Hanging out down the street
The same old thing we did last week
Not a thing to do but talk to you
Not a thing to do out in the street
Oh yeah!
Mom and Dad live upstairs
The music’s loud so we don’t care
Nixon’s gone but rock lives now
Oh yeah!
We’re still rockin’ in Wisconsin!
We’re all alright!
We’re all alright!
(Yeah, haha, oh!)
I’d steal the car and drive on down
Pick you up and we’d drive around
Not a thing to do but talk to you
Not a thing to do, oh yeah!
We’re still rockin’ in Wisconsin!
We’re all alright!
We’re all alright!
Yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah!
(Hello, Wisconsin!)
Behind the Tune: Meaning & Story
The That ’70s Show theme song, “In the Street,” is a masterclass in period-appropriate branding. Originally written and performed by the seminal power-pop band Big Star in 1972, the song perfectly captures the aimless but exciting energy of teenage life in a small town. The show’s creators, Bonnie and Terry Turner, sought a song that felt authentic to the era’s rebellious but suburban spirit.
For the first season, the song was performed by Todd Griffin. However, starting with Season 2, the show switched to a more polished, high-energy version by Cheap Trick. This version added the iconic “We’re all alright!” chant—a nod to Cheap Trick’s own hit “Surrender”—and the final shout of “Hello, Wisconsin!” which was performed by cast member Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde).
Spanning 8 seasons and 200 episodes, the opening sequence became famous for the “Car Circle,” where the cast sings along to the track inside the Vista Cruiser. The final episode aired on May 18, 2006, concluding the characters’ journey on New Year’s Eve, 1979. Today, the song remains an anthem of 1970s nostalgia and the enduring camaraderie of the Forman basement gang.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who shouts “Hello, Wisconsin!” at the end?
That iconic line was shouted by Danny Masterson, who played Steven Hyde on the show. In the first season, the shout was performed by Todd Griffin.
Why did the theme change after Season 1?
The producers wanted a bigger, “rockier” sound to match the show’s growing popularity. Cheap Trick, being a legendary band from the Midwest, was the perfect choice to give the song a more authentic Wisconsin-area rock feel.
What is the significance of the “We’re all alright” line?
The line “We’re all alright!” is a direct reference to Cheap Trick’s 1978 hit song “Surrender,” bridging the gap between the theme song and the band’s actual 1970s discography.
