Hard to Say I'm Sorry is a 1982 soft rock power ballad by the American band Chicago, written by Peter Cetera and David Foster, with Cetera singing lead. It was released on May 17, 1982 as the lead single from the album Chicago 16, and its lyrics center on apology and seeking forgiveness. The track marks a stylistic shift for Chicago, moving away from their horn-led soft rock toward a polished 1980s production with synthesizers and layered guitars, though the second movement Get Away brings back some horn elements. It features session contributions from Toto members Steve Lukather, David Paich, and Steve Porcaro, while Cetera handles vocals and acoustic guitar. Hard to Say I'm Sorry reached No 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks in September 1982, spent twelve weeks in the top five, and earned a Grammy nomination along with RIAA gold certification. The song was used as the ending theme for the 1982 film Summer Lovers, and a 1997 cover by Az Yet featuring Cetera also became a hit.
