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.
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Anita Baker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can count on me.
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree for me.
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
Baby dreams, oh dreams
Oh sweet dreams
I'll be home for Christmas, so darling.
You can count on me.
Please have?
Oh Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love-light gleams.
Ooh I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
The song "I'll Be Home For Christmas" by Anita Baker is a classic holiday tune that speaks to the emotional longing and nostalgia for the comforts of home during the Christmas season. The song opens with the singer making a promise to be home for Christmas, stating that the listener can count on them. The singer then expresses their desires for the perfect Christmas setting, hoping for snow, mistletoe, and presents under the tree. The second verse specifically mentions Christmas Eve, a time when the love-light gleams, implying the warmth and love of a family gathering. The song concludes with the singer acknowledging that they may only be able to make it home in their dreams, highlighting the distance and separation they feel.
In essence, this song captures the essence of the holiday season – family, love, and the longing for connection. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and yearning for the comforts of home during a time when many people must travel or may be far from their loved ones. Anita Baker's soulful delivery of the song brings a sense of emotional depth to the already heartfelt lyrics, reminding listeners of their own deep-rooted emotions during the holiday season.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll be home for Christmas.
I promise to be with you on Christmas day.
You can count on me.
You can trust and rely on me to keep my promise.
Please have snow and mistletoe
I hope that we will have winter weather and traditional Christmas decorations.
And presents under the tree for me.
I hope that there will be gifts for me to open when I arrive.
Christmas Eve will find me
On Christmas Eve, I will be somewhere special.
Where the love-light gleams.
I will be in a place full of warmth, love and kindness.
I'll be home for Christmas
I will make every effort to be home for Christmas.
If only in my dreams.
If I can't be there physically, I will still hold you in my heart and imagine spending Christmas with you.
Baby in my dreams
I often think of you, especially at Christmas.
Baby dreams, oh dreams
Sometimes dreams are the only way to be together.
Oh sweet dreams
May we both have peaceful and pleasant dreams of being together on Christmas.
Contributed by Xavier I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.