As a result, DeYoung's demo was placed on Cornerstone with Shaw overdubbing a guitar solo in the song's middle section.

Cash Box said it has "crystalline singing and airy electric piano leads" but that the "high harmonies are the highlight.

"[6] Billboard called it a "melodic pop number" that should break the band into adult contemporary playlists.

"[8] Eric Hegedus of The Morning Call considered it one of the best examples of Styx's "newfound mastery of the techniques needed to perform slow love songs" and highlighted the "deceptively simple lyrics.

[11][12][13] In 1999, "Babe" was included in the soundtrack to the film Big Daddy, starring Adam Sandler, whose character is a huge fan of Styx.

In 1997 Dutch boy band Caught in the Act covered "Babe" on their album Vibe.

In the music video, the band members play soldiers and perform the song both in a barracks and on patrol.