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
If I Could
Cheap Trick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I can't so I ask
Cause I really wasn't ready for you
If I knew what you knew
Shouldn't do what I do
Cause I really wasn't ready for you (thinkin' of you)
But goodbye was ready for me
Least I'll never have to see you cry
Cryin' is over for me
If I am what I am
And it's all that I can
I mighta had some pity for you
What I choose
What I ooze
What I bet
Win or lose
But I'd still be waitin' on you
I wasn't ready to say goodbye
But goodbye was ready for me
Least you'll never have to see me cry
Cryin' is over for me
Who's cryin' now
The more I think about
The less it matters
Who's cryin' now
The less I think about
The more it matters
As I go 'round the world
And I stop in the whirl
As I whirlwind the world
With you-oou-ou-ou-ou
If I could then I would
But I can't so I ask
Cause I wasn't really ready for you
I wasn't ready to say goodbye
But goodbye was ready for me
Least you'll never have to see me cry
Cryin' is over for me
Who's cryin' now
The more I think about
The less that matters
The lyrics to Cheap Trick's song "If I Could" speak to the idea of feeling unprepared for something, or someone, in your life. The repetition of the lines "If I could then I would, but I can't so I ask" suggest a sense of regret or longing for something that is out of the singer's control. The following lines, "Cause I really wasn't ready for you, if I knew what you knew, shouldn't do what I do" imply a lack of understanding or knowledge that resulted in a missed opportunity or mistake. The chorus then shifts to reflect on the pain of saying goodbye, but also a sense of acceptance that crying and mourning is over for the singer.
The lyrics then turn to questions of identity, with the line "If I am what I am and it's all that I can" suggesting a resignation to one's fate or circumstances. However, the following lines, "What I choose, what I ooze, what I bet, win or lose, but I'd still be waitin' on you" imply that there is some glimmer of hope or desire for a connection with this person who the singer feels unprepared for. The song then ends with the repetition of the line "Who's cryin' now," suggesting a reflection on the shifting power dynamics of the relationship.
Overall, the lyrics of "If I Could" speak to a sense of regret and longing for something that the singer feels they missed out on due to their own lack of awareness or preparedness. The focus on identity and power dynamics suggests a deeper reflection on the complexities of relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
If I could then I would
If I had the ability, I would do what I wanted
But I can't so I ask
However, since I can't, I have to ask for help
Cause I really wasn't ready for you
I was unprepared for your presence or the situation
If I knew what you knew
If I had the same knowledge as you
Shouldn't do what I do
I should avoid making the same mistakes as before
Cause I really wasn't ready for you (thinkin' of you)
I was not emotionally equipped to handle the situation or the thought of you
I wasn't ready to say goodbye
I did not want to say farewell
But goodbye was ready for me
However, I was not given the choice to stay
Least I'll never have to see you cry
At least I won't have to witness you shed tears
Cryin' is over for me
I won't be upset or emotional anymore
If I am what I am
If I am who I appear to be
And it's all that I can
And that is the best I am able to do
I mighta had some pity for you
I could have sympathized with you
What I choose
My decision-making
What I ooze
My natural behavior
What I bet
What I'm willing to risk
Win or lose
Whether I succeed or fail
But I'd still be waitin' on you
However, I would still be waiting for your approval or recognition
Who's cryin' now
Who is the one feeling upset or emotional now?
The more I think about, The less it matters
The more I consider the situation, the less it affects me
As I go 'round the world
As I travel the world
And I stop in the whirl
And I pause during the chaos
As I whirlwind the world
As I quickly move through the world
With you-oou-ou-ou-ou
With you on my mind
Least you'll never have to see me cry
At least you will not have to witness me shed tears
Who's cryin' now
Who is the one feeling upset or emotional now?
The less I think about
The less I focus my attention on
The more it matters
The more important it becomes
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bill Tolles
Awesomeness!!!
SPECIAL ONE is such a terrific record!!!!
Cheap Trick"
Cheap Trick'
Yvan Nolmans
OMG. Where have I been...this is close to perfection...
Dan Star
I hear Beatles everywhere on this album. That’s a compliment!
rockeraaj
Might be my favorite song off the album.
Michael Dittrich
Why is this album not on Spotify??
Chic Samson
Because s*****y is notoriously horrible to and robs musicians blind and should be boycotted by all....shame on all s*****y users
Emma Ahearn
It used to be on spotify and then it got taken off for some reason. Very sad about that
chris gp
Special one had a few lulls but still some great tunes
Antman1265
Way cool song!
sarge807
special one was a great album, seriusly underplayed.