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
Takin' Me Back
Cheap Trick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I remember it well
You're takin' me back
It's so easy to tell
You're takin' me back
I remember it well
You're takin' me back
A long, long, long time ago
You, you let me down-you didn't think of me
I-I won't forget what you did to me-no
You were nice not to say it
Now my heart it's breakin'
You're takin' me back
I remember it well
You're takin' me back
A long, long, long time ago
A long, long, long, time ago
You, you thought that you- could make a fool of me
Don't don't be so sure that the fool was me- no
I held up I could take it
Now my heart it's breakin'
You're takin' me back
I remember it well
You're takin' me back
A long, long, long time ago
A long, long, long, time ago
A long time ago-a long time ago
A long time ago- you were breakin'
My heart- I never found all the parts
A long time ago-a long time ago
A long time ago-oh-oh-oh
You're takin' me back
I remember it well
You're takin' me back
It's so easy to tell
You're takin' me back
It's written on my face
You're takin' me back
It's so easy to tell- 'cause you're
(modulate)
Takin' me back
I remember it well
You're takin' me back
It's written on my face
You're takin' me back
I remember it well
You're takin' me back
A long,long,long time ago
A long,long,long time ago
A long,long,long time ago
A long,long,long time ago
You're takin' me back
In "Takin' Me Back," Cheap Trick is singing about being taken back in time to a period when they were hurt by someone who betrayed their trust. The song is nostalgic and melancholic, with the singer experiencing heartbreak as they recall a time when they were let down by someone they cared about deeply. The title phrase “takin’ me back” is repeated throughout the song, almost like a mantra, as the singer comes to terms with the hurt they experienced so long ago.
The lyrics reveal that the person who hurt the singer was someone they trusted and had feelings for, someone who let them down and made them feel foolish. The singer is still hurt by what happened, but they seem to have found some strength in the experience, as they say, "I held up, I could take it." Ultimately, the song is about the pain of betrayal and the challenge of accepting that hurt and moving forward.
Interestingly, the song is full of contradictions, with the singer both pushing back against the person who hurt them while also being vulnerable and admitting that their heart is broken. The lines "you, you let me down - you didn't think of me" and "you, you thought that you could make a fool of me" show that the singer is not afraid to call out the person who hurt them, but later in the song, they admit "you were nice not to say it," suggesting that there are more complex emotions at play.
Overall, "Takin' Me Back" is a poignant look at the pain of being let down by someone you care about and the challenge of moving on from that hurt.
Line by Line Meaning
You're takin' me back
The singer is experiencing a sense of nostalgia
I remember it well
The singer vividly recalls the memories of the past
It's so easy to tell
The singer's emotions are evident and easily perceivable
A long, long, long time ago
The events being referred to took place a very long time ago
You, you let me down-you didn't think of me
The singer was let down by someone who didn't consider their feelings
I-I won't forget what you did to me-no
The singer still remembers the hurt caused by the person who let them down
You were nice not to say it
The person who let the singer down was polite enough not to mention it
Now my heart it's breakin'
The singer's heart is currently breaking due to the reminder of the past hurt
You, you thought that you- could make a fool of me
The person who let the singer down believed they could deceive them
Don't don't be so sure that the fool was me- no
The singer was not the fool in the situation
I held up I could take it
The singer was able to endure the pain caused by the person who let them down
A long time ago-a long time ago
Reemphasizes that the events occurred a significant amount of time in the past
You were breakin' my heart- I never found all the parts
The person who let the singer down caused irreparable damage to their heart
It's written on my face
The singer's emotions are evident from their facial expression
You're
The person who let the singer down is to blame for the current emotions
Takin' me back
The person and past events are causing the singer to relive the pain
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICK NIELSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind