So do you love the man that I am
Or what you want me to be?

I wanna hold you now
But I can let you go
So anytime you can do better
Just let me know

An unguarded minute (Watch out)
Has an accident in it (Oh)
An unguarded minute (Watch out)
Has an accident in it (Oh)

(Unguarded minute)
I wanna hold you tight
(Accident in it)
Oh
(Unguarded minute)
I wanna hold you tight
(Accident in it)
Has an accident in it

I wanna hold you now
But I can't let you go
So anytime that you can do better
Just let me know

An unguarded minute (Watch out)
Has an accident in it (Oh)
An unguarded minute (Watch out)
Has an accident in it (Oh)

I wanna hold you tight (Watch out)
Please let me hold you tight (Oh)
I wanna hold you tight (Watch out)
Please let me hold you tight

You can do better than me (Watch out)
Why don't you try it? (Unguarded minute)
You can do better than me (Unguarded minute)
You better buy it (Unguarded minute)

Oh, an unguarded minute
Has an accident in it (Oh)

Hall & Oates released the first of their 18 albums in 1972 on Atlantic Records. They would go on to sell 13 million albums and 6 million singles primarily during the 70’s and 80’s when they recorded their most prolific and profound music. They blended rock, jazz, soul, and pop create a genre they titled rock and soul.

While their technical musicianship, innovative songwriting styles, and popular live performances were praised, they also had a fruitful partnership with their manager Tommy Mottola, who was helped Hall & Oates break into music videos before they were popular and made profitable financial deals by helping them get on the ground level of and corporate sponsorship of tours. Hall & Oates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

more tracks from the album

Private Eyes (Expanded Edition)

From the albums

Private Eyes (1981)
Private Eyes (Expanded Edition) (2004)

Hall & Oates popular songs

Unguarded MinuteHall & Oates

Hall & Oates

Private Eyes (Expanded Edition)