In 1981, Cetera released his first solo album on Warner Bros. Records. The album was a commercial failure, which Cetera has attributed to Warner Bros.' refusal to promote him as a solo artist out of fear that he would leave Chicago, who had only recently signed with the label.
In 1985, Cetera was interested in recording another solo album. He had stated his lack of interest for the extensive touring schedule of the band. When the 17 Tour concluded in late-April 1985, Chicago's management, along with several members of the band, had expressed a desire to book another tour for that summer and start work on the next Chicago album.
Cetera insisted that they take a break from touring so that he could concentrate on a solo album and spend more time with his family. After the band rejected his offer to stay in the band while recording a solo album, it was announced that Cetera and Chicago would go their separate ways in July 1985.
Almost immediately, Cetera continued his streak of success. His first single, "Glory of Love" (the theme to the movie The Karate Kid, Part II), was a US No. 1 hit in 1986, and achieved similar success throughout the world.
He has many hits, such as:
1982 - "Livin' In The Limelight" #6 (Mainstream Rock) US
1986 - "Glory of Love" #1 US, #1 (Adult Contemporary) US, #3 UK (also appears on the soundtrack to The Karate Kid, Part II)
1986 - "The Next Time I Fall" (with Amy Grant) #1 US, #1 (Adult Contemporary) US, #78 UK
1987 - "Only Love Knows Why" #24 (Adult Contemporary) US
1987 - "I Wasn't the One (Who Said Goodbye)" (with Agnetha Fältskog) #93 US, #19 (Adult Contemporary) US
1988 - "One Good Woman" #4 US, #1 (Adult Contemporary) US, #82 UK
1992 - "Restless Heart" #35 US, #1 (Adult Contemporary) US
1993 - "Even A Fool Can See" #68 US, #3 (Adult Contemporary) US
1995 - "(I Wanna Take) Forever Tonight" (with Crystal Bernard) #86 US, #22 (Adult Contemporary) US
1997 - "Do You Love Me That Much" #6 (Adult Contemporary) US
No Explanation
Peter Cetera Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're someone I've needed for a lifetime
Your heart was cleverly disguised
But it didn't look that way in my mind
Tell me how can it be I was the last to know
Darling I couldn't read what was in your mind
To turn around and to love me
With no explanation
I gave you everything I had
I didn't know that you would take it
With sweet consideration
And after all that we've been through
I can't believe it's true
Until I hear you say
My mouth is still wet from our last kiss
Was loving me your one intention
What were the signs and the times that I missed
Oh I need you more than I could mention
I won't ever accept you leaving for someone else
Baby and when something is wrong
Darling I need to know
Don't ever leave me
With no explanation
I gave you everything I had
I didn't know that you would take it
With sweet consideration
And after all that we've been through
I can't believe it's true
Until I hear you say
The lyrics of this song are a powerful expression of surprise, confusion, hurt, and ultimately, love. The singer is addressing a lover who has taken them by surprise, that is someone they have loved for a long time but who was not quite visible to them before. The lover's heart is described as 'cleverly disguised,' which suggests that the singer didn't recognize the lover's feelings until it was spelled out to them. They confess that they were the last to know and couldn't read the lover's mind. The lover's sudden confession of love without explanation confuses the singer, but they nevertheless gave them everything they had, only to realize that the lover took it with sweet consideration. The singer can't believe that they love them until they hear it from the lover's mouth.
The singer is still enchanted by the last kiss they shared with the lover, suggesting that they have been intimate. They wonder if loving them was ever the lover's one intention and what signs or times they missed. The singer is confident that they won't ever accept the lover leaving for someone else and begs them never to leave with no explanation, for they need to know when something is wrong. The song is a story of the unpredictability of love, how it can catch one off-guard and put them through a rollercoaster of emotions, but how it can also be sweet and rewarding when it ultimately works out.
Line by Line Meaning
You really took me by surprise
You caught me off guard with your sudden love.
You're someone I've needed for a lifetime
You're the person I've been searching for my whole life.
Your heart was cleverly disguised
You didn't reveal your true feelings right away.
But it didn't look that way in my mind
I didn't see any signs of it happening.
Tell me how can it be I was the last to know
I don't understand how I was the only one unaware of your feelings.
Darling I couldn't read what was in your mind
I couldn't decipher your thoughts or emotions.
To turn around and to love me
To suddenly fall in love with me.
With no explanation
Without any justification or reasoning.
I gave you everything I had
I gave you my all, with no holding back.
I didn't know that you would take it
I didn't expect you to accept or reciprocate my love.
With sweet consideration
With kind and thoughtful care.
And after all that we've been through
Despite everything that happened between us.
I can't believe it's true
I can't grasp the reality of the situation.
Until I hear you say
Unless you express yourself verbally to me.
My mouth is still wet from our last kiss
I still feel the sensation of our previous kiss.
Was loving me your one intention
Is your love for me genuine or were you pretending?
What were the signs and the times that I missed
I wonder if I overlooked any indications of your love for me.
Oh I need you more than I could mention
I desire you more than words could express.
I won't ever accept you leaving for someone else
I won't tolerate you leaving me for another person.
Baby and when something is wrong
My dear, if something is amiss,
Darling I need to know
I require your honesty and openness about it.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID FOSTER, BECKIE FOSTER, BILL LABOUNTY, LINDA THOMPSON-JENNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abodyesar1921
You really took me by surprise
You're someone I've needed for a lifetime
Your heart was cleverly disguised
But it didn't look that way in my mind
Tell me how can it be I was the last to know
Darling I couldn't read what was in your mind
To turn around and to love me
With no explanation
I gave you everything I had
I didn't know that you would take it
With sweet consideration
And after all that we've been through
I can't believe it's true
Until I hear you say
My mouth is still wet from our last kiss
Was loving me your one intention
What were the signs and the times that I missed
Oh I need you more than I could mention
I won't ever accept you leaving for someone else
Baby and when something is wrong
Darling I need to know
Don't ever leave me
With no explanation
I gave you everything I had
I didn't know that you would take it
With sweet consideration
And after all that we've been through
I can't believe it's true
Until I hear you say
@Nickdevro
Who's still here in 2024? Timeless Peter Cetera
@joeblack6384
Who loves this song in 2024?
@almarosacastillomartinez6540
❤
@mrvldts_jx
Meeeee!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤
@brandonwinbush7923
Me❤
@ellysulastri5461
Me
@sarahsaville6829
You ever heard the term starstruck? I was backstage working a Peter Cetera concert detail. I work for the fire department and I was in the hallway and who none other than the man the myth the legend, Peter Cetera comes walking down the hall he was only one foot in front of me. I was speechless. My favorite male singer of all time!! What memories in the mid to late 80's and 90's!! I miss those days
@mrvldts_jx
😱😱😱 OMG for real???❤❤❤❤
@Gzimkodra
Omg 1990 kicks off with a classic movie. Miss the 90s
@lovejoypain
I'll forever be in love with the 90s...and 80s. I remember back in high school going to see him and David Bowie in concert. Excellent times. The memories.