Video hit Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera - Hard To Say I'm Sorry (live)

Hard to Say I'm Sorry/Get Away is a 1982 Billboard Hot 100 #1 hit ballad performed by American rock group Chicago, written by band member Peter Cetera and producer David Foster from the album Chicago 16, released in 1982.

The song hit number one for two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 11 of that year. It was their first top 50 hit since "No Tell Lover" in 1978.

The song, as well as the album on which it is featured, was a marked departure from Chicago's traditional soft rock, horns-driven sound, taking on a polished and modern feel. There were minimal horns on the track, instead featuring more layered synthesizers and heavier distorted electric guitars in a contemporary 1980s styling. This was done to revitalize the band that was considered by some to be past its commercial prime at the time.

The album version of "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into a second song titled "Get Away," which was closer to the older horn-driven Chicago sound.

Most adult contemporary radio stations at the time did not play the entire album track, however, choosing to cut it off just before "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" segued into "Get Away." About half the Top 40 radio stations played the longer version with "Get Away".

Deviating from Chicago's practice of having mostly band members playing on their albums, "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" featured several session musicians.

The song featured producer David Foster on the piano, as well as three members of the American rock band Toto: Steve Lukather on guitar, while David Paich and Steve Porcaro both contributed synthesizers. The song's vocals were performed by Peter Cetera.

The lyrics:

Everybody needs a little time away

I've heard her say from each other

Even lovers need a holiday, ooh

Far away from each other

Hold me now, it's hard for me to say

I'm sorry, I just want you to stay

And after all that you've been through

I will make it up to you, I promise you, baby

And after all that's been said and done

You're just the part of me, I can't let go

Ooh, bup bup, bup bup

Couldn't stand to be kept away

Just for a 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

And after all that we've been through

I will make it up to you, I promise you

And after all that's been said and done

You're just a part of me, I can't let go, I can't let go