Hang on. Close your eyes and imagine a beat-up Vista Cruiser. You can smell the stale upholstery and the faint hint of... whatever Hyde just lit up in the basement. Before Kelso falls off the water tower or Fez says something wildly inappropriate, there’s that blast of power-pop energy. It’s loud. It’s messy. It’s "In the Street," and it is arguably the most recognizable sitcom opening of the late 90s and early 2000s.
Most people know the That 70s Show theme song lyrics by heart, but they actually get the history of the track totally wrong. They think it was written for the show. It wasn't. They think Big Star—the legendary cult band behind the original—made a fortune off it. They didn't. Honestly, the story of how a failed 1972 power-pop anthem became the definitive sound of 1998 nostalgia is a weird, twisting road through Memphis music history and Hollywood budget meetings.
The Lyrics: What They’re Actually Screaming
"Hangin' out! Down the street! The same old thing... we did last week!"
It’s simple. It’s primal. It captures that specific, agonizing boredom of being seventeen in a town where nothing ever happens. When you look at the That 70s Show theme song lyrics, they don't try to be poetic. Alex Chilton and Chris Bell, the masterminds behind Big Star, wrote the original song "In the Street" for their 1972 debut album, #1 Record.
The song wasn't about the 70s when it was written; it was just about being there.
The full original lyrics include lines about "wishing we had a joint" (which obviously got cut for network TV in '98) and "taking the car to the light and the dark." For the show, they stripped it down to the core essence of suburban teenage life. You’ve got the shouting, the distorted guitars, and that final, iconic "WE’RE ALL ALRIGHT!" that feels like a middle finger to every strict parent in Point Place, Wisconsin.
Who Sang It Best? (The Version Wars)
There isn't just one version. That’s a common misconception.
In the first season, the version you hear is a cover by Todd Griffin. It’s a bit more "classic rock" and a little less polished. Griffin’s vocals have a certain grit that fits the lo-fi aesthetic of the early episodes. But by Season 2, the producers wanted something bigger. Something that felt like an anthem.
Enter Cheap Trick.
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The legendary rock band behind "Surrender" and "I Want You to Want Me" took over the duties. They polished the production, added that massive, stadium-sized guitar tone, and Rick Nielsen’s signature flair. This is the version most of us hear in our heads. Robin Zander’s vocals are what propel the That 70s Show theme song lyrics into the stratosphere. It’s also where that "Hello Wisconsin!" scream at the very end comes from. Fun fact: that scream was actually voiced by Danny Masterson (Hyde) in the first season's credits, but the Cheap Trick version solidified the chaotic energy of the closing shout.
The Big Star Connection: A Tragic Success
It’s kinda heartbreaking when you dig into the Big Star side of things.
Big Star is basically the "musician's favorite band." Every critic loves them. Every indie rocker from R.E.M. to The Replacements cites them as a massive influence. But in 1972? They were a commercial disaster. Distribution issues meant nobody could actually buy their records. Alex Chilton and Chris Bell were geniuses who never got their flowers while the band was actually together.
When That '70s Show picked up "In the Street," it provided a massive boost in recognition for the band. However, Chris Bell had tragically passed away in a car accident in 1978, long before the show was even a pitch in a boardroom. Chilton, who was famously cynical about the music industry, supposedly made enough in royalties from the show to live comfortably, which is a rare happy ending in the music business, even if it came decades late.
The choice of this song was a deliberate nod to the "power pop" movement of the mid-70s. It wasn't just a random rock song. It was a specific aesthetic choice by the show's creators, Bonnie and Terry Turner, to ground the show in the actual sounds of the era rather than just the disco clichés everyone expected.
Breaking Down the "Circle" and the Music
The theme song isn't just audio; it's visual. We all know the "Circle." The camera pans around the group in the Vista Cruiser while they scream the That 70s Show theme song lyrics.
It’s a masterclass in low-budget efficiency.
They didn't have to build a complex set for the opening. They just stuck the cast in a car and let them be idiots. If you watch closely across the seasons, the pairings change. You see Eric and Donna together, then maybe Kelso and Jackie. It reflected the shifting dynamics of the show.
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The music dictates the edit. The fast cuts, the grainy film stock, the way the "WE’RE ALL ALRIGHT" hits right as they pull into the driveway—it’s perfect synchronization.
Music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas (who later became famous for her work on The O.C. and Grey’s Anatomy) knew exactly what she was doing. By choosing a song that was actually from the 70s but covered by a band that was huge in the 70s (Cheap Trick), the show bridged the gap between authentic history and nostalgic entertainment.
Why "In the Street" Works Better Than Other Sitcom Themes
Think about the competition. Friends had "I'll Be There For You." It’s a great pop song, but it feels manufactured. It feels like a "TV theme."
"In the Street" feels like a song you’d hear coming out of a garage at 11:00 PM on a Tuesday.
It’s messy. The vocals are shouted more than they are sung. It captures the frantic, hormonal energy of the cast. When the That 70s Show theme song lyrics kick in, they don't tell you what the show is about. They don't explain the plot. They just explain the vibe.
The Mystery of the "Hello Wisconsin!"
There’s always been a bit of a debate among superfans about who actually says "Hello Wisconsin!" at the end of the credits.
For years, people thought it was a random soundbite. In the first season, it’s clearly Danny Masterson. In the later seasons, after Cheap Trick re-recorded the track, the "Hello Wisconsin" was re-done to fit the new audio profile. It’s become the unofficial catchphrase of the state—or at least, the version of the state that exists in the minds of people who grew up watching Eric Forman deal with Red’s "foot in your ass" threats.
It’s interesting how a single line, added almost as an afterthought, becomes the emotional heartbeat of a brand. It’s the period at the end of the sentence. Without it, the song feels unfinished.
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Legacy of a 1970s Anthem in the 2020s
With the release of That '90s Show on Netflix, the theme song had to evolve again. They didn't just reuse the Cheap Trick version. Instead, they leaned into the grunge and alt-rock sounds of the 90s, using a cover by Brett Anderson (of The Donnas) and James Iha (of Smashing Pumpkins).
But the That 70s Show theme song lyrics remained the same.
Why? Because the feeling of being a bored teenager is universal. Whether it’s 1976, 1996, or 2026, the sentiment of "hanging out, down the street" never changes. The technology might change—maybe now they’re staring at TikToks in the basement instead of just staring at the ceiling—but the core desire to waste time with your friends is eternal.
Technical Breakdown: The Power Pop Formula
If you're a music nerd, you'll appreciate the structure here. "In the Street" follows a classic power-pop formula:
- The Hook: A driving, three-chord riff that starts immediately. No long intro.
- The Vocal: High-energy, slightly strained, aiming for the back of the room.
- The Tempo: Just fast enough to feel like you're speeding in a car you shouldn't be driving.
- The Harmony: Big, stacked vocals on the "We're all alright" section, reminiscent of The Beatles or The Who.
This is why the song hasn't aged. It’s built on a foundation of classic rock 'n' roll that doesn't rely on synthesizers or trendy production tricks. It’s just guitars, drums, and kids yelling.
Common Misconceptions to Clear Up
- Myth: The cast sang the theme song.
- Fact: Only in the visuals. The actual audio is performed by professional musicians (Todd Griffin or Cheap Trick). While the cast members were talented, they weren't responsible for those stadium-rock vocals.
- Myth: Big Star wrote the song specifically for the show.
- Fact: The song was over 25 years old by the time the pilot aired. It was a deep cut from a cult-classic album.
- Myth: The lyrics include "Stealin' a car."
- Fact: The original Big Star lyric is "Take the car to the light and the dark." The show version is often misheard because of the yelling, but it’s mostly about "hanging out" and "the same old thing."
Actionable Takeaways for Superfans
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of Point Place and the music that defined it, here are your next steps:
- Listen to the Original: Find Big Star's #1 Record and listen to the original "In the Street." It’s much slower, more acoustic, and has a completely different, melancholic vibe compared to the show's version.
- Check out Cheap Trick's Discography: If you love the Season 2-8 theme, listen to Cheap Trick's At Budokan album. It’s the same energy and the same "wall of sound" guitar style.
- Watch the Season 1 Credits vs. Season 8: Observe how the "Circle" changes. It’s a literal timeline of the show's cast changes and character arcs.
- The "That 70s Show" Soundtrack: There are actually several official soundtracks. Look for the "That '70s Album (Rockin')" compilation. It includes the theme and a bunch of other tracks used throughout the series that aren't just the obvious hits.
The That 70s Show theme song lyrics aren't just words; they're a signal. They tell your brain to turn off the stress of the real world and settle into a basement in Wisconsin where the only thing that matters is who’s got the last popsicle and whether Jackie and Kelso are breaking up again. It’s a 30-second burst of pure, unadulterated nostalgia that, frankly, will probably be stuck in your head for the next three hours.
You're welcome. Or I'm sorry. Either way, we’re all alright.