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
Tonight It's You
Cheap Trick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can't win 'cause time can't lose
So stop (so stop) what you're doin'
Start on something new
Don't (no don't) don't be hypnotized
Don't start thinkin' with your eyes
(I don't know) Why you mean that much to me
(We all know) A change is good for you
(That's all right) Gotta do what you gotta do
Anyway
All I want is a place in your heart to fall into
All I need is someone to love
And tonight it's you, tonight it's you
Time's not sleeping and time won't lose
You can't win 'cause time can't lose
So stop (so stop) what you're doin'
Start on something new
Don't (no don't) don't be hypnotized
Don't start thinkin' with your eyes
(I don't know) Why you mean that much to me
(You don't know) What it feels like lovin' you
(We all know) A change is good for you
(That's all right) Gotta do what you gotta do
Anyway
All I want is a place in your heart to fall into
All I need is someone to love
And tonight it's you, tonight it's you
Come to my world
Come away with me
Smile with your eyes
So I can see
(I don't know) Why you mean that much to me
(You don't know) What it feels like lovin' you
(We all know) A change is good for you
(That's all right) Gotta do what you gotta do
Anyway
All I want is a place in your heart to fall into
All I need is someone to love
And tonight it's you, tonight it's you
Tonight it's you
All I want is a place in your heart to fall into
All I need is someone to love
And tonight it's you, tonight it's you
Tonight it's you, tonight's it's you
The lyrics of Cheap Trick's "Tonight It's You" appear to be about the desire for intimacy and affection from someone special. The opening lines warn that time is a constant and unstoppable force, implying that there is no point in waiting or delaying in seeking out what the singer wants. They urge the listener to stop what they're doing and start on something new in order to avoid being hypnotized and thinking only with their eyes.
The chorus is the emotional heart of the song, with the singer stating that all they want is a place in the listener's heart to fall into and someone to love. The repetition of "tonight it's you" emphasizes the intensity of that desire in the moment. The final verse implores the listener to "come away" and "smile with your eyes," reinforcing the theme of intimacy.
The song manages to balance a sense of urgency with a sense of longing, conveying both the importance of the moment and the depth of the singer's desire for connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Time's not sleeping and time won't lose
Time keeps going and doesn't stop or slow down
You can't win 'cause time can't lose
There's no way to beat time because it never stops
So stop (so stop) what you're doin'
Stop what you're doing right now
Start on something new
Begin doing something different or new
Don't (no don't) don't be hypnotized
Don't get so focused on one thing that you can't see the bigger picture
Don't start thinkin' with your eyes
Don't only focus on what you can see
(I don't know) Why you mean that much to me
I don't know why I care so much about you
(You don't know) What it feels like lovin' you
You don't know what it's like to be loved by me
(We all know) A change is good for you
Everyone knows that change can be beneficial for you
(That's all right) Gotta do what you gotta do
It's okay, sometimes you have to do what you have to do
All I want is a place in your heart to fall into
I want to be loved by you and have a special place in your heart
All I need is someone to love
I need someone to care for and give love to
And tonight it's you, tonight it's you
Tonight you're the one that I love and care for
Come to my world
Join me in my life
Come away with me
Leave behind your old life and be with me
Smile with your eyes
Show me happiness and love through your eyes
So I can see
So I can understand and know your feelings
Tonight it's you, tonight it's you
Tonight I'm loving and caring for you
Tonight it's you, tonight's it's you
Tonight you're the only one that I love and care for
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JON BRANT, MARK RADICE, RICK NIELSEN, ROBIN W ZANDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bonniebauer260
I was in front row at Milwaukee Wisconsin at a bar when they played. I was 8 months pregnant, the crowd kept pushing forward and Robin stopped playing, and told the crowd we have a pregnant lady up front so stop pushing. He gave me a wink then continued. Loved it! Total respect. My son now is a drummer in a rock band!
@juliejohnson1540
So awesome, Robin"s voice is perfectly"Heaven" love your story, I am also from WI.(Waukesha) I have been jamming to them from the first time I heard"Gonna raise hell" I called Carroll College"s little radio station to request it first time (Jan-1980) they have me on a recording asking me to play that song (cause I sounded to "sweet n soft to say, HELL???) STILL MY FAVORITE C.T. SONG, along with Downed,& Heaven tonight, they are all surpurbe wonderful men,all I can say is,what a wonderful "GIFT",we got with Cheap Trick
@kimberlyj.sullivan9304
At 8 months of pregnancy, why in the World was you attending any LOUD concert??? I don't understand any logic of this.
@hazor777
HA! I think that is AWESOME ! ........oh, and FUCK these 2 oxygen wasters who are crying about it ...ROCK ON ! \m/
@stevemandl5140
were you at the stone toad
Some people just don't get the concept of LIFE at all. Back km in the good ole days of Great Bands and Awesome MUSIC people went to concerts and ACTUALLY WATCHED the band perform and LISTENED TO THE MUSIC!! We acted like humans at concert not a bunch of hyenas attacking a pack screaming incoherent banshees at the zoo. Back then parents, teachers, aunts. uncle's grandparents,, the nice newlyweds that moved in next door, ANYONE who was an ADULT or 13 and above with common sense who had what was known as FEELINGS (I know it's unheard of today to most people below the age of 40) but they really do exist and they are an actual thing, CARED about their children, and their neighbors and their children and WANTED their children to LEARN how to good, positive, helpful, caring, compassionate and respectful to OTHERS especially their ELDERS (for those who don't know that means anyone and everyone older than they are) so they ACTUALLY TAUGHT THEM MANNERS! You know saying PLEASE, THANK YOU, EXCUSE ME, YES MA'AM/SIR, NO MA'AM/SIR, MAY I BE EXCUSED, MAY I HELP YOU,, HERE LET ME HELP YOU WITH THAT, HELPING SOMEONE UP IF THEY FALL DOWN NOT KICKING THEM IN THE FACE BECAUSE THEY WERE IN YOUR WAY., YES MEANT YES, MAYBE OR I WILL THINK ABOUT IT MEANT YOU WILL GET AN ANSWER WHEN THEY ARE READY TO GIVE YOU ONE SO DON'T KEEP ASKING AND DRIVING THEM CRAZY, AND NO ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY MEANT JUST THAT...NO! DO NOT DO THAT AGAIN, DO NOT ASK ME THAT AGAIN, DO NOT TOUCH ME LIKE THAT AGAIN! AND GET THIS...IF SOMEONE SAID NO WE RESPECTED THEIR FEELINGS, PROPERTY. SPACE, AND BODY!! So women could go to a concert during pregnancy even 8 months pregnant back then and didn't have to worry about rude, pushy, angry, aggressive unruly and out of control TYRANTS who feel ENTITLED to whatever they want, do whatever they want, take whatever they want, say whatever they want, and treat others any way they want even if it's violently! Yeah back then we knew how to LIVE and what LIFE WAS ABOUT! And we KNEW that if we WANTED ANYTHING IN LIFE WE HAD TO WORK FOR IT OURSELVES AND NOT EXPECT OUR PARENTS TO GET IT FOR US AND STILL SUPPORT US ONCE WE GRADUATED OR WAS OLD ENOUGH TO GET A JOB! WE DIDN'T LAY ON MOMMY AND DADDY'S COUCH WATCHING TV ALL DAY OR MOVE INTO THEIR BASEMENT WHEN WE WERE AND SUCK THEM DRY!!! GROW UP, GET A JOB AND BE KIND TO OTHERS
@tedfordhyde
The most underrated Cheap Trick song of all time!
@chrisbrewer8753
-_- YEAH RIGT!
Cheap Trick Love The 1985
1985