Album: Chicago VII (1974)

Charted: 11

License This Song 

• Sleepless hours and dreamless nights and far aways
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  Heaven knows and lord it shows when I'm away
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  
  Same old show in a different town on another day
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  Even though you're far away, you're on my mind
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  
  And I'd like to change my life, and you know I would
  Just to be with you tonight, baby, if I could
  But I've got my job to do, and I do it well
  (Change my life) (change my life) So I guess that's how it is
  
  Ooh, wishing you were here
  Ooh, wishing you were here
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were)
  Ooh, you were here
  
  On the road it's a heavy load, but I'll be by
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  Pay the price, make a sacrifice, and still I'll try
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  Ooh, wishing you were here (wishing you were here)
  (Wishing you were here)(wishing you were here) Writer/s: PETER P. CETERA
  Publisher: Spirit Music Group, Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 24

• Tj from IndianaThe author should listen to the lyrics. There are many references to being in a band & on the road, but no breakup.
• Kris from OklahomaMike love with background beach boys not Dennis. And why is Brian not singing with them? Is this during his mental breakdown?
• Ian from DundeeI can't be the only one to see Mike Love in the line-up. What's the problem?
• David from East CoastYes 46 years
• Lady Zee Vee from Las Vegas, NevadaI've loved this song like FOREVER and I can't believe 46 years and I'm just finding out the Beach Boys sang back up on this song!!
• Beach Guy from Libertyville,ilYes, Beach Boys had a major role in this song. I heard The Beach Boys do this song several times in concert, with Dennis Wilson singing lead vocals,written on a piece of paper. Saw Chicago several times, but they did not always include this on their song list. Chicago-Beach Boys playing together was the best!
• Steve from Mount Airy, MdI have ALWAYS loved this song.. Never knew the Beach Boys sang on it, but listening as I type this, it makes total sense! One thing I have always wondered, is that backstory to the "flutter" in the piano part in the left channel.. Obviously they left it in there on purpose, but how was that sound created in a mid-70's studio, and was it done on purpose, or was it an accident and they just liked the sound of it so they left it? I would love to have been a fly on the wall during these old recordings!
• Jt from San DiegoWithout a doubt, the Beach Boys harmonies in this song is a huge reminder that they have some of the greatest harmonies of all time!!
• Rwags from NebraskaLike Diana, This WAS a breakup song! Back to 1974 in love with a lass, but we lived 98 miles apart." Another Park, Another Sunday/ "Saturday in the Park " (The Doobies and Chicago) and "(I've Been) Searchin' So Long" (1974) were the songs that tethered us. It seemed. "Wishing you were here," was the song that pointed out the difficulty of maintaining a long distance relationship at 16. She is a great gal and I see her time to time. But, it wouldn't have worked out. I see that now, but "Wishing you were here" ripped my guts, at the time. Odd, I really dislike Cetera and his voice--but it fit this song. Maybe it was the Beach Boys ? RIP Terry Kath.
• Seventhmist from 7th HeavenAgreed, not a breakup song. More like Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound," about a roaming musician wishing he didn't have to be away so much.
• Stacie from San Diego I agree with the comments that this is not a breakup song. It does indeed have a haunting quality, especially with the waves. Many comments noted the idea that the singer is traveling, separated from his fantasy person. I don't think it is confined to that scenario though. It's a song about longing. For whatever reason, he cannot be with that person. It's all about the longing of someone not available, a feeling displayed here as so strong and lonely and yet romantic. I hope his longing is powerful enough to materialize the object of his affection....
• Sabrina from Phoenix, ArizonaIt's interesting that songfacts calls this song a "breakup" song. I never considered it as such. Rather, I saw the song as being a song about some who is definitely in a current ongoing relationship. However, it might be a long distance relationship and/or a relationship where one of the partners has a job that keeps them traveling a lot such as a musician, a salesperson or someone in the military and is deployed a lot. Maybe it's because I was a military wife? lol Such LDR are very common nowaday compared to when the song came out back in '74. At any rate, I've loved this song since my teens. Used to play it on the guitar and I'd have the various neighborhood kids join in. Of course we didn't sound a good as the original lol Didn't know until about 10 years ago that the Beach Boys sang in this. I had a sense it was, but was nice to see it confirmed. Chicago and the Beach Boys are two of my favorite groups, so it's a very nice collaboration. Recently heard a cover of "Wishing You Were Here" done by a Chicago cover band out of Moscow, Russia called Leonid and Friends. It's quite good, too!
• Bruce from San Jose, Calif.The haunting, melancholy tone of the song really hits you in the heart... it's the kind of song you'd listen to as you sit alone on a beach, just watching the waves and the seagulls go by...
• Martin from Fresno, CaMy favorite of all the Chicago songs. And the Beach boys harmonies are excellent.It makes you realize how much Dennis Wilson contributed to the Beach Boys vocals although everyone else says otherwise.
• Diana from Bronxville, NyDo not like this song, bad time in my life when it came out. Too many memories!
• Ricky from Ohsweken, -Strange as this sounds, musically, this song sent a chill up my spine and to a small degree it still does.
• Camille from Toronto, OhMarch 2010-@ Henry from RI, you're right, this isn't a breakup song; more like the thoughts of a working man who has sacrifices and choices to make to keep his career going. And he's really missing his woman this night. As others said, this tune definitely has a haunting quality to it. When you're continually traveling from town to town, you can feel removed from everyone else's "normal" life, as if you're in another realm, and this song seems to capture that feeling rather well.
• Moogs from Wilmington, DeGreat tune from a great album - Chicago VII was the last double album from the original group. A very ambitious and experimental album yet you can see the movement towards pop-ballads approaching with songs like this. Kath played bass here as well as on Lamm's first solo album (done about the same time). This song also appeared live on Dick Clark's "Rocking New Years Eve" show from 1975 complete with Beach Boys and Chicago taking on original instrument roles from the album. You can catch that tape on YouTube these day.
• Jim from Indio, CaI like the Moog synthesizer solo in the middle. Very haunting. Terry played bass on this song.
• Tom from Springfield, VaSorry, Brian, This was well known pretty soon after the album was released. Of course, I am old so I bought the album (LP) when it was released, being a diehard Chicago fan!
• Mike from Spokane, Wa., Waan almost haunting tone to this song.......and the beginning of this song with the sound of waves hitting the beach gently.....how appropriate w/ the 3 Beach Boys singing background....i wonder if it were their idea to introduce the beach theme?
• Henry from Pawtucket, RiThis song is not really a break up tune. It was written by Cetera on the night before they left for another long tour. It just speaks to a long time on the road. It appears on Chicago VII.
• J from Everett, MaPeter Cetera had wanted to sing the whole lead vocal on this song. However after recording the backing track, Peter realized that the key was to low for him to sing it. So he had Terry Kath sing it instead. The chorus was a bit higher so Peter was able to sing that part.
• Brian from Medway, OhWhen this song was popular, I swore I had heard that The Beach Boys sang back-up. Over the years I had been unable to find that stated anywhere until this site. Thanks!!

More Songfacts:

Freeway Of LoveAretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin didn't drive, but one of her biggest hits was a car song: "Freeway Of Love."

I'll WaitVan Halen

Michael McDonald co-wrote the Van Halen song "I'll Wait."

Love ShackThe B-52s

Rupaul was in the video for "Love Shack" by the B-52's. He had a solo hit with "Supermodel" a few years later.

Just A GirlNo Doubt

Gwen Stefani wrote "Just a Girl" as a message to her overprotective father.

Bitter Sweet SymphonyThe Verve

"Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve samples an obscure orchestral arrangement of the 1965 Rolling Stones song "The Last Time." The Verve had to sign away most of the royalties before they could release the song.

Girl CrushLittle Big Town

"Girl Crush" by Little Big Town came from the hashtag #girlcrush, which its co-writer, Lori McKenna, spotted on Instagram.

Editor's Picks

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Jon AndersonSongwriter Interviews

Jon Anderson breaks down the Yes classic "Seen All Good People" and talks about his 1000 Hands album, which features Chick Corea, Rick Derringer, Ian Anderson, and many other luminaries.

Andy McClusky of OMDSongwriter Interviews

Known in America for the hit "If You Leave," OMD is a huge influence on modern electronic music.

Motley CrueFact or Fiction

Was Dr. Feelgood a dentist? Did the "Crüecifixion" really happen?

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Harry Wayne Casey of KC and The Sunshine BandSongwriter Interviews

Harry Wayne Casey tells the stories behind KC and The Sunshine Band hits like "Get Down Tonight," "That's The Way (I Like It)," and "Give It Up."