26 Songs About Chicago, from My Kind of Town to Go Cubs Go

What is the most famous song about Chicago?

"My Kind of Town" by Frank Sinatra is the most famous song about Chicago, along with "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)", which Sinatra also made a standard. "Sweet Home Chicago" is the city's blues anthem, and "Go Cubs Go" is the song every Cubs fan knows by heart.

Classic songs about Chicago

1. "Chicago (That Toddlin' Town)", Frank Sinatra: a 1920s song that became a Sinatra standard.
2. "The Windy City", Doris Day: a lively number from the 1953 musical Calamity Jane.
3. "My Kind of Town", Frank Sinatra: from the 1964 film Robin and the 7 Hoods.
4. "Lake Shore Drive", Aliotta Haynes Jeremiah: a 1971 local favorite about the famous lakefront road.
5. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown", Jim Croce: a tall tale about a tough guy from the South Side.
6. "The Night Chicago Died", Paper Lace: a 1974 hit about a fictional gangster shootout.

Chicago blues and rock songs

7. "Sweet Home Chicago", Robert Johnson: the blues classic, famously covered by The Blues Brothers.
8. "Chicago", Graham Nash: a 1971 protest song about the trial of the Chicago Eight.
9. "Via Chicago", Wilco: a haunting song from the Chicago band.
10. "Chicago", Sufjan Stevens: an indie favorite about a road trip and starting over.
11. "Chicago", Tom Waits: a stomping song about heading north to the city.
12. "Chicago", Michael Jackson: a posthumous release about a woman from the city.

Chicago hip-hop songs about the city

13. "Chi-City", Common: a proud tribute to his hometown.
14. "Homecoming", Kanye West featuring Chris Martin: Chicago told as a childhood sweetheart.
15. "Southside", Common featuring Kanye West: a love letter to the South Side.
16. "Angels", Chance the Rapper featuring Saba: an upbeat song about the city's young people.

Songs from the musical Chicago

17. "All That Jazz": the opening number of the musical set in 1920s Chicago.
18. "Cell Block Tango": the famous number sung by the women of the county jail.
19. "Razzle Dazzle": a lawyer's show-stopping lesson in winning over a jury.

Chicago sports anthems

20. "Go Cubs Go", Steve Goodman: sung at Wrigley Field after every Cubs win.
21. "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request", Steve Goodman: a funny, loving tribute to long-suffering fans.
22. "Take Me Out to the Ball Game": the seventh-inning stretch tradition Harry Caray made famous.
23. "The Super Bowl Shuffle", The Chicago Bears Shufflin' Crew: the 1985 Bears' rap single.
24. "Sirius", The Alan Parsons Project: the instrumental that introduced Michael Jordan's Bulls.
25. "Chelsea Dagger", The Fratellis: the Blackhawks' goal song.
26. "Here Come the Hawks": the Blackhawks' classic team song.

Why are there so many songs about Chicago?

Chicago is one of America's great music cities. During the Great Migration, musicians from the South brought the blues north and plugged in, creating the electric Chicago blues sound. The city later gave the world house music, a thriving jazz scene and some of hip-hop's biggest names. Its neighborhoods, its lake and its loyal sports fans give songwriters endless material.

The story behind My Kind of Town

Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn wrote "My Kind of Town" for Robin and the 7 Hoods, a 1964 Rat Pack musical comedy about gangsters in 1930s Chicago. Frank Sinatra sang it in the film, it was nominated for an Academy Award and it quickly became the city's unofficial anthem, heard at parades, ballgames and weddings ever since.

Chicago and the birth of house music

House music was born in Chicago in the early 80s, when DJ Frankie Knuckles mixed disco, soul and drum machines at a club called The Warehouse. Tracks like "Move Your Body" by Marshall Jefferson spread the sound around the world. For a Chicago party, a few house classics make the dance floor feel like home.

The story behind Go Cubs Go

Folk singer Steve Goodman, a lifelong Cubs fan, wrote "Go Cubs Go" in 1984. He died later that year, days before the Cubs clinched a playoff spot. The song became a fixture at Wrigley Field, played after every home win, and when the Cubs finally won the World Series in 2016, fans sang it all over the city.

Songs for a Chicago wedding

For a Chicago wedding, "My Kind of Town" makes a classic entrance for the couple, "Sweet Home Chicago" fills the dance floor and "Go Cubs Go" is a fun surprise for a couple of fans. For more sports songs, see our songs about baseball.

Songs for leaving Chicago

For a friend moving away, "Homecoming", "Chicago" by Sufjan Stevens and "Lake Shore Drive" will make them miss the city before they have even left. See our songs about moving for more.

More songs about American cities

For more city songs, see our songs about New York and songs about California.

A song about your Chicago story

A personalized song can celebrate a true Chicagoan: their name, their neighborhood, their team and the memories they made in the city, in a jazz, rock or hip-hop style. It makes a great birthday, retirement or farewell gift.

How to create a personalized song

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: jazz, rock, hip-hop and more.
2. Add their name.
3. Share three places or memories from their Chicago life.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Give your favorite Chicagoan a song of their own: create a song and hear four previews for free.