"Babe" was the lead single from Styx's 1979 triple-platinum album Cornerstone. The song was Styx's first, and only, U.S. number-one single.

The song was written by member Dennis DeYoung as a birthday present for his wife Suzanne. The finished track was recorded as a demo with just DeYoung and Styx members John Panozzo and Chuck Panozzo playing on the track, with DeYoung singing all of the harmonies himself.

The song was not originally intended to be a Styx track, but Styx members James "J.Y" Young and Tommy Shaw convinced DeYoung to put the song on Cornerstone. As a result, DeYoung's demo was placed on Cornerstonewith Shaw overdubbing a guitar solo in the song's middle section. The track became a major hit, reaching #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was their only major UK hit single, reaching #6.

VH1 ranked it the second most "softsational" soft rock song of all time.

Dutch boy band Caught In The Act covered this track to relative success. Alexander O'Neal covered the song on his 2008 album, Alex Loves. Philippine singer April Boy Regino also covered the song in his 2000 album Super Idol. This song is also covered by Piolo Pascual for the movie Babe, I Love You from Star Cinema in the Philippines.