Hall & Oates

Released: September 1, 1981

Songwriter: Neil Kernon John Oates Daryl Hall

Producer: Neil Kernon John Oates Daryl Hall

Some men call half way around the world
If they've got a phone game to play
Then again some men (Some men)
Call their mom every day
Old boys drink bad beer
And throw the cans out in the street
Playboys sit and sip red wine
Some drink malt whiskey neat

So if you can (If you can, if you can)
You talk about some men (Some men)
Baby, if you can (If you can, if you can)
You can talk about some men (Some men)
Honey, if you can (If you can, if you can)
You can talk about some men (Some men)
Baby, if you can (If you can, if you can)
You can talk about some men (Some men)

Colonels collect animal heads
And hang their guns up on the wall (on the wall)
Corn balls watch television
Then pull a gun out in the hall
Crew-cut rainbows hang on streets
Hoping they'll find a friend
Odd balls running fast enough
They hope that they won't find their end

So if you can (If you can, if you can)
You talk about some men (Some men)
Honey, if you can (If you can, if you can)
You can talk about some men (Some men)
Baby, if you can (If you can, if you can)
You can talk about some men (Some men)
If you can (If you can, if you can)
You can talk about some men (Some men)
Oh yeah

Sleep all night, work all day
Work all night, sleep all day (all day or all night)
Drink all night, sick all day
Sick all night, drink all day (all day or all night)
Some men, if you can

We ain't soldiers (If you can, if you can)
So don't you generalize (Some men)
No categories (If you can, if you can)
Because it takes all kinds (Some men)
You can sleep all night (If you can, if you can)
You can work all day (Some men)
You can trip all night (If you can, if you can)
Trip all day (Some men)
If you can (If you can, if you can)
You can talk about some men (Some men)

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

From the albums

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

Hall & Oates popular songs

Some MenHall & Oates

Hall & Oates

Private Eyes