Meaning of You’re The Inspiration by Chicago
Chicago, the rock band, is an outfit that has been around since the late 1960s and really hit their stride during the 1970s, when they dropped four consecutive LPs – Chicago V (1972), Chicago VI (1973), Chicago VII (1974), Chicago VIII (1975) and Chicago IX (1975) – that topped the Billboard 200. However, even though their albums as a whole didn’t fare as well during the 1980s, the crew did drop a number of hit singles during that decade.
For example, You’re the Inspiration, which was made public on 29 October 1984, topped both the US and Canadian Adult Contemporary charts, besides peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the UK Singles chart. And even though Chicago dropped a couple of other songs during the 1980s that performed better, You’re the Inspiration has apparently withstood the test of time as being their fan favorite.
Writing and Production Credits
This song was written by Peter Cetera, who at the time was the frontman of Chicago, alongside David Foster, who produced three of the band’s albums during the earlier part of the 1980s. As such, it is Foster who also produced Chicago 17 (1984), the album this track is derived from which, to note, is the best-seller (stateside) in the band’s entire discography.
Other Facts about You’re The Inspiration
According to Peter Cetera, this song was actually written for Kenny Rogers who, at the end of the day, didn’t make use of it.
In 1997, Peter Cetera dropped a cover of You’re the Inspiration featuring a R&B crew from Philly called Az Yet. That version proved to be a very minor hit, charting in the US and in the Netherlands.
The labels behind this song are Warner Bros. Records and Full Moon Records.
The Lyrics
This is a straight-up love song, the type which features certain basic elements which have become standard in such pieces. For instance, the vocalist argues that his romance with the addressee is one that was “meant to be”, i.e. ordained by the heavens, if you will. He also lets her know that he thinks about her constantly and intends to love her for life. Indeed, as expressed in the chorus, Peter’s desire for the addressee transcends the realm of want and has become an actual “need”. And all lyrics considered, that doesn’t mean that he will die if she went away. Instead, as the punchline of the track goes, this lady is his “inspiration”. Or put otherwise, he has found “meaning in… life” through her presence.
The purpose of the lyrics aren’t just in expressing those sentiments but also in the singer setting out to convince his sweetheart that they are indeed real. She is someone who he has formed a genuine dependency on which, even if of the emotional variety, is such that now he cannot perceive being in this world without her.
