Mr. Big

Scars and bars and a no tell motel
Black and white cars, pulling over backseat bombshells
A jack knife operation, crying out loud
Walking in a deadman's shoes then take the next train out

Step outside, get up off of your knees, American beauty
Step out of line, baby you got to say please, American beauty
No place to run, get right back to where you started from

Standing in the shadows, it happened way to fast
Two desperadoes, fighting in the broken glass
Push comes to shove in a California minute
Blood on the tracks, You never look back, She ain't dead yet

Step outside, get up off of your knees, American beauty
Get out of line, baby you got to say please, American beauty
No place to run, get right back to where you started from

Scars and bars and a no tell motel
Black and white cars, pulling over backseat bombshells
A different education, dollar everyday
Give them all a happy ending, send them on their way

Step outside, get up off of your knees, American beauty
Get out of line, baby you got to say please, American beauty
Get out of line, get up off of your knees, American beauty
No place to run, get right back to where you started from

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

What If...

From the album

What If... (2011)

Mr. Big popular songs

American BeautyMr. Big

Mr. Big

What If...