I come from a land where the winters are long and cold Where the ice crawls over the lake and the strong winds blow Where old men are tough and tell tales of old A sore back for a hard day's work used to feed their souls Chicago, I never knew I'd miss you till I left and came back Chicago, I never knew how much I'd miss you till I left and came back My father was a steel working man With an old style in his hand he used to stomp across these lands We buried him here between Roosevelt and 110 I still visit his grave every now and then Chicago, I never knew I'd miss you till I left and came back Chicago, I never knew how much I'd miss you till I left and came back I used to lay my head where kings and stones held ground The warring in these streets, it still makes an awful sound Innocence wouldn't stray their rounds Bullets broke the windows as our bodies hit the ground Chicago, I never knew I'd miss you till I left and came back Chicago, I never knew how much I'd miss you till I left and came back It took a while to understand these facts That made me who I am and gave me insight to react Now I stand proud in being from this land And maybe you can learn from my experience firsthand Chicago, I never knew I'd miss you till I left and came back Chicago, I never knew how much I'd miss you till I left and came back