It took a decade for Kevin Cronin to finalize the composition that would eventually become one of REO Speedwagon’s most defining power ballads. When he eventually presented it, he disliked the title, but resistance was futile. The origins of “Can’t Fight This Feeling” traced back, like many of Cronin’s compositions, to a past relationship. Superficially, the song narrates the story of a man finally confessing his long-standing love for someone. More explicitly, as the singer and songwriter later clarified, it was “about my inability to have the courage to express myself.”

In 1984, Cronin dedicated himself to completing the track during a hiatus for REO Speedwagon, who were grappling with a demanding schedule. He was in Hawaii when he revisited a piece he had tentatively named “My Guiding Light.”

“When I crafted the verses for that song, it felt like I had captured lightning in a bottle,” he later recounted. “It was an extremely emotional night for me. However, I never penned a chorus. On a day when I was scheduled to co-write the chorus with Eric Carmen from the Raspberries, I woke up feeling severely unwell. I called Eric, saying, ‘Dude, I can’t do it today.’ Yet, as I lay in bed, I thought, ‘I really don’t want to co-write this song. This song is too special for me. I need to figure this out.’”

Recalling being bedridden and unable to shake off the sickness, Cronin questioned what was lacking in the lyrics. He reasoned with himself, saying, “The opening line of the song is, ‘I can’t fight this feeling any longer’ – I thought, ‘That’s what the song’s about. It’s about having a feeling and resisting it for so long until you finally have to surrender.‘ I need to put this out there. I might face rejection, but I have to try.”

The next thing he couldn’t resist any longer was the song’s title. “I’m like, ‘Alright, I guess the title of the song is “I Can’t Fight This Feeling.” … That’s a terrible song title! I can’t believe I’m going to [name] this song I’m so proud of with this crappy song title!’ Well, I got to!”

The track featured on REO Speedwagon’s 11th album, “Wheels Are Turnin’,” in November 1984. “Can’t Fight This Feeling” became its second single, released on January 23, 1985, and it secured the No. 1 position for three consecutive weeks in March – their second single to reach the top spot, following 1981’s “Keep on Loving You.”

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Lyrics

I can’t fight this feeling any longer
And yet I’m still afraid to let it flow
What started out as friendship, has grown stronger
I only wish I had the strength to let it show
I tell myself that I can’t hold out forever
I said there is no reason for my fear
Cause I feel so secure when we’re together
You give my life direction
You make everything so clear

And even as I wander
I’m keeping you in sight
You’re a candle in the window
On a cold, dark winter’s night
And I’m getting closer than I ever thought I might

And I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
It’s time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever

Cause I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through your door
Baby, I can’t fight this feeling anymore

My life has been such a whirlwind since I saw you
I’ve been running round in circles in my mind
And it always seems that I’m following you, girl
Cause you take me to the places that alone I’d never find

And even as I wander I’m keeping you in sight
You’re a candle in the window on a cold, dark winter’s night
And I’m getting closer than I ever thought I might

And I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
It’s time to bring this ship into the shore
And throw away the oars, forever

Cause I can’t fight this feeling anymore
I’ve forgotten what I started fighting for
And if I have to crawl upon the floor
Come crashing through your door
Baby, I can’t fight this feeling anymore