Chicago

Released: January 11, 1971

Songwriter: Robert Lamm

Producer: James William Guercio

[Verse 1: Terry Kath]
You don't know how bad it's been
Since you been gone
Let me tell you how bad it's been
Since you been gone

[Chorus: Terry Kath]
People speak but I don't hear
Things all around seem so unclear
I don't know

[Post-Chorus: Terry Kath, With bandmates]
What will become of the love you turned off?
What will become of the need you turned off?

[Verse 2: Terry Kath]
Loneliness is just a word
So I've been told
Loneliness becomes a world
That's very cold

[Chorus: Terry Kath]
People stare but they don't see
All of the hurt that's inside me
I don't know

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 3: Terry Kath]
Loneliness is just a word
So I've been told
Loneliness becomes a world
That's very cold

[Chorus: Terry Kath, Bandmates]
People stare but they don't see
All of the hurt that's inside me
I don't know (I don't know...)
I don't know (I don't know...)
I don't know

Chicago is a rock band hailing from the Illinois city of the same name. With its multitude of certified gold and platinum hits, the band has had enough longevity to last for over fifty years.

Chicago was formed on February 15, 1967, between keyboardist/singer Robert Lamm, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, saxophonist Walter Parazaider, drummer Danny Seraphine, guitarist Terry Kath, and trombonist James Pankow. The group called themselves “The Big Thing,” and played Top 40 hits in nightclubs in Chicago. In 1968, the band relocated to Los Angles, and changed their name to Chicago Transit Authority. They gained massive amounts of exposure to famous musicians of the time by regularly playing at the Whiskey A Go Go nightclub. In 1969, they released a self-titled album which peaked at No. 17 on the Billboard Hot 200 chart. The next year, the band shortened their name to “Chicago” to avoid a lawsuit from the actual company of the same name.

The band has released a plethora of albums, most of them titled Chicago enumerated with Roman numerals. The band changed its sound in the late 70s and 80s following the death of Terry Kath. Since then, the band has still carried on a legacy for the decades following, but has slowed the release of original music to a trickle.

more tracks from the album

Chicago III

From the album

Chicago III (1971)

Chicago popular songs

Loneliness is Just a WordChicago

Chicago

Chicago III