One of the best known American power pop bands, the group's biggest hits over the years include "I Want You to Want Me", "Surrender", "Dream Police", "Don't Be Cruel" (a cover of Elvis Presley's hit), and "The Flame". Their most recent release, The Latest, has gained critical acclaim. They also wrote and performed the theme song for "The Colbert Report" as well as "That 70s Show", both tunes being fan favorites.
Nielsen and Petersson originally formed the group as Fuse in 1967, with Carlos joining the group several years later; however, when Zander joined as vocalist in 1972, the group was renamed Cheap Trick. Zander is considered one of the best hard rock vocalists of his era. For their part, Tom Petersson has been known for playing custom made 8, 12, and even a 18 string custom bass made by Modulus for Tom in 1981 and Rick Nielsen also has a penchant for unusual instruments. He owns and plays a five-necked solidbody electric guitar (it can be seen in the video for the song "She's Tight" among others).
Studio Albums
(1977) Cheap Trick [a.k.a Cheap Trick (1997)]
(1977) In Color
(1978) Heaven Tonight
(1979) Dream Police
(1980) All Shook Up
(1980) Found All The Parts
(1982) One on One
(1983) Next Position Please
(1985) Standing on the Edge
(1986) The Doctor
(1988) Lap of Luxury
(1990) Busted
(1994) Woke Up With A Monster
(1997) Cheap Trick [a.k.a Cheap Trick (1997)]
(2003) Special One
(2006) Rockford
(2009) The Latest
(2016) Bang, Zoom, Crazy...Hello
(2017) We're All Alright!
(2021) In Another World
[Live Albums]
(1978) At Budokan
(1978) Budokan II
(1998) At Budokan: the Complete Concert
(1999) Music for Hangovers
(2001) Silver
Don't Be Cruel
Cheap Trick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you can't come around at least please telephone
Don't be cruel, to a heart that's true
Baby, if I made you mad (bop bop bop)
For something I might have said (bop bop)
Please forget my past (bop bop bop)
The future looks bright ahead (bop bop bop bop bop)
I don't want no other love, baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't stop thinking of me, don't make me feel this way
Come on over and love me, you know I want you to stay
Don't be cruel, to a heart that's true
Let's walk down to the preacher (bop bop bop)
Let's say, hey I do (bop bop)
And then I know you'll want me (bop bop bop)
And you'll know I want you too (bop bop bop bop bop)
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
I don't want no other love, baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Don't need no other love, baby
It's just you I'm thinking of, hey hey hey
Don't stop thinking of me, don't make me feel this way
Come on over and love me, you know I want you to stay
Don't be cruel, to a heart that's true
Why should we be apart, baby you know I love you, cross my heart
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true [Repeat: x5]
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true
Don't want no other love, baby it's just you I'm thinking of
The lyrics to the song "Don't Be Cruel" by Cheap Trick is a plea from a person to their lover to treat them well and not to be cruel to their heart. The song begins with the singer being alone and wanting the person they love to be with them. They ask for a phone call at the very least if the person cannot come around. The chorus emphasizes the message that the person should not be cruel to their heart because it is true. The following verse talks about a past argument between the singer and their lover, but they ask their lover to forget about it and move forward because the future looks bright ahead. They restate the chorus that they don't want any other love, and it's only their lover that they are thinking of.
The second verse expresses the singer's desire for their lover to keep thinking of them and to come over and love them. They include some playful beats in the lyrics which makes the tone of the song more playful and flirtatious. In the next lines, the singer suggests they should get married and profess their love. The final verse repeats the same message from the chorus that their love is true, and the singer doesn't want any other love.
Overall, the lyrics to the song show a plea of the singer for the person they love not to be cruel to their heart as it is true and that they are truly committed to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you know I can be found, sitting all alone
I am alone and waiting for you to come to me.
If you can't come around at least please telephone
If you can't be here with me, at least call me to let me know you're thinking of me.
Don't be cruel, to a heart that's true
Please be kind to someone who loves you unconditionally.
Baby, if I made you mad (bop bop bop)
My love, if I have said something that hurt you
For something I might have said (bop bop)
I'm sorry for something I might have said that caused you pain.
Please forget my past (bop bop bop)
Please don't hold my past mistakes against me.
The future looks bright ahead (bop bop bop bop bop)
I'm optimistic about our future together.
But don't be cruel, to a heart that's true
Please don't be unkind to someone who loves you unconditionally.
I don't want no other love, baby, it's just you I'm thinking of
I don't want anyone else but you.
Don't stop thinking of me, don't make me feel this way
Please keep thinking of me, and not make me feel unimportant.
Come on over and love me, you know I want you to stay
Please come over and stay with me, I want to feel your love.
Let's walk down to the preacher (bop bop bop)
Let's get married and be together forever.
Let's say, hey I do (bop bop)
Let's make a vow to love each other forever.
And then I know you'll want me (bop bop bop)
Once we're married, I'm confident you'll love me even more.
And you'll know I want you too (bop bop bop bop bop)
You'll know I want to be with you forever too.
Why should we be apart, baby you know I love you, cross my heart
Why should we stay apart when we both know we love each other.
Don't be cruel to a heart that's true [Repeat: x5]
Don't be unkind to someone who loves you unconditionally.
Don't want no other love, baby it's just you I'm thinking of
I don't want anyone else but you.
Lyrics © BUDDE MUSIC FRANCE, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elvis Presley, Otis Blackwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind