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.
Close Your Eyes
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said your heart won't lie to me
You speak and dreams are real
Free to follow what you feel
Close your eyes and see
Life's no mystery
Dreams become reality
Sight of heart instead of mind
Open eyes still travel blind
We stumble in the dark
See things clearly with your heart
Close your eyes and see
Life's no mystery
Your dreams become reality
If you close your eyes and see
Come and fall through clouds of doubt
Fall through clouds of fear, clouds of fear
Fall into my arms baby
Touch this feeling, feeling's believin'
Follow your heart
Close your eyes and see
Life's no mystery
Dreams become reality
Close your eyes and see
See with you your heart
See with your spirit
Not with your mind, not with your eyes
Close your eyes
The opening verse of Anita Baker's "Close Your Eyes" speaks about how the stars in the sky act as a source of guidance towards the truth. She assures her partner that whatever is in their heart will not deceive them, urging them to trust their instincts and follow their dreams. In the second verse, Baker emphasizes the limitations of sight and urges her partner to trust their heart instead of their mind. She suggests that sight can be deceiving and can cause one to stumble in the dark, but looking with the heart will provide a clearer path.
The chorus, a repetition of "close your eyes and see, life's no mystery," is the centerpiece of the song. Baker sings about the power of the mind to transform dreams into reality when one is willing to close their eyes and see beyond what their mind thinks is true. The bridge is a plea for her partner to come to her with their doubts and fears and trust her- the woman they love, who has their best interest at heart. She asserts that if one follows their heart and trusts what they feel, they will find love and security.
Overall, Anita Baker's "Close Your Eyes" is a beautiful song about the power of trust and love. The song underscores the importance of being in tune with oneself and listening to the voice within. It implores us to trust our instincts and not be held back by fear or uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Stars up in the sky
The singer is referring to the inexplicable beauty of the world around us, which is proof that our hearts lead us towards what is true.
Said your heart won't lie to me
The singer trusts that the person they are addressing is genuine in their emotions, meaning that what they feel is real and true as opposed to a fabrication.
You speak and dreams are real
The power of spoken words can bring dreams to life, making them tangible and attainable if we focus on them enough.
Free to follow what you feel
The artist empowers the person they are addressing to follow their heart and pursue their dreams, knowing that it will lead them to happiness and fulfillment.
Close your eyes and see
The artist encourages the person to look inward and trust themselves, believing that their dreams and desires are attainable if they have faith in their own abilities.
Life's no mystery
The singer acknowledges that life does not always make sense, but encourages the person to explore their innermost desires and beliefs to find clarity and purpose.
Dreams become reality
The singer is optimistic that the person's dreams will come true if they have the courage and faith to pursue them head on, even in the face of obstacles.
Sight of heart instead of mind
The artist advises the person to rely on their intuition and emotions, rather than solely on their logical thinking, to make decisions that are true to their core values.
Open eyes still travel blind
The artist acknowledges that even though the person may see what is in front of them, they may still not see the full picture and could benefit from trusting their heart instead.
We stumble in the dark
The artist references the challenges of life, and how it can be difficult to find our way without any guidance or direction.
See things clearly with your heart
The singer encourages the person to approach life with their heart, which allows them to see things more clearly and intuitively, rather than just what's on the surface.
Come and fall through clouds of doubt
The artist invites the person to embrace their doubts and fears, seeing them as opportunities to grow and move forward in their journey towards achieving their dreams.
Fall through clouds of fear, clouds of fear
The singer acknowledges that fear can be overwhelming and confusing, but encourages the person to push through it and take a leap of faith towards their aspirations.
Fall into my arms baby
The singer is a source of comfort and reassurance for the person, letting them know that they are there to support them on their journey.
Touch this feeling, feeling's believin'
The singer emphasizes that when we feel something in our hearts, there is an innate truth to it that we can rely on.
Follow your heart
The artist reiterates the importance of following one's heart, which will lead to happiness and fulfillment.
See with your heart
The artist reminds the person to approach life through their emotions and intuition, rather than relying solely on their senses and logic.
See with your spirit
The singer suggests that the person should embrace a spiritual and intuitive approach to life, which will lead them to greater self-discovery and understanding.
Not with your mind, not with your eyes
The singer emphasizes that there is more to life than just what we see and understand logically, encouraging the person to explore the unexplainable and mystifying aspects of existence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANITA BAKER, BARRY JAMES EASTMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yoshimoura
"Close Your Eyes"
Stars up in the sky
Said your heart won't lie to me
You speak and dreams are real
Free to follow what you feel
[Chorus:]
Close your eyes and see
Life's no mystery
Dreams become reality
Close your eyes and see
Sight of heart instead of mind
Open eyes still travel blind
We stumble in the dark
See things clearly with your heart
Close your eyes and see
Life's no mystery
Your dreams become reality
If you close your eyes and see
Come and fall through clouds of doubt
Fall through clouds of fear, clouds of fear
Fall into my arms baby
Touch this feeling, feeling's believin'
Follow your heart
[Chorus:]
Close your eyes and see
Life's no mystery
Dreams become reality
Close your eyes and see
See with you your heart
See with your spirit
Not with your mind, not with your eyes
Close your eyes
@ReginaQueengeeny1955Dorfmeyer
My mother loved Anita Baker. In fact, Anita made this album in memory of her own dearly departed mother. My mother drew her last breath to this song. My hand on her heart on one side of her bed. Her sister held her hand on her other side. The room was dark and quiet... except the cooing sounds of Ms. Baker... I will never forget <3
@soniashields5787
Sorry for the loss of your mom. Good people she loved was with her❤
@michaelstratton6701
That's a beautiful memory of your last time with your mother, sad but, beautiful
@ReginaQueengeeny1955Dorfmeyer
Sonia Shields ❤️
@ReginaQueengeeny1955Dorfmeyer
Michael Stratton ❤️thank you.
@ReginaQueengeeny1955Dorfmeyer
DAVID FENN ❤️thank you so much.
@stephm9397
Belief it or not I use this song after missions every-night in Afghanistan in 2004 to relax my mind, reset and separate myself from any issues. This song save my mind!!
@sheildarobinson2195
Only one of my favorite song from Anita Baker,I don't think there is one she ever made that i don't like,she's one in a million.
@rosfivetolife
"Anita Baker, the soul of the African American People!"
@rikayapartlow
"Sight of heart instead of mind. Open eyes still travel blind...we stumble in the dark, see things clearly with your heart." Whew chile......