Chicago has been a huge source of inspiration for many musicians, and this bustling city helped shape the music industry.
Because music has been a pivotal staple in Chicago’s rich history, there are several great songs about the windy city.
Here are some of the best songs about Chicago:
54 Best Songs About Chicago
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🎶 Blues
🎶 Jazz
🎶 Rap
🎶 Pop
🎶 Rock
🎶 House
🎶 Country
BLUES SONGS ABOUT CHICAGO
1. “SWEET HOME CHICAGO” by Robert Johnson
“Sweet Home Chicago” is a blues tribute to Chicago that was first recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936.
Notable lyrics:
Oh, baby, don’t you want to go
Back to the land of California,
To my sweet home Chicago
This classic blues song has been covered by many artists (like The Blues Brothers), but the original by Robert Johnson has a charming grit to this.
2. “CHICAGO BOUND BLUES” by Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith was a profound blues vocalist in the 1920s.
Notable lyrics:
Late last night, I sold away and cried
Late last night, I sold away and cried
Had the blues for Chicago, I just can’t be satisfied
Her powerful and soulful voice was recognized by many, which helped give her the coveted title of the “Empress of the Blues”.
3. “BORN IN CHICAGO” by Paul Butterfield Blues Band
With a focus on electric guitar, “Born in Chicago” was released into the world of blues in 1965.
Notable lyrics:
I was born in Chicago, nineteen and forty-one
I was born in Chicago in nineteen and forty-one
Well, my father told me
“Son, you’d better get a gun.”
More notably, Paul Butterfield Blues Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015.
4. “WOMEN OF BLUES” by Wendy and DB feat. Ivy Ford
If you’re looking for an upbeat blues song, turn up “Women of Blues” and listen to this tribute to — as the name implies — the women of blues.
Notable lyrics:
In Chicago, Koko was the queen
Bonnie and her slide guitar, well it really made that scene
Marcia’s boogie piano, the gal can really sing
Released on their Into the Little Blue House album, this record was nominated for a 2023 Grammy in the Best Children’s Album Category.
5. “STORY OF THE BLUES” by Chronic Tendencies
Singing about heartbreak, “Story of Blues” tells the story of a woman who came from Chicago and broke a man’s heart.
Notable lyrics:
She came from Chicago
She read me the news
In the headlines was a story of the blues
They say a broken heart can always mend
You can also interpret this song as a soulmate grieving the death of their other half.
6. “CHICAGO BOUND” by Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Rogers left an everlasting impression that set the standard for today’s blues.
Notable lyrics:
I’m gonna tell you something that you all should know
Chicago is the best place I ever know
I’m gonna stay in this town
I’m gonna live in this town
I’m gonna live in Chicago, it’s the greatest place around
Maybe after listening to this song, you’ll never want to leave Chicago either.
7. “MEET AT CHICAGO” by Buddy Guy
For a funky little ode to Chicago, you’re going to want to listen to “Meet Me in Chicago“.
Notable lyrics:
Got to get back to the Windy City,
With them funky ole sweet home blues
Meet me in Chicago
Baby I’ll show you around
Keep your ears listening for references to iconic sites of Chicago, like Wrigley Field and Solider Field.
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JAZZ / R&B SONGS ABOUT CHICAGO
8. “CHICAGO” by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra is one of the most notable jazz musicians of all time.
Notable lyrics:
Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town
Chicago, Chicago, I will show you around,
I love it
You can also listen to versions of “Chicago” by Judy Garland and Ben Selvin.
9. “BABY ARE YENG” by Nancy Jacobs and Her Sisters
There’s not much information on Nancy Jacobs and Her Sisters online, but they provided strong jive influences to Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
Baby are yeng Downtown Chicago (Baby, baby)
Baby are yeng Downtown Chicago (Baby, baby)
Baby are yeng Downtown Chicago (Baby, baby)
More specifically, when you put on “Baby Are Yeng“, African jazz ‘n jive elements will fill your speakers.
10. “TAKE ME BACK TO CHICAGO” by Chicago
With a strong mix of jazz and rock, “Take Me Back to Chicago” was a 1978 showstopping hit.
Notable lyrics:
Take me back to Chicago
Lay my soul to rest
Where my life was free and easy
Remember me at my best
It was originally released on one of the band Chicago‘s albums: Chicago XI.
11. “DANCING IN THE STREET” by Martha and the Vandellas
Written by Marvin Gaye, William “Mickey” Stevenson, and Ivy Jo Hunter, “Dancing in the Street” became a massive success when Martha and the Vandellas recorded it.
Notable lyrics:
Summer’s here and the time is right
For dancing in the street
They’re dancing in Chicago (Dancing in the street)
This song has been covered numerous times by bands like The Mamas and The Papas and Van Halen.
12. “CELL BLOCK TANGO” from the Musical Chicago
“Cell Block Tango” is a piece from the highly-coveted musical Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
And now, the six merry murderesses of the Cook County Jail
In their rendition of ‘The Cell Block Tango’!
The lyrics boast a darkly humorous portrayal of women in a Chicago jail who have killed their husbands.
13. “MY KIND OF TOWN” by Frank Sinatra
“My Kind of Town” was originally part of the 1964 musical Robin and the 7 Hoods, which starred several members of the Rat Pack.
Notable lyrics:
My kind of town, Chicago is
My kind of people, too
People who smile at you
And while Chicago isn’t known for its friendliness, this song is a tribute to Chicago and its people, describing the city as “my kind of town”.
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RAP SONGS ABOUT CHICAGO
14. “LIFE IN CHICAGO” by Mod G feat. KC Wavey
Mod G and KC Wavey share the harsh realities of living in Chicago, such as gun violence, poverty, and racial inequality
Notable lyrics:
This is my life in Chicago
Ain’t the city for no sleepers
But a city full of dreamers
And they be shooting at they leisure
While the topics are heartbreaking, this song also inspires you with messages of resilience, hope, and the power of community.
15. “SWIMMING POOLS (DRANK)” by Kendrick Lamar
Hit “Swimming Pools (Drank)” encourages you to reconsider the prevalent drinking culture.
Notable lyrics:
Granddaddy had the golden flask,
Backstroke every day in Chicago
Some people like the way it feel,
Some people wanna kill their sorrow
The lyrics dive deep into the symptoms of alcoholism, and they help start necessary conversations about drinking in society.
16. “65TH AND INGLESIDE” by Chance The Rapper
In “65th and Ingleside“, Chance the Rapppe retells the good and bad of his relationship with his fiancée and mother of his child.
Notable lyrics:
65th and Ingleside
Moved downtown for a single life
None of my stars ever twinkled bright
‘Til God decide to come bring you by
This song is named after the intersection at 65th and Ingleside in Chicago’s East Side, where the couple used to live.
17. “BACK IN CHICAGO” by Juice WRLD
You won’t find Juice WRLD’s “Back In Chicago” playing on the radio, because it’s one of his unreleased tracks.
Notable lyrics:
I’m back in Chicago,
I flew first class
I’m a rich man,
I came up on they broke ass
He raps about flying back to his hometown of Chicago, while boasting about his lifestyle of wealth and fame.
18. “LISTEN UP BUB” by Spose
“Listen Up Bub” is the ultimate pep talk about going after your dreams with full force.
Notable lyrics:
I called my wife after the show
She said, “How did it go?” I said, “You don’t wanna know”
She watched the kids as I hit Chicago
The next night, almost every ticket sold
The song mentions performing in Chicago to a nearly sold-out crowd, which can be possible for any musician.
19. “TROUBLE” by J. Cole
With a heavy focus on sin and temptation, “Trouble” mentions being tantalized by a woman in Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
Met a bad bitch from Chicago,
My hat wasn’t cocked, yo
Kept it straight, shit,
Cause y’all know
This song follows the same religious theme as the rest of his album, Born Sinner.
20. “EVERYDAY IN CHICAGO” by G Herbo
“Everyday in Chicago” sheds light on the dangerous parts of Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
Growing up in the Chi,
I ain’t got nothing to lose
I done seen a lot of mommas cry,
I done had a lot of homies die
From shootings, drugs, and gangs, Chicago can be tough for a lot of people who live there.
21. “ANGELS” by Chance the Rapper feat. Saba
Another Chance the Rapper song, “Angels” reps his Chicago roots.
Notable lyrics:
I got my city doing front flips
When every father, mayor, rapper jump ship
I guess that’s why they call it where I stay
He also reflects on his growth as an artist and how he feels almost untouchable.
22. “911 / MR. LONELY” by Tyler, The Creator
“911/Mr. Lonely” is broken into two parts, with the first half being upbeat but filled with dark and depressing lyrics.
Notable lyrics:
One thing I know, is that I wanna
Win so bad, but I’m not Chicago
My heart is low, it’s real low, it’s so low
The second half of the song has even more depressing lyrics, but it’s less upbeat.
23. “MURAL” by Lupe Fiasco
In “Mural“, Lupe Fiasco spits heavy rhymes of social commentary for nearly nine minutes straight.
Notable lyrics:
Chicago, spray gun aficionado
Efficient spitting bridging divisions isn’t Chicano
Even more impressive, this song has no hooks and contains 785 unique words.
24. “LIVE AND DIE IN CHICAGO” by King Louie
Inspired by 2Pac’s “To Live and Die in L.A.”, King Louie makes an ode to Chicago in “Live and Die in Chicago“.
Notable lyrics:
I was made in Chicago
I got paid in Chicago (MUBU)
Out of town gettin’, countin’ profusious amounts
Then it’s back to Chicago (woo)
Rather graphic at times, this song vehemently mentions gun violence.
25. “CHICAGO KID” by Sol Patches
Born and raised in Chicago, Sol Patches is heavily influenced by Chicago’s queer Latinx and Black femme culture.
Notable lyrics:
I’m a Chicago kid
Look what Chicago did
That’s what Chicago is
Their songs are also strongly impacted by theater and poetry.
POP SONGS ABOUT CHICAGO
26. “CITY IN A GARDEN” by Fall Out Boy
Native to Chicago suburbs, Fall Out Boy made a tribute to Chicago in “City In A Garden”.
Notable lyrics:
I love you, Chicago
You make me feel so summer fling
You know that I know that I owe you everything
I love you, Chicago
If you love “Take Me Home, Country Roads“, you’ll love its reference in this song.
27. “SOUTH SIDE” by Moby feat. Gwen Stefani
“South Side” is inspired by Moby’s visits to Chicago and his searches for house music venues.
Notable lyrics:
Here we are now going to the north side
I look at my friends as they start to ride
Ride at night, yeah we ride all day
Looking out for a sunny day
He described his song as a “happy sing-along pop song ’bout kids that become so inured to violence and become so desensitized that nothing gets through to them.”
28. “CHICAGO” by Bis
“Chicago” lyrics reference loneliness and trying to find someone to date.
Notable lyrics:
Have you been here before?
Got a boyfriend for sure
To Chicago I’ll go
Friendly people I’m told
Despite being a bustling city, Chicago is filled with friendly people.
29. “ALL WE KNOW” by The Chainsmokers feat. Phoebe Ryan
“All We Know” is a chill song about a struggling relationship.
Notable lyrics:
From Chicago to the coast
You tell me, “Hit this and let’s go
Blow the smoke right through the window”
‘Cause this is all we know
While the relationship is on the brink of falling apart, there’s still a connection there.
30. “SUPER FADE” by Fall Out Boy
Another Fall Out Boy song, “Super Fade” speaks about how no other city compares to Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
Anything else in the world but you, but you
You know the world can get my bones
But Chicago gets my soul
In this song, Chicago is their safety net they love to go back to.
ROCK SONGS ABOUT CHICAGO
31. “JESUS JUST LEFT CHICAGO” by ZZ Top
“Jesus Just Left Chicago” mentions places all over the U.S.
Notable lyrics:
Jesus just left Chicago
And he’s bound for New Orleans
Well now, Jesus just left Chicago
And he’s bound for New Orleans, yeah
For years, the radio played this song together with “Waitin’ for the Bus“.
32. “RADIO” by Kill Hannah
Formed in 1993, Kill Hannah is a quintessential 90s rock band.
Notable lyrics:
Late night, winter Chicago
Ten years and still I listen to the radio
And then it starts to snow
The station’s frequencies
And as the lyrics suggest, Chicago winters can be pretty memorable.
33. “MCMXIV” by Ratboys
Ratboys is an indie rock band from Chicago that was formed in 2010 by Julia Steiner and Dave Sagan.
Notable lyrics:
I had to be present to ride on a bus
I walked around Chicago for hours on end
Woke up to someone watching me
At Wabash and Grand
Most Chicagoland residents can relate to the feeling of walking around Chicago for hours on end.
34. “BAD, BAD, LEROY BROWN” by Jim Croce
“Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown” has been a rock classic since it came out in 1973.
Notable lyrics:
Well the South side of Chicago
Is the baddest part of town
And if you go down there
You better just beware
Of a man named Leroy Brown
This time-honored song spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.
35. “IN THE GHETTO” by Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley’s “In the Ghetto” was a major hit in 1969.
Notable lyrics:
As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin’
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto (In the ghetto)
This song tells the story of violence and poverty that’s been prevalent in Chicago for generations.
36. “THE NIGHT CHICAGO DIED” by Paper Lace
“The Night Chicago Died” is about a fictional shoot-out between the Chicago Police and members of the Al Capone Syndicate.
Notable lyrics:
In the heat of a summer night
In the land of the dollar bill
When the town of Chicago died
And they talk about it still
Though fictional, it was inspired by the real-life Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre.
37. “BACK TO CHICAGO” by Styx
Formed in Chicago, Styx sings about returning to your hometown in “Back to Chicago“.
Notable lyrics:
I’m making my way back to Chicago
I’m making my way, come rain or shine
I’m gonna find true love waiting for me
I’m gonna make it all work out for good this time
You’ll also hear mentions of Chicago highlights, like Lake Shore Drive and the beach.
38. “ONLY IN CHICAGO” by Barry Manilow
“Only in Chicago” portrays the magic that is the city of Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
Only in Chicago
Love is in the air in Chicago
There’s a magic there in Chicago
Our Chicago
Baby, you and I, we tried to take it with us
The lyrics also convince you that it’s easy to fall in love while in Chicago.
39. “STRATFORD-ON-GUY” by Liz Phair
“Stratford-On-Guy” is the second single released from Liz Phair’s debut album.
Notable lyrics:
I was flying into Chicago at night
Watching the lake turn the sky into blue-green smoke
The sun was setting to the left of the plane
And the cabin was filled with an unearthly glow
Hearing the lyrics, you’ll imagine the faraway hustle and bustle of Chicago from an airplane 30,000 ft above.
40. “CHICAGO AT NIGHT” by Spoon
“Chicago at Night” talks about escaping to Chicago, only to be faced with the same issues you faced before.
Notable lyrics:
Now when she went to Chicago that night, she faced a wall
And she woke up outside with all those leaves in her mouth
And felt the pall
And all night, the rain came on down
While the song is a sad one, it references the beauty of a Chicago fall.
41. “LIDO SHUFFLE” by Boz Scaggs
“Lido Shuffle” uses the familiar I-IV-V chord progression that is the foundation of blues, pop, and rock.
Notable lyrics:
Just long enough to grab a handle off the top
Next stop Chi town,
Lido put the money down and let it roll
This song also tells the story of a gambler wanting to risk it all.
42. “TONIGHT, TONIGHT” by Smashing Pumpkins
“Tonight, Tonight” features an impressive 30-piece string section.
Notable lyrics:
If you held yourself up to the light
And the embers never fade
In your city by the lake
The place where you were born
Frontman Billy Corgan said that recording with a 30-piece string-section “was probably one of the most exciting recording experiences I have ever had.”
43. “LAKE SHORE DRIVE” by Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah
This song is an ode to the scenic Lake Shore Drive, a major roadway in Chicago that runs along the shoreline of Lake Michigan.
Notable lyrics:
There’s a road I’d like to tell you about,
Lives in my hometown
Lake Shore Drive the road is called
And it’ll take you up or down
Sometimes all you need is to go for a drive, and your troubles will melt away.
44. “ALL THE WAY” by Eddie Vedder
“All the Way” is a tribute to the Chicago Cubs and their historic World Series win in 2016.
Notable lyrics:
Don’t let anyone say that it’s just a game
For I’ve seen other teams, and it’s never the same
When you’re born in Chicago, you’re blessed and you’re healed
The first time you walk into Wrigley Field
Before 2016, the last World Series the Cubs won was 108 years before in 1908.
HOUSE SONGS ABOUT CHICAGO
45. “CHICAGO” by Sufjan Stevens
“Chicago” tells the story of a young man and his youthful idealism on a road trip.
Notable lyrics:
I fell in love again
All things go, all things go
Drove to Chicago
All things know, all things know
This track is one of Sufjan Stevens’ most popular songs.
46. “CHICAGO” by ABC
With very simple lyrics, “Chicago” is a house song about this fine city.
Notable lyrics:
Chica, Chica, Chica, Chica
Chica, Chica, Chica, Chica
Chica, Chica, Chi-Chi-Chicago
Released in 1987, this song has that quintessential 80s synth we all love.
47. “IN CHICAGO” by John Summit
Talking heavily about the Chicago nightlife, “In Chicago” shares what goes on in nightclubs.
Notable lyrics:
I’m drunk and I’m high
I’m drunk (Drunk) and I’m high
And I’m in Chicago
Leaving a club in the early morning hours forces you to try and sober up quick.
FOLK/COUNTRY SONGS ABOUT CHICAGO
48. “THE EL” by Rhett Miller
“The El” is a contemporary folk song that will get your feet tapping.
Notable lyrics:
Let’s say you’re in Chicago
And you’re rattling along on the El
And the one who rides beside you is a stranger to herself
Nobody knows her own heart
If you ever rode on the El, this song will fill your mind with that nostalgic feeling.
49. “SOMERS TOWN” by Will Varley
“Somers Town” discusses a story of a couple growing apart.
Notable lyrics:
She was never the same after she found God
I remember the fire in her brain
I was never the same after Chicago
I remember the sound of a distant train
The singer feels like they’re a stranger to themselves after being in Chicago.
50. “SILHOUETTE” by Parker McCollum
With the sounds of classic country music, “Silhouette” references fall in Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
Silhouette, it’s in my nightmare
And I can’t rest my eyes as all
And I’ll be a leaving by the morning
Ever seen Chicago in the fall?
And like the seasons change, you can also change yourself and become a better person.
51. “DAYS GO BY” by Bruce Robison
“Days Go By” reminisces on the singer’s time spent in Chicago.
Notable lyrics:
Chicago was cold and last spring
Oh, went upon that rain
Groundhound bus stop on I-95
They’re gonna let me stay the night
This song mentions a miscarriage, drug use, and letting go of love.
52. “DEAR CHICAGO” by Ryan Adams
Another song about lost love, “Dear Chicago” is about a guy trying to find healing amongst it all.
Notable lyrics:
Dear Chicago
You’ll never guess
You know the girl you said I’d meet someday?
Well I got something to confess
Because he feels numb emotionally, he looks forward to drinking at all the bars.
53. “I’M A RAMBLIN’ MAN” by Waylon Jennings
“I’m a Ramblin’ Man” was originally written by Ray Pennington in 1967.
Notable lyrics:
You better not
Well, up in Chicago
I was known as quite a boy
Yes I was
Waylon Jennings helped bring the song to number one on US Hot Country Songs in 1974.
54. “PULASKI AT NIGHT” by Andrew Bird
“Pulaski at Night” is featured on Andrew Bird’s I Want to See Pulaski at Night EP.
Notable lyrics:
I paint you a picture
Of Pulaski at night
Come back to Chicago
City of, city of light
Come back to Chicago
This song is the only track featuring lyrics on the album, as all the others are instrumentals.
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