With her classy, refined brand of romantic soul, Anita Baker was one of the definitive quiet storm singers of the '80s. Gifted with a strong, supple alto, Baker was influenced not only by R&B, but jazz, gospel, and traditional pop, which gave her music a distinctly adult sophistication. Smooth and mellow, but hardly lifeless, it made her one of the most popular romantic singers of her time.
Baker was born January 26, 1958, in Toledo, OH, and raised in nearby Detroit, where she grew up listening to female jazz singers like Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and Ella Fitzgerald. At age 12, she began singing a gospel choir, and by age 16 she was performing with several local bands. In 1975, she successfully auditioned for Chapter 8, one of Detroit's most popular acts at the time; the group eventually signed with Ariola and released an album in 1979, but were immediately dropped when the label was acquired by Arista (which didn't care for Baker's vocals). Chastened, Baker worked low-paying jobs in Detroit and eventually found steady work as a receptionist at a law firm. In 1982, Otis Smith -- an executive who'd worked with Chapter 8 -- contacted Baker about recording for his new label Beverly Glen. Happy with her employment benefits and skittish over the experience with Arista, Baker was reluctant at first, but eventually flew out to the West Coast to record her debut album, The Songstress, in 1983. Though it didn't gain quite enough exposure to become a hit, it did help Baker build a strong fan base through word-of-mouth and she was signed by Elektra in 1985.
Working with producer Michael J. Powell (an old Chapter 8 cohort), Baker released her major-label debut Rapture in 1986. It was a platinum, Grammy winning smash, appealing to both urban and adult contemporary listeners and producing two all-time quiet storm classics in "Caught Up in the Rapture" and "Sweet Love." Baker toured the world in 1987 and her guest appearance on the Winans track "Ain't No Need to Worry" won a Grammy. Her equally stylish follow-up album, Giving You the Best That I Got, appeared in 1988, spawning more staples in the title track and "Just Because." "Giving You the Best That I Got" also won Baker two more Grammys, for Best Female R&B Vocal and Best R&B Song. For her third Elektra album, Baker decided to handle a greater share of the songwriting, hence the title Compositions, which was released in 1990 and featured even stronger jazz inflections than Baker's previous work (not to mention all live instruments).
Following Compositions, Baker took a break from recording and touring; after having her first son in 1993, she returned to the studio to craft Rhythm of Love, which was released in 1994. In the years that followed, Baker was mostly silent, despite her fans' clamoring for a jazz album; instead, she raised her family and became embroiled in contract disputes with Elektra, which eventually led her to move to Atlantic. She began working on a new album in 2000, but had to start over from scratch due to defective recording equipment that made the original tracks unsalvageable. In 2004 it was announced that she had signed with Blue Note and still working on her new album. In the meantime, the Atlantic imprint Rhino released Night of Rapture: Live, a 1987 concert originally available on video. Baker finally returned to the studio in 2003 and issued My Everything, her first album in 10 years. Two years later she released her first holiday album, Christmas Fantasy.
Body & Soul
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What have you done to me
I can't eat, I cannot sleep
And I'm not the same anymore, no, no
I don't know what to do
?Cause all of me wants all of you
Do I stand alone at the shore
Now once I could turn away
From everything I feel today
But now I wanna walk through your door
But I've got to know, oh, body and soul
That you've got no doubt, inside and out
We are whole, ho, body and soul
Don't leave me out in the cold
Just love me body and soul
(Body and soul)
Do you hear me, baby
I've wasted too much time
Livin' for what wasn't mine
And then came the day I found you
And now I want nothing less
I've found a love that Is truly blessed
And I wanna make dreams come true
But I've got to know, oh, body and soul
That you've got no doubt, inside and out
We are whole, ho, body and soul
Don't leave me out in the cold
Just love me body and soul
Every day is getting better
The more I trust I feel stronger, stronger
Every kiss brings me closer
It feels good to let you inside
I've got to know, oh
Is there any doubt in your mind, oh, yeah
Oh, baby, ho, ho, body and soul)
Don't leave me out in this cold
Just love me body, hey, love
I've got to know, oh
Bet you dollar, baby, yeah, oh, oh, ho,
Is there any doubts in your mind
Tell me, baby, tell me, darlin', body and soul
Just let me love me
Just let me love me body and, and soul
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yes
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
The lyrics of "Body and Soul" by Anita Baker express the deep longing for a true connection with another person, matching not only physical passion but also emotional and spiritual fulfillment. The song paints a vivid picture of the singer's soul-baring confession of love to the person who has captured her heart. She says that she cannot eat or sleep, and she feels transformed by this love, realizing that her life was incomplete before this meeting. She cannot resist the pull towards her loved one and wants to make it known, asking for assurance that they share the same exceptional passion she feels. The song ends on a powerful note, with the singer asking her partner to let her love them "body and soul."
The song beautifully portrays the inherent human desire to connect with someone in a deeply meaningful way. It is an evocative ballad that stands the test of time, transcending generations and remaining relevant even today. The power of love is a universal theme that touches the heart of every listener. Baker's vocal range, combined with the depth of feeling conveyed in the lyrics, elevates the song to emotional heights, making it a classic in the annals of romantic ballads.
Line by Line Meaning
What have you done to me
The singer is so consumed by their feelings for their lover that it has changed them in a significant way.
I can't eat, I cannot sleep
The singer is so infatuated with their lover that they are having trouble doing everyday things like eating and sleeping.
And I'm not the same anymore, no, no
The singer has changed so much due to their feelings that they no longer feel like the same person they once were.
I don't know what to do
The singer is overwhelmed by their feelings and doesn't know what to do about them.
?Cause all of me wants all of you
The singer wants to be fully committed to their lover and have their lover be fully committed to them.
Do I stand alone at the shore
The singer is questioning whether they are standing alone at the shore of their relationship, wondering if they are the only one in it.
Now once I could turn away
The singer used to be able to push away their feelings, but that is no longer the case.
From everything I feel today
The singer is feeling extremely strong emotions that they can no longer push aside.
But now I wanna walk through your door
The singer wants to take their relationship to the next level and be closer to their lover.
But I've got to know, oh, body and soul
The singer needs to know if their lover is committed to them in every way.
That you've got no doubt, inside and out
The singer needs to know that their lover has no doubts about their love for them.
We are whole, ho, body and soul
The singer and their lover together are a complete, whole entity.
Don't leave me out in the cold
The singer is afraid of being left alone and isolated.
Just love me body and soul
The singer wants to be loved by their lover completely and fully.
Every day is getting better
The singer's love for their lover is growing stronger every day.
The more I trust I feel stronger, stronger
The more the singer trusts their lover, the stronger their love for them becomes.
Every kiss brings me closer
The singer feels closer to their lover with every kiss.
It feels good to let you inside
The singer is happy to let their lover into their life and heart.
I've got to know, oh
The singer needs answers about their lover and their relationship.
Is there any doubt in your mind, oh, yeah
The singer needs to know if their lover has any doubts about their commitment to the relationship.
Just love me body, hey, love
The singer wants their lover to love them completely and without any reservations.
Bet you dollar, baby, yeah, oh, oh, ho,
The singer is so sure of their love for their lover that they would bet anything on it.
Tell me, baby, tell me, darlin', body and soul
The singer is asking their lover to tell them how they truly feel about the relationship.
Just let me love me
The singer wants to express their love for their lover fully and completely.
Body and soul
The singer's love for their lover is so strong and all-consuming that it affects every aspect of their being.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MARILYN MC LEOD, MEL BOLTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ashb5201
What have you done to me
I can't eat, I cannot sleep
And I'm not the same anymore, no, no
I don't know what to do
?Cause all of me wants all of you
Do I stand alone at the shore
Now once I could turn away
From everything I feel today
But now I wanna walk through your door
But I've got to know, oh, body and soul
That you've got no doubt, inside and out
We are whole, ho, body and soul
Don't leave me out in the cold
Just love me body and soul
Do you hear me, baby
I've wasted too much time
Livin' for what wasn't mine
And then came the day I found you
And now I want nothing less
I've found a love that Is truly blessed
And I wanna make dreams come true
But I've got to know, oh, body and soul
That you've got no doubt, inside and out
We are whole, ho, body and soul
Don't leave me out in the cold
Just love me body and soul
Every day is getting better
The more I trust I feel stronger, stronger
Every kiss brings me closer
It feels good to let you inside
I've got to know, oh
Is there any doubt in your mind, oh, yeah
Oh, baby, ho, ho, body and soul)
Don't leave me out in this cold
Just love me body, hey, love
I've got to know, oh
Bet you dollar, baby, yeah, oh, oh, ho,
Is there any doubts in your mind
Tell me, baby, tell me, darlin', body and soul
Just let me love me
Just let me love me body and, and soul
Oh, oh, oh, oh, yes
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
Body and soul, soul
@bobthebear1246
I'm a Metalhead, and I am saying right here and right now that Anita Baker has one of the greatest voices in music history.
@ItBeYourOwn
Bob YESSS and welcome to the r&b, soul community!! Keep listening it makes me so happy this song speaks to you as a rock&roll fan awww.
@canadaglennrz
Bob, totally amazing that a metal head recognized an incredible talent when he hears it.
Thanks for owning up.
@therealmamabeardontcare
Yea baby she does
@marquiestjohnson6194
Respect🤙🤙🤙
@jasonscales-douglas7492
Yes sir
@martialseb7107
If you are watching this in 2023, you are legend
@lb1798
2024
@Tiffany.1970
I'm here in 2024 n listening to Anita baker and this beautiful song indeed 💗😍 I've got the CD it's well worth buying
@carmnwaller
2024