About the song
“Hard to Say I’m Sorry” is a memorable song by the American band Chicago, featured on their 13th studio album, *Chicago 16*, released in 1982. The song was officially released as the album’s lead single on May 16, 1982, by Full Moon Records and Warner Bros. Records. It also made an appearance on the soundtrack of the 1982 film *Summer Lovers*.
The song was co-written by Peter Cetera, then a member of Chicago, and David Foster, who also produced the track. This song marked a significant shift in Chicago’s musical style from their previous soft rock sound with brass influences to a more contemporary sound that aligned with popular trends of the time. “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” is a soft rock ballad that explores the theme of a man striving to mend a strained relationship, despite finding it difficult to apologize for past mistakes.
Upon its release, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” received positive reviews from music critics, who praised its heartfelt melody, the band’s evolving musical style, and the production quality. It was seen as a standout track on *Chicago 16*. The song also achieved considerable commercial success, topping the charts in Canada, Ireland, Italy, and Switzerland, and reaching the top ten in several other countries. In the United States, it climbed to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, marking Chicago’s second number-one single in the U.S.
A music video for “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” was released, featuring Chicago performing in a dimly lit room surrounded by sparkling diamonds. Recognized as one of the band’s signature songs, it has been covered by various artists including Barry Manilow, Westlife, Tim McGraw, and Az Yet. It has also appeared in films and TV shows like *Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa*, *Miranda*, and *The Grinder*. Additionally, the song has been included in several Chicago compilation albums, such as *Greatest Hits 1982–1989*, *The Heart of Chicago 1967–1997*, and *The Very Best of Chicago: Only the Beginning*. The success of “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” also paved the way for Peter Cetera’s solo career, which saw him leave the band three years later to achieve further success on his own.
Video
Lyrics
Everybody needs a little time away
I heard her say, from each other
Even lovers need a holiday
Far away, from each other
Hold me now
It’s hard for me to say I’m sorry
I just want you to stay
After all that we’ve been through
I will make it up to you, I promise to
And after all that’s been said and done
You’re just the part of me I can’t let go
Couldn’t stand to be kept away
Just for the day, from your body
Wouldn’t want to be swept away
Far away, from the one that I love
Hold me now
It’s hard for me to say I’m sorry
I just want you to know
Hold me now
I really want to tell you I’m sorry
I could never let you go
After all that we’ve been through
I will make it up to you, I promise to
And after all that’s been said and done
You’re just the part of me I can’t let go
After all that we’ve been through
I will make it up to you, I promise to
You’re going to be the lucky one