On the Radio
Cheap Trick Lyrics


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Ooh yeah! Radio!
Give it up! Whoa!

I've got a radio lover
I'm really rockin' in style
A high voltage lover
Together we'll go far
In the evening when I'm lonely
And sitting all alone
Wrap your headphones 'round
And now let me take you home
You're like no other lover
You come up on demand
In the morning when it's over
You're gone with a twist of my hand
Whoa!

I've got a radio lover
She's my rock 'n' roll queen
I found you at this number
I love it when you talk to me

I've got a radio lover
In the evening when I'm lonely
And sitting all alone
Wrap your headphones 'round
And now let me take you home
You're like no other lover
You come up on demand
In the morning when it's over
You're gone with a twist of my hand
Whoa!

I've got a radio lover
That's my rock 'n' roll star
A high voltage number
Together we'll go far
Sweet Jesus!
Guitar!

You know I wanna touch you
The way that you touch me
My radio's a-blasting
For all the world to see
Oh, take it to my bedroom
Baby love still has to mean
You can never walk away
You'll never leave here clean

I've got a radio lover
She's my rock 'n' roll star
A high voltage lover
Together we'll go far
I've got a radio lover
She can slay your pain
She found me at this number
I love it when she talks to me

I've got a radio lover
I've got a radio lover
I've got a radio lover




I've got a radio lover
Sweet Jesus!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cheap Trick's "On the Radio" depict the singer's intense love for their radio. To the singer, the radio is not just an inanimate object but a "high voltage lover" and "rock 'n' roll queen" who provides constant companionship and excitement. The singer turns to their radio "in the evening when I'm lonely and sitting all alone," wrapping their headphones around them and experiencing an intimate connection with the music that the radio plays. The lyrics suggest that the singer's relationship with their radio is more fulfilling and reliable than human relationships - in the morning, the radio is "gone with a twist of my hand," but the singer remains devoted to it, saying "you'll never walk away, you'll never leave here clean."


Additionally, the chorus ("I've got a radio lover") reinforces the idea that the radio is more than just a device - it is an object of affection, perhaps even a source of love. The singer describes their radio lover as a "high voltage number" and "rock 'n' roll star"; the guitar solo in the middle of the song further emphasizes the passion and intensity of this relationship. The lyrics suggest that music is a deeply personal experience for the singer, and that the radio allows them to channel their internal desires and emotions into something external and tangible.


Overall, "On the Radio" is a tribute to the power of music and the deeply emotional connection that people can develop with the radio. The lyrics suggest that the singer's radio lover is more reliable and fulfilling than human relationships, providing constant companionship and stimulation that never fades.


Line by Line Meaning

Ooh yeah! Radio!
The singer is expressing their excitement for the radio.


Give it up! Whoa!
The singer is urging the listener to embrace the power of the radio.


I've got a radio lover
The singer is describing their strong attachment to the radio.


I'm really rockin' in style
The artist is enjoying the music they are hearing on the radio.


A high voltage lover
The artist is passionate about the radio and the music it plays.


Together we'll go far
The singer believes that the radio and they will be able to go places and experience new things together.


In the evening when I'm lonely
The singer listens to the radio when they are feeling lonely in the evenings.


And sitting all alone
The artist is alone when they listen to the radio.


Wrap your headphones 'round
The artist is instructing the listener to put on their headphones to fully enjoy the radio experience.


And now let me take you home
The artist wants to take the listener on a journey through the music they will hear on the radio.


You're like no other lover
The singer believes that the radio is a unique and incomparable source of pleasure.


You come up on demand
The artist can access the radio whenever they want, making it a convenient and reliable source of entertainment.


In the morning when it's over
The singer listens to the radio in the morning, but the experience ends when they turn it off.


You're gone with a twist of my hand
The singer can easily turn the radio off or change the station, ending the experience like a flick of the wrist.


She's my rock 'n' roll queen
The singer personifies their radio as a powerful and charismatic female figure.


I found you at this number
The artist came across the radio station by tuning into a specific frequency.


That's my rock 'n' roll star
The artist continues to personify their radio as a famous and influential celebrity.


Sweet Jesus! Guitar!
The singer is expressing excitement for a specific guitar riff played on the radio.


You know I wanna touch you
The singer is using sexual language to express their intense desire to experience the music on the radio.


The way that you touch me
The artist is suggesting that the radio provides them with a deep emotional connection that they enjoy.


My radio's a-blasting
The artist is listening to the radio at a loud volume.


For all the world to see
The artist suggests that the music they are hearing on the radio is so good that the whole world should be listening.


Oh, take it to my bedroom
The singer wants to bring the radio into their most intimate space and continue to enjoy the music.


Baby love still has to mean
The artist believes that love and passion are still important, even when it comes to something as simple as enjoying the radio.


You can never walk away
The singer is expressing their deep and unwavering commitment to the radio.


You'll never leave here clean
The singer believes that once someone has experienced the joy of the radio, they will never be able to let it go or leave it behind.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daxx Nielsen, Julian Raymond, Rick Nielsen, Robin Zander, Tom Petersson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@dianaaveline5747

I can so identify with this catchy song when as a teen, I listened to WLS out of Chicago. Looks like they were listening too.Looooove Cheap Trick!!!

@queenfubi

diana aveline I also used to listen to WLS as a kid and a teenager. I also listened to WLUP.
Remember Steve Dahl and his "Disco sucks" antics?
Hearing this song totally brought back memories of my sister taking me to Chicagofest.
We saw (or heard) Cheap Trick twice I think and other bands like Joe Walsh and Blondie.
Chicagofest was dirty but so rockin' when it came to music. There was a closed in room called a Loop booth that was so stuffy and hot. I think WLS was outside by the stage.
Fun times !!! Love Cheap Trick

@markk2403

wmet 95 1/2. scott loftis. wvvx on am? too fun..

@philerrup9948

Rick Nielson always wrote catchy tunes!!

@Mynamesalexa

Saw them 3 times from 1977 to 1979
Cheap Trick Rush
Tower Theater Feb '77
Bullwinkles Aug '77
Philadelphia Spectrum
June 1979

@chaoticnique9748

The Kinks

@DaveWollenberg

Loved it when the WLS jocks talked durin' the instrumental break!

@Baba2069

Greatest Band Ever!

@rowzzzzz

rock, punk, classic rock, danceable, edgy , sexy

@cynben711

This is some good boogie woogie!!

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