Mr. Big

Released: January 1, 1996

Featuring: Billy Sheehan Eric Martin Pat Torpey Paul Gilbert

Songwriter: Eric Martin Andre Pessis

I hear their voices inside my head
There's no denying it's my private hell as
I lie in bed
I take a look around and see myself
In twenty years will I be them

I've taken all I can stand
Afraid of what kind of man I am
Does everything stay the same
Or will I break the chain

Secrets, emotions, and wounds concealed
Spirits are broken, the deepest scars that I'll never heal
They'll be back handed down from father to son
A closet full of skeletons

I've taken all I can stand
Afraid of what kind of man I am
Does everything stay the same
Or will I break the chain

[Bridge]
I will get by
With a little understanding
Cause it's my own life after all

I've taken all I can stand
Afraid of what kind of man I am
Does everything stay the same
Or will I break the chain

Mr. Big is an American hard rock supergroup formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1988. The band was originally composed of Eric Martin (lead vocals), Paul Gilbert (guitar, backing vocals), Billy Sheehan (bass guitar, backing vocals), and Pat Torpey (drums, percussion, backing vocals). They are noted especially for their music, and have scored a number of hits. Their songs are often marked by strong vocals and vocal harmonies. Their hits include “To Be with You” (a number-one single in 15 countries in 1992) and “Just Take My Heart”. The band takes its name from a song by Free, which it covered on the 1993 album Bump Ahead.

Mr. Big remained active and popular for over a decade despite internal conflicts and changing music trends, releasing four studio Mr. Big (1989), Lean into It (1991), Bump Ahead (1993) and Hey Man (1996). Guitarist Paul Gilbert departed the band in 1999, and Richie Kotzen was brought as a guitarist and vocalist. The band released two more albums with this Get Over It (1999) and Actual Size (2001). Mr. Big broke up in 2002.

Following requests from fans, Mr. Big reunited with its original line-up in 2009. The band’s first post-reunion tour was in Japan. In 2010, Mr. Big released its first album in 15 years with the same What If…. During the recording of the follow-up album …The Stories We Could Tell (2014), Pat Torpey was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and participated only marginally as a drum producer and touring support. The band’s ninth album, Defying Gravity (2017), was its last record involving Torpey; he died the following year. Not wanting to continue without Torpey, the band intends to release a final studio album, conduct a farewell tour and disband.

more tracks from the album

Hey Man

From the album

Hey Man (1996)

Mr. Big popular songs

The ChainMr. Big

Mr. Big

Hey Man