“I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” by Hall & Oates

Any reader already familiar with 1980s music likely already recognizes “I Can’t Go for That” as one of the excellent songs from that era. But that being acknowledged, there’s a good chance they misconstrue it as being romantic in nature.

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Hall & Oates's I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) at Lyrics.org.

This is indicative of a writing style Hall & Oates commonly utilized which is tantamount to a misdirection, i.e. giving the impression that a song is about one subject when in actuality it is about another. And when the crew composed “I Can’t Go for That”, according to John Oates, what they really had in mind is artists “being pushed around” by their superiors in the music industry.

So as such, we all know what the phrase “I can’t go for that” alludes to in general. And that is someone refusing to comply to the whims of another. Thus in this particular case, according to the aforementioned, the addressee would actually be akin to a music-industry executive. And what the homeys are telling this individual is that they have already made ample sacrifices in the name of the game.  Indeed they have dedicated their very bodies to the cause. But now these employers are demanding their ‘souls’ also. And this is the point at which they declare that they “can’t go for that”, as in refusing to literally give their all to those who demand such.

John Oates expounds the Song’s Meaning

Now the above specific explanation is one John Oates gave in an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer. And another sit-down with music publication Billboard, he expounded on the meaning of this song even further. And that time around he gave a more general exposition, stating that the sentiment expressed in “I Can’t Go for That” actually extends to practically all people, including “the government” and even parents, who try to exert their wills onto others. Or looked at in a different way, this track serves as an ode to individual freedom and power of choice, specifically within the context of the narrator being compelled to act against his will by an agent more-powerful than himself.

So accordingly, the lyrics can be generally understood as addressing an overdemanding lover. But they can also be aimed at any individual who is insisting that a person do something which in his or her heart they genuinely don’t want to comply to.

Lyrics of "I Can't Go for That"

Facts about “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)”

This track is featured on Hall & Oates 10th studio album, which is entitled “Private Eyes”. And RCA Records released it as the second single from that project on 14 December 1981.

“I Can’t Go for That” was written and produced by Daryl Hall and John Oates. And in terms of the songwriting, the duo worked in conjunction with Daryl Hall’s girlfriend, Sara Allen.

This classic topped the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted in a handful of other countries, including scoring a number one on Canada’s RPM Adult Contemporary listing.

Interesting to note is that this track is somewhat of a rarity in that through it Hall & Oates, a couple of White artists, actually managed to top Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (which back then was known as Best Selling Soul Singles).

And fans of classic hip-hop may actually recognize this tune as the one which De La Should sampled in their 1989 track “Say No Go”.

Moreover when compiling its list of The 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘80s, VH1 placed “I Can’t Go for That” all the way at number 6.

This song reportedly served as the inspiration for the bassline of Michael Jackson’s classic track “Billie Jean” (1982).

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