I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) - wikipedia I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) `` I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) '' Cover art for British vinyl releases Single by Daryl Hall and John Oates from the album Private Eyes B - side `` Unguarded Minute '' Released December 14, 1981 Format 7 '' single 12 '' single Recorded March 1981 Genre R&B, pop Length 5 : 09 ( album version ) 4 : 14 ( video edit ) 3 : 45 ( single edit ) 6 : 05 ( extended club mix ) Label RCA Songwriter ( s ) Sara Allen Daryl Hall John Oates Producer ( s ) Hall & Oates Daryl Hall and John Oates singles chronology `` Private Eyes '' ( 1981 ) `` I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Did It in a Minute '' ( 1981 ) `` Private Eyes '' ( 1981 ) `` I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Did It in a Minute '' ( 1981 ) `` I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) '' is a song by the American duo Daryl Hall and John Oates. Written by Daryl Hall and John Oates, and co-written by Sara Allen, the song was released as the second single from their tenth studio album, Private Eyes ( 1981 ). The song became the fourth number - one hit single of their career on the Billboard Hot 100 and the second hit single from Private Eyes. It features Charles DeChant on saxophone. `` I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) '' is one of fourteen Hall & Oates songs that have been played on the radio over one million times, according to BMI. Contents 1 Composition 2 Personnel 3 Chart performance 3.1 Weekly charts 3.2 Year - end charts 4 Awards and accolades 4.1 Influence on `` Billie Jean '' 5 Legacy 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Composition Daryl Hall sketched out the basic song one evening at a music studio in New York City, in 1981, after a recording session for the Private Eyes album. Hall began to play a bass line on a Korg organ, and sound engineer Neil Kernon recorded the result. Hall then came up with a guitar riff, which he and Oates worked on together. The next day, Hall, Oates and Sara Allen worked on the lyrics. Speaking about the meaning of the lyrics, John Oates has stated that while many listeners may assume the lyrics are about a relationship, in reality, the song, `` is about the music business. That song is really about not being pushed around by big labels, managers, and agents and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively. '' This was done intentionally, he explained, to universalize the topic of the song into something everyone could relate to and ascribe personal meaning to in their own way. Naming `` Maneater '' as another example, he revealed that this was a common theme for the group 's songs. Personnel Daryl Hall : lead vocals and backing vocals, synthesizer, Programation, Roland CR - 78 drum machine John Oates : electric guitar, backing vocals Charles DeChant : saxophone, backing vocals John Siegler : bass Chart performance The single debuted at number 59 on the Hot 100 the week of November 14, 1981 as the highest debut of the week and after eleven weeks, on January 30, 1982 it reached the top of the chart, staying there for a week. `` I Ca n't Go for That '' ended a 10 - week run at the top of the Hot 100 by Olivia Newton - John 's song, `` Physical '' ( which had knocked out Hall & Oates ' `` Private Eyes '' from the top spot ). The song also went to number one on the Hot Dance Club Play chart for one week in January 1982. Thanks to heavy airplay on urban contemporary radio stations, `` I Ca n't Go for That '' also topped the US R&B chart, a rare feat for a white act. It was the only record by a white act to hit No. 1 on both the Hot 100 and R&B / Hip - Hop Songs charts during all of 1982. The single was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 units on January 7, 1982. According to the Hall & Oates biography, Hall, upon learning that `` I Ca n't Go For That '' had gone to number one on the R&B chart, wrote in his diary, `` I 'm the head soul brother in the U.S. Where to now ? '' It also peaked at # 1 on the Radio & Records CHR / Pop Airplay chart on December 18, 1981 staying at the top of the chart for six weeks and remaining on it for fifteen weeks, making it their biggest hit on the R&R airplay chart. This single was also the first top 10 hit for the duo in the UK peaking at number 8 in the UK Singles Chart. It was certified silver by the BPI on March 1, 1982 for shipments of 200,000 units. Weekly charts Chart ( 1981 -- 82 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 13 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Germany ( Official German Charts ) 72 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 13 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 5 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) 10 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) 8 US Billboard Hot 100 US Adult Contemporary ( Billboard ) 12 US Dance Club Songs ( Billboard ) US Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ( Billboard ) US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) 28 US Radio & Records CHR / Pop Airplay Chart Year - end charts Chart ( 1982 ) Rank Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 96 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 16 US Billboard Hot 100 15 Awards and accolades `` I Ca n't Go for That '' was voted number six on VH1 's list of `` The 100 Greatest Songs of the ' 80s. '' Influence on `` Billie Jean '' According to Daryl Hall, during the recording of `` We Are the World '', Michael Jackson approached him and admitted to lifting the bass line for `` Billie Jean '' from a Hall and Oates song, apparently referring to `` I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ). '' Hall says that he told Jackson that he had lifted the bass line from another song himself, and that it was `` something we all do. '' Van Halen would also do something similar by lifting the synthesizer used in Kiss On My List for their hit Jump. Legacy Sunrise by Simply Red extensively samples `` I Ca n't Go for That '' Say No Go by De La Soul samples `` I Ca n't Go for That '' On Hold by The xx samples `` I Ca n't Go for That '' See also List of number - one dance hits ( United States ) List of Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles of 1982 References ^ Jump up to : `` Archived copy ''. Archived from the original on 2014 - 01 - 09. Retrieved 2014 - 01 - 13. Jump up ^ Something Else ! ( 24 March 2014 ). `` Hall and Oates ' ' I Ca n't Go For That ' is n't about what you think it 's about ; neither is ' Maneater ' ''. Something Else !. Retrieved 27 November 2014. Jump up ^ Kauffman, Leah ( 18 March 2014 ). `` John Oates on his new album, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, and what ' I Ca n't Go For That ' is really about ''. Philly.com. Retrieved 27 November 2014. Jump up ^ `` Hot 100 ''. Billboard : 108. November 14, 1981. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Retrieved August 16, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Disco Top 80 ''. Billboard. 94 ( 3 ) : 42. January 23, 1982. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Retrieved January 2, 2018. Jump up ^ Greenberg, Steve ( November 30, 2012 ). `` Michael Jackson 's ' Thriller ' at 30 : How One Album Changed the World ''. Billboard. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 17. In fact, the only record to hit No. 1 on both the pop and black charts during all of 1982 was by a white act : `` I Ca n't Go For That '' by Hall & Oates. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Hall & Oates -- I Ca n't Go For That ( No Can Do ) ''. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 17, 2017. ^ Jump up to : `` Daryl Hall & John Oates -- Chart history ( CHR / Pop Airplay ) ''. wweb.uta.edu. Retrieved 2017 - 08 - 16. ^ Jump up to : `` Daryl Hall & John Oates : Artist Chart History ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Daryl Hall & John Oates -- I Ca n't Go For That ( No Can Do ) ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 17, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 0460. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Daryl Hall & John Oates -- I Ca n't Go For That ( No Can Do ) ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Daryl Hall & John Oates -- I Ca n't Go For That ( No Can Do ) '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Daryl Hall & John Oates -- I Ca n't Go For That ( No Can Do ) ''. Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Daryl Hall & John Oates -- I Ca n't Go For That ( No Can Do ) ''. Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History ( Adult Contemporary ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved July 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History ( Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Daryl Hall John Oates Chart History ( Mainstream Rock ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved March 30, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Australian Chart Book ''. Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016 - 03 - 05. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada ''. Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 19. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1982 / Top 100 Songs of 1982 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2016 - 10 - 19. Jump up ^ Eskow, Gary ( April 1, 2006 ). `` Classic Tracks : Hall & Oates `` I Ca n't Go For That ( No Can Do ) '' ``. Mix Online. Retrieved January 5, 2017. Jump up ^ Hall, Daryl ( July 10, 2009 ). `` Michael Jackson Remembered : Daryl Hall on the Ultimate Video Star ''. The Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 15, 2010. External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Video on VH1 Classic website Preceded by `` Physical '' by Olivia Newton - John Billboard Hot 100 number - one single January 30, 1982 Succeeded by `` Centerfold '' by The J. Geils Band Preceded by `` Turn Your Love Around '' by George Benson Billboard Hot Soul Singles number - one single January 30, 1982 Succeeded by `` Call Me '' by Skyy Preceded by `` Wordy Rappinghood '' / `` Genius of Love '' by Tom Tom Club Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number - one single January 23, 1982 Succeeded by `` You 're the One for Me '' by D. Train Daryl Hall & John Oates Daryl Hall John Oates Studio albums Whole Oats ( 1972 ) Abandoned Luncheonette ( 1973 ) War Babies ( 1974 ) Daryl Hall & John Oates ( 1975 ) Bigger Than Both of Us ( 1976 ) Beauty on a Back Street ( 1977 ) Along the Red Ledge ( 1978 ) X-Static ( 1979 ) Voices ( 1980 ) Private Eyes ( 1981 ) H O ( 1982 ) Big Bam Boom ( 1984 ) Ooh Yeah ! ( 1988 ) Change of Season ( 1990 ) Marigold Sky ( 1997 ) Do It for Love ( 2003 ) Our Kind of Soul ( 2004 ) Home for Christmas ( 2006 ) Live albums Livetime ( 1978 ) Live at the Apollo ( 1985 ) Greatest Hits Live ( 2001 ) Compilation albums No Goodbyes ( 1977 ) Rock ' n Soul Part 1 ( 1983 ) The Atlantic Collection ( 1996 ) Playlist : The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates ( 1998 ) The Very Best of Daryl Hall & John Oates ( 2001 ) VH1 Behind the Music : The Daryl Hall and John Oates Collection ( 2002 ) Ultimate Daryl Hall + John Oates ( 2004 ) The Singles ( 2008 ) Singles `` She 's Gone '' ( 1974 ) `` Sara Smile '' ( 1976 ) `` Rich Girl '' ( 1977 ) `` Wait for Me '' ( 1979 ) `` You 've Lost That Lovin ' Feelin ' '' ( 1980 ) `` Kiss on My List '' ( 1981 ) `` You Make My Dreams '' ( 1981 ) `` Private Eyes '' ( 1981 ) `` I Ca n't Go for That ( No Can Do ) '' ( 1981 ) `` Did It in a Minute '' ( 1982 ) `` Maneater '' ( 1982 ) `` One on One '' ( 1983 ) `` Family Man '' ( 1983 ) `` Jingle Bell Rock '' ( 1983 ) `` Say It Is n't So '' ( 1983 ) `` Adult Education '' ( 1984 ) `` Out of Touch '' ( 1984 ) `` Method of Modern Love '' ( 1985 ) `` A Nite at the Apollo Live ! The Way You Do the Things You Do / My Girl '' ( live ) ( 1985 ) `` Everything Your Heart Desires '' ( 1988 ) `` Love Train '' ( 1989 ) `` So Close '' ( 1990 ) `` Do It for Love '' ( 2002 ) `` Someday We 'll Know '' ( 2003 ) `` Getaway Car '' ( 2003 ) `` I 'll Be Around '' ( 2004 ) `` Without You '' ( 2004 ) `` I Can Dream About You '' ( 2005 ) `` Ooh Child '' ( 2005 ) `` It Came Upon the Midnight Clear '' ( 2006 ) Hall solo albums Sacred Songs ( 1980 ) Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine ( 1986 ) Soul Alone ( 1993 ) Ca n't Stop Dreaming ( 1996 ) Laughing Down Crying ( 2011 ) Oates solo albums Phunk Shui ( 2002 ) John Oates : Live at the Historic Wheeler Opera House ( 2004 ) Related articles Discography Interpreting the Masters Volume 1 : A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates Live from Daryl 's House Book Commons Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=I_Can%27t_Go_for_That_(No_Can_Do)&oldid=837635144 '' Categories : 1981 singles 1981 songs Hall & Oates songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Dance Club Songs number - one singles Billboard Hot R&B / Hip - Hop Songs number - one singles Songs written by John Oates Songs written by Daryl Hall Songs written by Sara Allen RCA Records singles Hidden categories : Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from March 2018 Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for UKsinglesbyname Singlechart making named ref Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardadultcontemporary Singlechart usages for Billboardrandbhiphop Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock All articles with failed verification Articles with failed verification from January 2018 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Français Italiano Русский Edit links This page was last edited on 22 April 2018, at 01 : 47. 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Question: i can't go for that lyrics meaning
Answer: about not being pushed around by big labels, managers, and agents and being told what to do, and being true to yourself creatively