Mr. Big

Songwriter: Paul Gilbert

Producer: Kevin Elson

I got what I wanted
It wasn't what I wanted
I got what I needed
It wasn't what I needed

Just found out
Love makes you strong
Love makes you heavy
Like a stranger in the night
Like a Tyson fight
Love makes you strong
Love makes you funky
Like you don't know where you are
Like a limousine car

I got what was comin'
I should've been runnin'
F-F-Fifty per cent
Just to pay her rent

Just found out
Love steers you wrong
Love costs you plenty
Save your nickels and dimes
These are desperate times
Love steers you wrong
Love spoils the party
I got something in my eye
Feel like I wanna die

I want my honey
I want my money
If I'm an angel this time
She'll be treatin' me fine

Just found out
Love makes you strong
But it makes you pay for it
Love steers you wrong
Sometimes if you ignore it

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

Lean Into It

From the album

Lean Into It (1991)

Mr. Big popular songs

Love Makes You StrongMr. Big

Mr. Big

Lean Into It