Stalker's Day Off

About

Stalker’s Day Off appears as the second hidden track at the end of I've Been Expecting You, written by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and guitarist Fil Eisler. Beginning around the 27-minute mark, it emerges after a long silence from These Dreams and Stand Your Ground, surprising listeners with its unsettling tone. The song is a darkly comic narrative voiced from the perspective of an obsessive fan, reflecting Williams’ uneasy relationship with fame and intrusive public attention.

Built on a creeping bassline and distorted guitar, the track combines humour and menace, using irony to explore the psychological toll of celebrity. Williams sings in character as the stalker, describing fixations, delusion and possessive affection with unsettling realism. The maniacal laughter that punctuates the recording adds to its satirical horror-film quality. Critics have since read the track as Williams’ self-aware commentary on fame’s distortions and the dangers of obsession.

I was writing from the other side of the glass, imagining what it’s like to be watched all the time — and what happens when the watcher talks back.Robbie Williams

Rarely discussed and never performed live, Stalker’s Day Off closes the album with a sense of unease that offsets its earlier confidence and humour. It stands as one of Williams’ most experimental and theatrical pieces, highlighting his willingness to mix satire, discomfort and pop melody in equal measure.