‘Keep On Loving You’ is a rock ballad written by Kevin Cronin and performed by American rock band REO Speedwagon. It features the lead guitar work of Gary Richrath. The song first appeared on REO Speedwagon's 1980 album Hi Infidelity. It was the first REO Speedwagon single to break the top 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, reaching the number-one spot for one week in March 1981. The single was certified platinum for U.S. sales of over one million copies. It peaked at number seven on the UK Singles Chart.
This song is lead singer Kevin Cronin's response after he found out his wife Denise had been cheating on him before they were married. Instead of leaving her, he decided that he would keep on loving her no matter what, as he made that promise. Cronin called it, "The most painful song I ever wrote."
Kevin Cronin stated that he wrote "Keep On Loving You" as a more traditional love ballad, and the band as a whole developed it into its final arrangement as a power ballad: “I walked into rehearsal and sat down at the piano, which I rarely do because I'm a guitar player, and started playing "Keep on Loving You." ... And the guys in the band looked at me like I was from another planet. Gary [Richrath] went over, plugged in his guitar and started playing power chords to this little love song I wrote. The next thing we knew, it was a number one record and everyone was calling it a power ballad and acted like we had this strategy for success that made this song happen when really it was just an accident.”
The title suggests a blissful love free from complications, leading some people to use it at weddings. Bad idea, says Kevin Cronin. "a lot of people over the years have told me how they played that song at their wedding and it was the first dance at their wedding, or it's "their song" with their boyfriend or girlfriend," he said, "My first thought is always, 'Wait. Did you listen to the verses of the song?!'"
Label – Epic
Songwriter – Kevin Cronin
Producers – Kevin Beamish, Kevin Cronin, Alan Gratzer, Gary Richrath
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]You should've seen by the look in my eyes, baby
There was something missing
You should've known by the tone of my voice, maybe
But you didn't listen
You played dead
But you never bled
Instead you lay still in the grass
All coiled up and hissing
[Verse 2]
And though I know all about those men
Still I don't remember
'Cause it was us, baby, way before them
And we're still together
[Pre-Chorus]
And I meant, every word I said
When I said that I love you
I meant that I love you forever
[Chorus]
And I'm gonna keep on loving you
'Cause it's the only thing I wanna do
I don't wanna sleep
I just wanna keep on loving you
[Guitar Solo]
[Pre-Chorus]
And I meant, every word I said
When I said that I love you
I meant that I love you forever
[Chorus]
And I'm gonna keep on loving you
'Cause it's the only thing I wanna do
I don't wanna sleep
I just wanna keep on loving you
Baby, I'm gonna keep on loving you
'Cause it's the only thing I wanna do
I don't wanna sleep
I just wanna keep on loving you