Hall & Oates

Released: October 4, 1982

Songwriter: Maggie Reilly Morris Pert Mike Frye Rick Fenn Tim Cross Mike Oldfield

Producer: John Oates Daryl Hall

[Intro]
She had sulky smile
She took her standard pose
As she presented herself
She had sultry eyes
She made it perfectly plain
That she was his for a price
But he said: "Leave me alone, I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite"
He said: "Leave me alone, I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might"

[Verse 1]
She wore hurt surprise
As she rechecked her make-up to protect herself
Dropped her price and pride
She made it totally clear
That she was his for a night

[Chorus]
But he said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite"
He said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might"

[Verse 2]
She gave him her look
It would have worked on any other man around
He looked her up and down
She knew he couldn't decide
If he should hold his ground

[Chorus]
But he said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite"
He said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might"

[Solo]

[Verse 3]
She turned, tossed her head
Unlike her opening move
Her final exit line
He waited much too long
But by the time he got his courage up
She was gone

[Chorus]
And he screamed: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite"
He said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might"
He said: (Leave me alone), I'm a (Family man)
And I don't think I want it tonight"
And he said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might"
He said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
And my bark is much worse than my bite"
He said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
If you push me too far I just might"
He said: "(Leave me alone), I'm a family man
Don't, leave me alone 'cause I got to go home"
Please! (Leave me alone), I'm a family man
If you push me too far, I just might

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

The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates

From the albums

H2O (1982)
Rock n’ Soul Part 1 (1983)
The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates (2001)
Ultimate Daryl Hall + John Oates (2004)
H2O (Remastered) (2004)
The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates (2005)
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories Soundtrack (2006)
The Singles (2008)

Hall & Oates popular songs

Family ManHall & Oates

Hall & Oates

The Essential Daryl Hall & John Oates