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
Please
Cheap Trick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They get up they get down
They get in they get out
They get pushed, they go back
Start all over again
Till they get to the end
I'm from a small town
Mama was sick, papa worked the factory
I led a rich life
Never had to work hard
House in the country
Horses in my backyard
Next position please
Do I have to get down on my knees
Next position please
I'm in a hurry, so hurry please
Read between the lines
Learn a new message
Read the latest book
It's a new twist
Be the first one to have a new ideal
You'll never get bored with mirrors on the ceiling
Next position please
Do I have to get down on my knees
Next position please
I'm in a hurry, so hurry please
People all over the world
They get up they get down
They get in they get out
They get pushed, they go back
Start all over again
Till they get to the end
I want to move up within the company
I can do better with an opportunity
Why don't they use me instead of abuse me?
I'm ten out of ten, not some whore in some movie
I want to be the biggest gun in the world
I want to see the tits on every girl
Next position please
You have to get down on your knees
Next position please
I'm in a hurry, so hurry please
The lyrics to Cheap Trick's song "Please" explore the universal theme of striving for success in life. The song starts by highlighting the struggles people face all over the world, including getting up and getting knocked down, working hard, and starting over again until they reach their goals. The next verse contrasts this with the singer's privileged upbringing and easy life, making a commentary on the different experiences people have in the pursuit of success.
The chorus "Next position please" can be interpreted as a metaphor for seeking advancement in life, whether it be a job, a relationship or a personal goal. The urgency to hurry adds to the sense of pressure and competitiveness in society to achieve success quickly. The line "Do I have to get down on my knees" suggests that sometimes one may have to compromise or submit themselves to get ahead, which is a bleak view of the reality of striving for success.
In the final verse, the singer expresses frustration at not being given the opportunities they feel they are deserving of and want to be recognized for their talents. The lyrics take a somewhat misogynistic turn with the line "I want to see the tits on every girl," which can be interpreted as objectifying and dehumanizing. Overall, the lyrics to "Please" explore the complex nature of ambition and the pressures and sacrifices it can entail.
Line by Line Meaning
People all over the world
People from different parts of the world
They get up they get down
They experience highs and lows in life
They get in they get out
They enter and leave places or situations
They get pushed, they go back
They face obstacles but don't give up
Start all over again
They restart or try again
Till they get to the end
Until they achieve their goals
I'm from a small town
I come from a town with a small population
Had a poor family
My family was not wealthy
Mama was sick, papa worked the factory
My mother was ill and my father worked in a factory
I led a rich life
I had a comfortable lifestyle
Never had to work hard
I didn't have to exert myself physically
House in the country
I had a home located in the countryside
Horses in my backyard
I owned horses that were kept in my backyard
Next position please
I want to change jobs or move up in the company
Do I have to get down on my knees
Will I have to beg or compromise my integrity?
I'm in a hurry, so hurry please
I don't want to waste time
Read between the lines
Understand the hidden or implied meaning
Learn a new message
Acquire knowledge about a fresh idea or concept
Read the latest book
Read a recently published book
It's a new twist
There's a new angle or approach
Be the first one to have a new ideal
Be ahead of others in embracing a new ideology
You'll never get bored with mirrors on the ceiling
Life can be exciting and unpredictable
I can do better with an opportunity
Given a chance, I can improve my situation
Why don't they use me instead of abuse me?
Why am I not given a fair chance?
I'm ten out of ten, not some whore in some movie
I am talented and worthy, not a cheap object
I want to be the biggest gun in the world
I want to be successful and influential
I want to see the tits on every girl
I want to indulge in pleasure-seeking behavior
You have to get down on your knees
Sometimes you have to humble yourself to achieve your goals
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RICK NIELSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kittylover7ful
Some people tell me I should act my age (61). But why the fuck should I? This type of music makes me feel just as good as when I was 25. If you can stay strong mentally, physically and spiritually you can, at least to some extent, transcend aging. For me that is the beauty of music like this.
@jogeer1857
Robert Herko exactly!!
@DodgeDartSongs
Don’t let the age of the body get in the way of what makes you happy. Bodies age; you are timeless. 🙂👍
@kittylover7ful
I'm blown away by how many top notch, high energy, nasty hard rock songs CT has! They just keep bringing it song after song...
@rumjimmy
It doesn't get much better than the late '70's for this band sometimes... they were borderline punk!
@G8GT364CI
They rocked.
@StuntGuitarist
Nothing beats the Rick Nielsen of this era. I love watching him.
@ProfGumby
Every Cheap Trick show is a blistering show! Then and now. They are onje of the best live bands ever!
@timmackenzie4654
I saw Cheap Trick for the first time on July 9th, 1977 when they opened for Kiss on their Love Gun tour, and as young as I was, I was blown away (I was a music nerd from a young age), and I'll never forget just how great they were that night. I saw them again about 7 or so years ago, and still fantastic live. I wasn't expecting much when I saw them the 2nd time because of so many albums of theirs during the 80's that just weren't for me, but I bet even during those years they were still great live.
Now, how can I find a copy of this full show ( or whatever was recorded)?
@Dietpepsivanilla
***** It's close, but not quite the same of course. I thought the Samurai version was done in Illinois somewhere.