Chicago
Chicago

Michael Jackson fell in love with “Chicago” (a/k/a “She Was Lovin’ Me”) the first time he heard it. Written by songwriter, producer and former Sony VP Cory Rooney, a scratch demo was sent to Jackson in Los Angeles in 1999. Within days, Jackson was on a flight to New York City, ready to record the song at The Hit Factory in midtown Manhattan. Jackson sings in his lower register in the verses over an ominous beat, slowly painting a story of an illicit affair, before unleashing a torrent of pain and regret in the chorus. The song has often been referred to as “Chicago” (likely due to the lyric, “I met her on my way to Chicago,” though it is not to be confused with Jackson’s unreleased Bad session recording “Chicago 1945”).

I met her on the way to Chicago

Where she was all alone

And so was I so I asked her for her name

She smiled and looked at me

I was surprised to see

That a woman like that was really into me

She said she didn’t have no man

Raised the kids the very best she can {She’s lovin’ me}

She told me she was all alone

Said at home she didn’t have no phone {she’s wanting me}

She said just to give her a page

Fifty nine was the code she gave {she’s lovin’ me}

She’d lie to you, lie to me

But she was lovin me, lovin me, yeah

I never would have thought she was living like that

Her words seemed so sincere

And when I held her near she would tell me how she feels

It felt so real to me

This girl she had to be

An angel sent from heaven just for me

She said that she didn’t have no man

Raised the kids the very best she can {she’s lovin’ me}

She told me she was all alone

Said at home she didn’t have no phone {look who’s lovin me}

She said just to give her a page

Fifty nine was the code she gave {she gave to me}

She’d lie to you, lie to me

‘Cause she was lovin’ me, lovin’ me, yeah {look who’s lovin’ me}

She tried to live a double life

Lovin’ me while she was still your wife {she’s wanting me}

She thought that lovin’ me was cool

With you at work and the kids at school {she’s lovin’ me}

She said that it would never end

Tried to keep me any way she can {she’s wanting me}

She’d lie to you, lie to me,

But you got a family, family, yeah

I didn’t know she was already spoken for

‘Cause I’m not that kind of man

I swear that I woulda’ never looked her way

Now I feel so much shame

And all things have to change

You should know that I’m holdin’ her to blame

She said she didn’t have no man

Raised the kids the very best she can {holding her to blame}

She told me she was all alone,

Said at home she didn’t have no phone {holding her to blame}

She said just to give her a page

Fifty nine was the code she gave {holding her to blame}

She’d lie to you, lie to me,

While she was lovin’ me, lovin’ me, yeah

She tried to live a double life

Lovin’ me while she was still your wife {holding her to blame}

She thought that lovin’ me was cool

With you at work and the kids at school {holding her to blame}

She said that it would never end

Tried to keep me any way she can {holding her to blame}

She’d lie to you, lie to me,

‘cause she had a family, family, yeah {angel sent from heaven just for me}

She said she didn’t have no man

Raised the kids the very best she can {look she’s lovin’ me}

She told me she was all alone,

Said at home she didn’t have no phone {look who’s lovin’ me}

She said just to give her a page

Fifty nine was the code she gave {lovin’ me}

She’d lie to you, lie to me,

While she was lovin’ me, lovin’ me, yeah {look who’s lovin’ me}

She tried to live a double life

Lovin’ me while she was still your wife {she was wantin’ me}

She thought that lovin’ me was cool

With you at work and the kids at school {she was lovin’ me}

She said that it would never end

Tried to keep me any way she can {she was wantin’ me}

She’d lie to you, lie to me,

‘cause she had a family, family, yeah

Written by Cory Rooney
Published by Mijac Music (BMI) administered by Sony/ATV Songs LLC / Sony/ATV Songs LLC (BMI)
Vocals Produced by Michael Jackson for MJJ Productions, Inc. and Cory Rooney
Produced by Timbaland for Timbaland Productions and Co-produced by Jerome "Jroc" Harmon for Bronze and Brainz and Timbaland Productions
Recorded by Chris Godbey for SIDE BY SIDE / JVU ENT at The Hit Factory, assisted by Perry Jimenez
Guitar by Dan Warner
Mixed by Chris Godbey for SIDE BY SIDE / JVU ENT at Jungle City, assisted by Matt Weber

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