About the Song
Released in 1978 by the British pop group Paper Lace, “The Night Chicago Died” takes us back to a fictionalized, romanticized version of the gangland violence that plagued Chicago during the Prohibition Era.
The song paints a dramatic picture of a night of reckoning, a supposed final showdown between the Chicago Police and the notorious Al Capone Syndicate. While the historical accuracy is debatable, the song’s power lies in its storytelling and its ability to evoke a sense of drama and pathos.
“The Night Chicago Died” unfolds from the perspective of a child, witnessing the anguish of their mother as they wait for news of their father, a Chicago policeman caught in the crossfire. The lyrics, delivered with a touch of melodrama, create a sense of tension and suspense. Synthesizer sounds add a layer of drama, mimicking the wail of sirens in the night.
While the song doesn’t delve into the complexities of the era’s gang violence, it taps into a fascination with the gangster mythos. Al Capone, the infamous Chicago crime boss, becomes a larger-than-life figure, even though he’s not explicitly mentioned by name.
“The Night Chicago Died” may not be a historical document, but it’s a captivating story song. It serves as a reminder of a bygone era, albeit through a romanticized lens. For some listeners, the song might spark an interest in learning more about the real events that transpired during Prohibition in Chicago.
Whether you’re a history buff or simply enjoy a good dramatic ballad, “The Night Chicago Died” offers a glimpse into a world of gangsters, violence, and the human cost caught in the middle.
Video
Lyrics: The Night Chicago Died
Daddy was a cop on the east side of Chicago
Back in the USA, back in the bad old daysIn the heat of a summer night
In the land of the dollar bill
When the town of Chicago died
And they talk about it still
When a man named Al Capone
Tried to make that town his own
And he called his gang to war
With the forces of the lawI heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night it really was?
Brother, what a fight it really was?
Glory be!I heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw?
Brother, what a fight the people saw?
Yes, indeedAnd the sound of the battle rang
Through the streets of the old East Side
Till the last of the hoodlum gang
Had surrendered up or died
There was shouting in the street
And the sound of running feet
And I asked someone who said
“‘Bout a hundred cops are dead”.I heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night it really was?
Brother, what a fight it really was?
Glory be!I heard my momma cry
I heard her pray the night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw?
Brother, what a fight the people saw?
Yes, indeedThen there was no sound at all
But the clock upon the wall
Then the door burst open wide
And my daddy stepped inside
And he kissed my momma’s face
And he brushed her tears awayThe night Chicago died
Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
The night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw
Brother, what a fight the people saw
Yes, indeedThe night Chicago died
Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
The night Chicago died
Brother, what a night it really was
Brother, what a fight it really was
Glory be!The night Chicago died
Na-na na, na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
The night Chicago died
Brother, what a night the people saw