Chicago XI - Lyrics

CRD-3011

Columbia Stereo

Mississippi Delta City Blues
Baby, What A Big Surprise
'Till The End Of Time
Policeman
Take Me Back To Chicago
Vote For Me
Takin' It On Uptown
This Time
The Inner Struggles Of A Man
Prelude (Little One)
Little One

Chicago (R)

Robert Lamm - Keyboards, Vocals, & Percussion
Terry Kath - Guitars, Vocals, & Percussion
James Pankow - Trombone, Vocals, Keyboards, & Percussion
Peter Cetera - Bass & Vocals
Lee Loughnane - Trumpet & Vocals
Walter Parazaider - Woodwinds
Danny Seraphine - Drums & Percussion
Laudir de Oliveira - Percussion

Most of the brass arrangements on this album were written by James Pankow with important compositional contributions by all of the guys.

"Mississippi Delta City Blues"
Terry Kath--Lead vocal
Brass arrangements by James Pankow
"Till The End Of Time"
James Pankow--Lead vocal,
and Steinway (Sorry Bobby)
"Baby, What A Big Surprise"
Acoustic Guitars & Bass--J.W.G
Electric guitars--Terry Kath
Thank you Tim Cetera and Carl Wilson
for helping out with background vocals.
Orchestral conception & Orchestration-
Peter Cetera, Dominic Frontiere, J.W.G
"Policeman"
Robert Lamm--Lead vocal
Brass arrangements by James Pankow
and Robert Lamm
"Take Me Back To Chicago"
Robert Lamm--Lead vocal
Background vocals and incredible
preach at end--CHAKA KHAN
David "Hawk" Wolinski--Arps
Brass arrangements by James Pankow
with a little help from Danny.
Special thanks to Hawk for his great
contributions to this song.
"This piece of music was written in
memory of a friend who never
had the good fortune that I've had,
God Bless Him..." Danny.
"Vote For Me"
Robert Lamm--Lead vocal
Walter Parazaider--Baritone sax
Brass arrangements by James Pankow
Special thanks to The Voices of
Inspiration of Compton, California
directed by Alexander Hamilton.
"Takin' It On Uptown"
Terry Kath--Lead vocal
Special Note: This song appears through
the courtesy of Cook County Music.
Keep your eyes open.
"This Time"
Lee Loughnane--Lead vocal
Brass arrangements by James Pankow
with contributions from Lee Loughnane.
"The Inner Struggles Of A Man"
Orchestration--Dominic Frontiere
"Prelude (Little One)"
Terry Kath--Lead vocal
Flugel solo--Lee Loughnane
Conception by Danny Seraphine
"Little One"
Terry Kath--Lead vocal
Robert Lamm--Steinway
David "Hawk" Wolinski--Fender Rhodes
Brass arrangements by James Pankow
String and Orchestral arrangement by
Dominic Frontiere.
Dedicated to Danielle and Christine...
My little ones.

Produced by James William Guercio

Recorded and Mixed at Caribou Ranch(R)
Engineered by Wayne Tarnowski
Assistant Engineer - Tom Likes
Strings Engineered by Armin Steiner
Mastering Engineer - Mike Reese
Design: John Berg
Inside Photo: Reid Miles

1) Mississippi Delta City Blues

I've got a smile
That I put on
When I'm not at home
When I'm not alone.

But it is so hard
To make that smile
'Cause I know I'll be at home
And alone in a while
And if I look in a mirror
I see my eyes start to tear
I can't help but cry
Since you said goodbye

I've got to hide
Whhat I'm feelin' inside
Can't let them see
How you're hurtin' me.

So I guess that's what I'll do
Won't let them see through
Won't let them know
That you could hurt me so.

I've got a laugh
That I put on
When I'm not at home
When I'm not alone.

But it is so hard
To fake that laugh
When my insides are cryin'
And my heart's torn in half
And all the music I hear
And things I valued so dear
Make me feel so blue
They all remind me of you.

(Now) What can I do
(Now) That our love is through
And my purpose is gone
Still I got to live on.

I guess that's what I'll do
I won't let them see through
I won't let them know
That you could hurt me so.

Words and music by Terry Kath
(C) 1972 Cook County Music and Big Elk Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

2) Baby, What a big surprise

Right before my very eyes
I thought that you were only fakin' it
And like before my heart was takin' it.

Baby what a big surprise
Right before my very eyes.

Yesterday it seemed to me
My life was nothing more than wasted time
But here today you've softly changed my mind.

Baby what a big surprise
Right before my very eyes.

Just to be alone
Was a little more than I could take
Then you came to stay
Hold me in the morning
Love me in the afternoon
Help me find my way.

Now and then just like before
I think about thhe love I've thrown away
But now it doesn't matter anyway.
Baby, what a big surprise.

Words and music by Peter Cetera
(c)1977 Polish Prince Music (ASCAP)

3) Till The End Of Time

Why...do you love me like you do
Baby you deserve much more
Why...after all I've put you through
Would you stick around for more.

Heaven's at my feet now that I've found you
Life seems so complete when I'm around you
No-one else could touch me quite so deeply
No-one's love could satisfy me so sweetly
Love me till the end of time.

Why...even though you know I'm crazy
Do you still believe in me
Why...does a smile come so easy
Baby, since you set me free.

Free from all the weary wasted hours
Free from all those meaningless encounters
Free to live out lives the way we want to
Free to realize just what we've been through
Love me till the end of time.

Heaven's at my feet now that I've found you
Life seems so complete when I'm around you
No-one else could touch me quite so deeply
No-one's love could satisfy me so sweetly
Love me till the end of time.

Love me...only you can love me like you...

Words and music by James Pankow
(c) 1977 Make Me Smile Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

4) Policeman

Everyday he wakes up
As his bare feet hit the floor
Grabs a cup of coffee
Straps his Magnum on once more
Feeds the cat he lives with
Since his wife walked out the door
In nine years he'll retire with a pension.

Everyday he suffers
'Cause he sees all kinds of pain
Sometimes feels helpless
In a world that's gone insane
Then he wins a battle
It restores his faith again
It's only human kindness he is after.

He is a Policeman, you know
All the years and nothing to show
He is a Policeman, you know.

Every night he comes home
With a sixpack all alone
Feeds the cat he lives with
He picks up the telephone
Needs to talk with someone
But the only love he's known
Was lost forever, he is a Policeman.

He is a Policeman, you know
All the years and nothing to show
He is a Policeman, you know
All the years and nothing to show

Words and music by Robert Lamm
(c) 1977 Sacha Songs and Big Elk Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

5) Take Me Back To Chicago

Take me back to Chicago
Lay my soul to rest
Where my life was free and easy
Remember me at my best.

Take me back to Chicago
Where music was all I had
I tried to be good as I could
And sometimes that made me sad.

Take me back to Chicago, to Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago.

I still dream of the Lake of peacefulness
The warm summer breeze
'Cause my life was so much simpler then
Street corners and Tastee Freeze.

Take me back to Chicago
'Cause hustlin's not my style
L.A. was just a bit too hard
I wish I could be a child

Livin' back in Chicago, in Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago.

Take me back to Chicago
Lay my soul to rest
Where my life was free and easy
Remember me at my best.

Take me back to Chicago
'Cause hustlin's not my style
L.A. was just a bit too hard
I wish I could be a child.

Livin' back in Chicago, in Chicago
Why don't you take me back
Take me back, take me back
To Chicago.

Take me back, take me back....

Words and music by Danny Seraphine and David "Hawk" Wolinski
(c) 1977 Balloon Head Music and Big Elk Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

6) Vote For Me

Vote for me, vote for me
I want the nomination for the Presidency
Vote for me, vote for me
If I am elected, this is how it will be.

I'll cut your tax in half
I'll make the Russians laugh
I'll feed the hungry people everywhere.

I'll bring the railroads back
New trains and new track
>From Waikiki to old Deleware.

Vote for me, vote for me
I want the nomination for the Presidency
Vote for me, vote for me
If I am elected, this is how it will be.

I'll give Detroit one year
New cars that run on beer
Or anything except gasoline.

I'm looking to the sun
More power for everyone
And the cleanest sky that you've ever seen.

I'm not going to kid you, there's a lot to do
Little can I promise, it's really up to you
But if we all work together
And I think we can
And if you want some new ideas
Then I'm your man.

Vote for me, vote for me
I want the nomination for the Presidency
Vote for me, vote for me
If I am elected, this is how it will be.

I'll work for global peace
And the sweet release
Of the love and human kindness in us all.

I would give all I've got
You just give me a shot
Somehow, I know that I can win the fall.

Words and music by Robert Lamm
(c)1977 Sacha Songs and Big Elk Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

7) Takin' It On Uptown

Walkin' through the fog on a cold and cloudy night
Lookin' through the smog that surrounds the mornin' light
The shades of brown. It gets me down, exactly like my life
I don't deserve the hand I'm dealt: a flush in spades of strife.

I've grown tired of speeches that are nothing but a bore
So I'm rounding up the broken me and headin' on out the door
Without no lag I'm packin' my bag of discontented frowns
And hopping numer eighty-six, the first train that is freedom bound.

Got my bag of many frowns and I'm takin' it on uptown.

Big city lights
Funkier nights
Happier days
Goin' my way
It should be right
But I'm still uptight
Hey, I better put down
And get movin' on

I'm through with aggravation
Don't deserve the degradation
I'm putting all the negatives down
To hop the train that's feedom bound for uptown.

Got my bag of many frowns and I'm takin' it on uptown.

Lyrics by Fred Kagan
Music by Terry Kath
(c)1977 Uptown Music Inc. and Big Elk Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

8) This Time

This time I've found a love to treasure
One that's impossible to measure
The future looks bright, the moment feels so right
Just being near you brings me pleasure.

This time the both of us can see
How we can love and still feel free
You came into sight, I saw a whole new light
I found out what happiness can be.

'Cause Baby
I'd given up
Ever finding
Someone
To share my life
Forever.

This time we'll make it
Baby, we see
Nothing can take it from you and me
This time I feel it, like never before
Each day I love you more.

This time our search for love has ended
All of our goals in life have blended
And baby tonight, I'll love your body, make you feel right
We'll see all our troubles can all be mended.

This time we'll make it
Baby, we see
Nothing can take it from you and me
This time I feel it, like never before
Each day I love you more and more.

Words and music by Lee Loughnane
(c)1977 Com Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

9) The Inner Struggles Of A Man

10) Prelude (Little One)

Lying here as the morning light shines in
Can't believe the reflections from within
To look at your face takes me to a place
That reminds me of the lovely lady I once loved.

Words and music by Danny Seraphine, David "Hawk" Wolinski, & Dominic Frontiere
(c)1977 Balloon Head Music and Big Elk Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.

11) Little One

Little one it's so nice to have you near me
To feel once again the love you bring here
Ooh my little one, I am sorry for the pain you've felt
Say the word and daddy will make it disappear.

Oh my little one
Bring your love here
Little one
I need you near
Little one
Don't live in fear of the future
'Cause I will always be there.

Oh my little one
Music is my life, I hope you understand
Travelling on the road with me you can see the way we live
Oh my little one
I will always cherish these days with you
As time goes by I hope you see the love I tried to give.

Oh my little one
Let your love flow
My little one
Like a flower you'll grow
Someday you'll have your own little one
And you will always be there.

Little one, it's so nice to have you near me
To feel once again the love you bring here
Ooh my little one, I am sorry for the pain you've felt
Say the word and daddy will make it disappear.

Oh my little one
Bring your love here
Little one
I need you near me
Little one
Don't live in fear of the future
'Cause I will always be there.

Oh my little one
Let your love flow
My little one
Like a flower you'll grow
Someday you'll have your own little one
And you will always be there.

My little one...

Words and music by Danny Seraphine, David "Hawk" Wolinski, & Dominic Frontiere
(c)1977 Balloon Head Music and Big Elk Music (ASCAP)
Used by permission. All rights reserved.