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
Voices
Cheap Trick Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'till you heard the voices in your ear.
Hey, it's me again.
Plain, you see again.
Please, can i see you ev'ry day?
I'm a fool again.
I fell in love with you again.
You didn't know what you were looking for
'till you heard the voices in your ear.
You didn't know what you were looking for
'till you heard the voices in your ear.
Words don't come out right.
I tried to say it, oh, so right.
I hope you understand my meaning.
Hey, it's me again.
I'm so in love with you again.
Please, can i see you ev'ry day?
You didn't know what you were looking for
'till you heard the voices in your ear.
You didn't know what you were looking for
'till you heard the voices in your ear.
I remember ev'ry word you said. (word you said.)
I remember voices in my head. (in my head.)
I remember ev'ry word you said. (word you said.)
Your voices. (I)
Cool voices. (hear)
Warm voices. (your)
It was just what i needed to. (voice.)
Cool voices. (words)
Warm voices. (don't)
Your voices. (seem)
But it's just what i needed for. (right.)
Warm voices. (love)
Your voices. (is)
Cool voices. (the)
It was just what i needed to. (word.)
Your voices. (I)
Cool voices. (hear)
Warm voices. (your)
It was just what i needed to. (voice.)
Just what i needed to, just what i needed to,
Just what i needed.
You didn't know what you were looking for
'till you heard the voices in your ear.
You didn't know what you were looking for
'till you heard the voices in your ear.
The lyrics to Cheap Trick's "Voices" are primarily about a person falling in love and trying to express their feelings to the object of their affection. The repeated refrain of "You didn't know what you were looking for 'till you heard the voices in your ear" suggests that the person didn't realize they were in love until they heard a voice, presumably the voice of their beloved, encouraging them to pursue that love. The verses go on to describe the singer's feelings of foolishness and their attempts to communicate their love, as well as their memory of the words and voices that led them to their present situation.
The repeated references to "voices" in the song can be interpreted in multiple ways. They could be seen as representing the internal voices of self-doubt or fear that the person overcame in order to pursue their love, or they could be the actual voices of the people who helped them realize their feelings. The use of both "cool" and "warm" voices could indicate different emotions or personalities represented by those voices. Overall, the song emphasizes the power of hearing a voice that moves you towards something you didn't know you needed or wanted.
Line by Line Meaning
You didn't know what you were looking for
till you heard the voices in your ear.
You were lost and uncertain until you found solace in the reassuring words you heard from someone close to you.
Hey, it's me again.
Plain, you see again.
Please, can i see you ev'ry day?
I'm a fool again.
I fell in love with you again.
Please, can i see you ev'ry day?
The singer is reaching out to someone they care about and begging for their daily company, as they have fallen in love and become a fool for them.
Words don't come out right.
I tried to say it, oh, so right.
I hope you understand my meaning.
Hey, it's me again.
I'm so in love with you again.
Please, can i see you ev'ry day?
Despite their heartfelt attempts to express themselves, the singer struggles to find the right words for how they feel and hopes that their love interest understands their true meaning.
I remember ev'ry word you said. (word you said.)
I remember voices in my head. (in my head.)
I remember ev'ry word you said. (word you said.)
The artist can vividly recall the words spoken by the person they care about, as well as the sound of their comforting voice lingering in their thoughts.
Your voices. (I)
Cool voices. (hear)
Warm voices. (your)
It was just what i needed to. (voice.)
The artist finds the voice of the person they care about to be soothing and perfectly suited to their needs, providing a sense of comfort and balance in their life.
Cool voices. (words)
Warm voices. (don't)
Your voices. (seem)
But it's just what i needed for. (right.)
While the singer may struggle with expressing themselves clearly, the voice of the person they care about offers a sense of guidance and reassurance, even when words alone fall short.
Warm voices. (love)
Your voices. (is)
Cool voices. (the)
It was just what i needed to. (word.)
The voice of the person they care about embodies the essence of love and understanding, offering a sense of completeness and wholeness that words alone cannot describe.
Just what i needed to, just what i needed to,
Just what i needed.
The voice of the person they care about is exactly what the artist needs to feel complete and fulfilled.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICK NIELSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The ZUGU Project
Cheap Trick; One of my all time favorite bands and so under appreciated. From 1977-1981 they were brilliant and even groundbreaking. Following the All Shook Up album though, they began to chase "hit songs" and haven't really come home since. Breaks my heart sometimes when I think how it would have played out if they had just stayed true to who they were.
From '77-'81 nobody in the world sounded like Cheap Trick. Their music was distinct, original, cleaver and catchy. They were power pop godfathers. Heavy as hell when needed while also being as gentle as a Mandocello. Those four years, '77-'81 are the very reason they've been enshrined into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Anyways, after '81 they started to sound like little bits and pieces of everybody else, they even did a cover of Don't Be Cruel (which was really good btw). Still great music, great energy and musicianship....Zander's vocals still exceptional (he's so under appreciated, one of the very best) but they sounded like everybody and anybody but Cheap Trick.
I'm lamenting because I think they're brilliant, one of the all time greats in my mind. Based just on those early years alone, they're legendary even if they still are under appreciated. That's says a lot about the influence they had and still have on the music you hear today. So don't get me wrong, I'm not bashing them, they're other stuff is still really good......I've just been waiting for them to come home for almost 40 years now and I'm getting impatient.
I wish they would go back to writing music just for themselves without giving a crap if anybody listened or not. Because that's when they had the attention of the world. That's when nobody else on the planet sounded like Cheap Trick. When you heard one of their songs, you knew exactly who it was. Not so much anymore, they've been a little bit of everybody else ever since.
Ok, I was bored and rambling, not so bored anymore, so I'm done....if you've hung with me this far....Kudos to you, you're a hero!
And Cheap Trick, if you read this, please write another Cheap Trick song, I've been waiting since the 80's and I miss you guys....... Thank you for inspiring me, you're legendary in my world and always will be!! Massive respect and love!
Gyro
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
Hey, it's me again
Plain, you see again
Please, can I see you every day?
I'm a fool again
I fell in love with you again
Please, can I see you every day?
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
Words don't come out right
I tried to say it, oh, so right
I hope you understand my meaning
Hey, it's me again
I'm so in love with you again
Please, can I see you every day?
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
I remember every word you said
I remember voices in my head
I remember every word you said
Your voices
Cool voices
Warm voices
It was just what I needed to
(Words don't seem right)
Cool voices
Warm voices
Your voices
But it's just what I needed for
(Love is the word)
Warm voices
Your voices
Cool voices
It was just what I needed to
(I hear your voice)
Your voices
Cool voices
Warm voices
It was just what I needed to
Just what I needed to, just what I needed
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
You didn't know what you were lookin' for
Till you heard the voices in your ear
raiderdanCA
Few can deliver a song with such great passion as Robin Zander. He's a terrific lead vocalist.
Rich Litton
Robin is one of the best vocalists of our time, yet never mentioned enough when the GOAT topic comes up.
Rashelle Casillas
Absolutely ! My FIRST, concert, in Seattle, Wa.1978-79 'Budakahn' tour(sorry for misspellings).
Raylan Givens
And he’s still as good 40 years later.
Goofy Rulez!
And Robin is a very nice guy.
Drea
Sweetest Cheap Trick song; light shadings of the Beatles, sad and whimsical, topped by beautiful Robin's voice. What a combination of talents these guys are!
Sebastian
Reminded me of the Beatles when I first heard it too 🤘and they did tour playing "Sgt Pepper" in its entirety a decade ago or so!
Vickie F.
Mr. Zander has a voice like no other; as an older listener, I find myself wishing there was more of the lower key with the verses; I love the nuances of his voice in that (beginning) section!
Gary Carr
@Sebastian Cheap Trick
Gary Carr
Cheap Trick - Voices 1979