“Scroll down to the end of the article to listen to music.”
Introduction
When I first stumbled on Status Quo’s “Gonna Teach You to Love Me,” I wasn’t expecting a masterclass in boogie-rock charm—but that’s exactly what I got. Released in late 1978 as the third track on their eleventh studio album If You Can’t Stand the Heat…, this three-minute romp instantly feels like a wink and a handshake from the band themselves, saying, “Come on in—we’ll show you how it’s done.”
From the opening guitar riff, Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt trade licks with such playful precision that you can’t help but smile along. The song was penned by bassist Alan Lancaster and lyricist Michael Green, and together they crafted a groove so tight it practically sweeps you off your feet. There’s a breezy confidence in the way the rhythm section locks in—John Coghlan’s drums and Lancaster’s bass propel you forward like a friendly dare: “Dance if you dare!”
Lyrically, it’s the kind of straightforward pledge that feels refreshingly honest. “I’m gonna teach you to love me,” they sing, not as a hollow promise but as an invitation to share in the sheer joy of rock ’n’ roll companionship. It’s as if the band is leaning in over a pub table, offering you a pint and whispering, “Stick with us, and we’ll show you how love—and music—should feel.”
Though it wasn’t released as a single, the track sits perfectly alongside the album’s hits like “Again and Again,” which reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself climbed to number three on the UK Albums Chart, proving that Status Quo’s brand of hard-driving, horn-spiked rock still resonated deeply with fans in 1978—and today.
What makes “Gonna Teach You to Love Me” special isn’t just its infectious riff or the tight-knit interplay of guitars and horns (the David Katz Horns add unexpected brightness)—it’s the feeling that you’re part of a long-standing musical friendship. Every time the chorus kicks in, you’re reminded why Status Quo have endured: they know how to make you feel welcome, wanted, and ready to fall in love with rock all over again.
So next time you need a quick shot of good-times energy, press play on this deep-cut gem. It’s less a lesson and more a joyous celebration—one that still teaches us, decades later, how to love music with all our hearts.
Video
Lyrics
You’re setting me up, you’re turning me down
You’re turning me over and spinning me round
You think you run the show and so you’d better get ready
I’m gonna read you the score, I’m gonna teach you to love me
I’m checking you out, I’m checking you in
I’m checking you over before I begin
I’m gonna show you how and baby you’re gonna make it
Because I told you before, I’m gonna teach you to love me
You played around, you took me for a ride
I’m the one that always had to try
Now there’s no more changing me, and baby can’t you see
That all I want is no more changing you
I’m picking you up, I’m putting you down
I’m turning you over and spinning you round
Because I’m running the show, I’m gonna teach you to love me
I’m gonna even the score, I’m gonna teach you to love me
I’m picking you up and putting you down
I’m turning you over and spinning you round
Because I’m running the show, I’m gonna teach you to love me
I’m gonna even the score, I’m gonna teach you to love me
Because I told you before, I’m gonna teach you to love me
You know I told you before, I’m gonna teach you to love me