The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
If you leave me now
You'll take away the biggest part of me
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
And if you leave me now
You'll take away the very heart of me
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
Ooh-ooh, girl, I just want you to stay
A love like ours is love that's hard to find
How could we let it slip away?
We've come too far to leave it all behind
How could we end it all this way?
When tomorrow comes and we'll both regret
The things we said today
A love like ours is love that's hard to find
How could we let it slip away?
We've come too far to leave it all behind
How could we end it all this way?
When tomorrow comes and we'll both regret
The things we said today
If you leave me now
You'll take away the biggest part of me
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
Ooh, girl, just got to have you by my side
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
Ooh, my, my, I just got to have your loving (hey, hey)
You'll take away the biggest part of me
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
And if you leave me now
You'll take away the very heart of me
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
Ooh-ooh, girl, I just want you to stay
A love like ours is love that's hard to find
How could we let it slip away?
We've come too far to leave it all behind
How could we end it all this way?
When tomorrow comes and we'll both regret
The things we said today
A love like ours is love that's hard to find
How could we let it slip away?
We've come too far to leave it all behind
How could we end it all this way?
When tomorrow comes and we'll both regret
The things we said today
If you leave me now
You'll take away the biggest part of me
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
Ooh, girl, just got to have you by my side
Ooh-ooh, no, baby please don't go
Ooh, my, my, I just got to have your loving (hey, hey)
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
If You Leave Me Now Lyrics as written by Peter Cetera
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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That's such a great ballad! I just love the guitar solo, the orchestra parts, this swinging bass line... and Peter Cetera's indescribable sweet vocals. I have often listened to this song when I was feeling lovesick... sad stories, but great music, that made me feel better
Oh yeah.Exactly.
I agree with all three who have posted comments before me. Everyone I know calls me a dork for listening to sappy '70's-'80's era love ballads (and not just for their camp value) but you know, in an age where most everyone's a cynic, the honesty and emotion in the lyrics is definitely welcomed. Glad to know I'm not the only one who likes this song for something other than its 'wink, wink, tongue planted firmly in cheek' value. Just gorgeous, that's what this song is.
Really sweet and sad song. One of my favorites!
Its a classic!! :-)
This song represents the second phase of Chicago, where Peter Ceteral used the band as a vehicle to launch his solo career and the band members were replaced with a bunch of people from Toto.
Regardless, I still like the song. Cetera wrote this about his wife, who wanted to divorce him.
AWWWW, he is pleading for her to come back to him.
Thanks for improving my feelings for this overplayed little gem from a once cutting edge terrific and kind of scary wonderful band of the seventies.
Same here... I'm a Lamm-era Chicago fan who vastly prefers "Does Anybody Really Know" and "Saturday In The Park", and as a young thing I always considered this song (a) played way too often on the radio and (b) an eerie foreboding of the excesses of the approaching Cetera era. Good to be reminded it was a good song after all. No Lamm composition, of course... but good.
If this song isn't ever depressing...especially after you go through a breakup! I dub the Chicago "Heart of Chicago" album an official "Breakup" album!!! I love this song...it's great.
what a classic ballad. An intense plea, so much passion. all-time great
such a beautiful lyric...