Chicago released “Hard To Say I’m Sorry/Get Away” in 1982 on their album Chicago 16. It hit number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary in 1982. Also it hit number one on the Canadian, Irish, Swiss, and Italian Singles Charts in 1982-83. Chicago was a soft rock band that incorporated horns, synthesizer, and electric guitar into their music. In this particular song, the narrator talks of a loved one who is fed up with him for his mistakes. He is heartbroken and pleads his case. Shifting from remorseful to exuberant diction, in “Hard To Say I’m Sorry/Get Away”, Chicago uses essential repetition, serious tone, and indifferent irony to convey the idea that mistakes can be forgiven if true sorrow is expressed.
Repetition is essential to the overall message and affect of the song. The narrator is obviously heartbroken, so he cannot help but to repeat himself. Though he repeatedly exclaims, “It’s hard for me to say I’m sorry”, he is making a point and emphasizing it which creates a sense of truth. Through the repetition of “I will make it up to you/I promise to”, the narrator evokes his feelings by saying he will not feel better until his lover does. He exclaims “I can’t let go” especially after “all we’ve been through”. Without his lover, he could not go on. Through repetition, the narrator gets his lover back.
In the seriousness of the tone lie the narrator’s true feelings of sorrow. Distressed and living the consequence of his mistake promotes a serious-feeling realization as his lover explains that “Everybody needs a little time away/…from each other”. The realization of his mistake immediately sends him into shock. His shock reveals the truth within him as he states his case. Obviously, lying at this point would only cause the situation to worsen and his lover would completely ignore him and leave. But, the serious tone brings his lover to stop and think, eventually reasoning that he is truly sorry and deserves another chance.
When the narrator gets his lover back, he is completely indifferent to the ironic situation. It is ironic that even after such a big mistake his lover takes him back. She even tells him, “Even lovers need a holiday”, to try to tell him off. Of course, once reunited, the narrator then becomes completely indifferent to the mistake and even the fact that she is mad at him. All he cares about is that she is back and that the love between them is renewed. Also ironic is the fact that he will probably make another mistake and the entire process will happen all over again. The love maybe made but the narrator’s immediate indifference foreshadows another problem in the relationship.
Through essential repetition, serious tone, and indifferent irony, Chicago portrays the idea that true sorrow can fix mistakes in “Hard To Say I’m Sorry/Get Away”. Chicago explains that forgiving is an act that can be done easily when someone is truly sorry. But they also warn us of the dangers and tricks of love that lead to entering a vicious circle.
No comments:
Post a Comment