“I don't got a mansion, I've never been to the Hamptons, It's more likely that you'd find me if you came up here and went camping, I got bills stacked up like Jenga, respected less than most singers, But you won't see me sulk about or wallow in self-doubt and let that linger, Look, I still haven't been killed, I got pills every time I got ill I don't got mills to cop drop-tops or a house in the hills, But I won't feel sorry for myself, I don't need anything opulent as long as I've got oxygen”
Knocking On Wood is the third song off of The Audacity! album and has an awesome meaning that whatever you are going through, you need to look at the bright side of what you have and how you shouldn’t lust after the life another person has.
In the opening verse, Spose raps that “I've never been to the Hamptons, It's more likely that you'd find me if you came up here and went camping”. When he says this, he doesn’t care that he’s never been to the Hamptons while many other people with fame may think that going to the Hamptons for a vacation is “essential”. He would rather go camping with his friends and family and drink a Bissell Brothers.
In the first verse after the first chorus, Spose raps “I got all my limbs, I don't got cancer, I'm superb, I never got kidnapped on my way to work, Got free education, bitch I'm learned”. While it feels like stuff like this is crazy to be thankful for, many people around the globe do not have the luxury of free education. Peter Sparker is thankful that he’s had these simple amenities.
“It's a free country, I can say what the fuck I want, Shit, bitch, cunt, fuck the government, buy my songs, Some places, you say shit like that, you get your hands cut off, Lucky, aren't we?” This part in the second verse explains that you can essentially say whatever you want with little to no repercussions. In other countries like China or North Korea, any criticism of the government could get you thrown in jail.
Following the verse previous lines, Spose raps “All this time to get drunk and party? Puke up food while kids are starving? All of Somalia, not one Arby's, We’re popping water bottles, we're getting tattooed, We're getting fat, taking naps, eating mad food”. These line go hand in hand with the ones prior because, it speaks to the privilege we have living in U.S. In America we can go and get tattoos, we have access to water, and party all we want.
This is one of my favorite Spose songs because, I can listen to it at anytime in any mood and it makes me feel a lot better after listening to it. Wether I’m in a shit mood or a good mood, when I hear Knocking On Wood I can really think about the privileges I have that others don’t and that I have a life I wouldn’t want to trade with anyone.
Next Saturday in the Spose Saturday series, I will take a deep dive on the song We All Got Lost off of the We All Got Lost album.