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.
Sweet Love
Anita Baker Lyrics
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Stay with me and you will see
My arms will hold you, baby
Never leave, 'cause I believe I'm in love
Sweet love
Hear me callin' out your name
I feel no shame
Don't you ever go away
It'll always be this way
Your heart has called me closer to you
I will be all that you need
Just trust
In what we're feeling
Never leave, 'cause baby, I believe
In this love
Sweet love
Hear me callin' out your name
I feel no shame
I'm in love, sweet love
Don't you ever go away
It'll always be this way
There's no stronger love in this world (no stronger love)
Oh, baby, no
You're my man, I'm your girl
I'll never go, wait and see, can't be wrong
Don't you know this is where you belong?
Oh, how sweet this dream, how lovely, baby
Stay right here, never fear
I will be all that you need
Never leave, 'cause baby, I believe
In this love
Sweet love
Hear me callin' out your name
I feel no shame
I'm in love, sweet love
Don't you ever go away
It'll always be this way
(Sweet love) oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Sweet love) oh-ooh
So sweet
So sweet
So sweet oh, oh, love
(Sweet love) yeah, oh love
Oh baby, no sweeter love
(Sweet love) oh, sweeter love
Oh no, no, no, no, no, no, no no, no
(Sweet love) don't nobody know
Don't nobody know how sweet it is
(Sweet love) how sweet it is
Love me sweetly, baby
Just love me sweetly, baby
(Sweet love)
Don't nobody know
The song “Sweet Love” by Anita Baker is a love ballad that expresses a deep and abiding love. The singer is calling out to her partner to stay with her, and she promises to never leave because she believes in their love. She wants her partner to know that they are meant to be together and that their love is strong enough to withstand anything. The lyrics imply that the singer has found the love of her life and that she feels more complete with her partner by her side. The title of the song, “Sweet Love,” reflects the intensity and tenderness of their relationship. It is a love that is pure, sweet, and eternal.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the strength of their love, describing it as the strongest love in the world. She assures her partner that they belong together and that she will always be there for him. The lyrics suggest that their love is so intense that it is almost otherworldly. The singer’s voice is soft and gentle, conveying the depth and sincerity of her emotions. Meanwhile, the music is smooth and mellow, creating a romantic and dreamy atmosphere. Overall, “Sweet Love” is a beautiful love ballad that expresses a deep appreciation for the beauty and power of love.
Line by Line Meaning
With all my heart, I love you, baby
I'm deeply in love with you and my entire being loves you
Stay with me and you will see
If you stay with me, you'll see how much love I have to give
My arms will hold you, baby
I'll always be there to hold and comfort you
Never leave, 'cause I believe I'm in love
I don't want you to leave because I truly believe that what we have is love
Sweet love
Our love is sweet
Hear me callin' out your name
I want you to hear me calling you because that's how much I want you
I feel no shame
I'm not ashamed of my love for you
Don't you ever go away
Please don't leave me because I can't bear to be without you
It'll always be this way
Our love will always be like this
Your heart has called me closer to you
Your heart has drawn me closer to you
I will be all that you need
I'll be everything you need
Just trust In what we're feeling
Believe in the feelings we have for each other
In this love
In the love we share
There's no stronger love in this world (no stronger love)
Our love is the strongest love in the world
You're my man, I'm your girl
You're my man and I'm your woman
I'll never go, wait and see, can't be wrong
I won't leave, just wait and see, because our love is too right to be wrong
Don't you know this is where you belong?
You belong with me, can't you see?
How sweet this dream, how lovely, baby
Our love is a sweet and lovely dream
Stay right here, never fear
Stay with me, don't ever be afraid
Don't you ever go away
Please don't leave me
It'll always be this way
Our love will always be like this
So sweet
Our love is incredibly sweet
Love me sweetly, baby
Love me with tenderness, my dear
Just leave me sweetly, baby
If you ever leave me, do it gently and sweetly
Don't nobody know
No one knows
How sweet it is
How incredibly sweet our love is
Oh sweeter love
Our love is even sweeter than any other love
Don't nobody know
No one knows
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gary Bias, Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind