Problem when installing product

[Satviewers]

In the product xml I have :

PHP Code:

$db->query_write("
CREATE TABLE " . TABLE_PREFIX . "osc_address_format (
  address_format_id int NOT NULL auto_increment,
  address_format varchar(128) NOT NULL,
  address_summary varchar(48) NOT NULL,
  PRIMARY KEY (address_format_id))
");

$db->query_write("INSERT INTO " . TABLE_PREFIX . "osc_address_format VALUES (1, '$firstname $lastname$cr$streets$cr$city, $postcode$cr$statecomma$country','$city / $country')"); 


Why doesn't it like the $.

Instead of inserting it into the database like
(1, '$firstname $lastname$cr$streets$cr$city, $postcode$cr$statecomma$country', '$city / $country')

It is showing as:
(1, ' , ', ' / ')

How can I get it to work correctly.

Thanks.