Anita Baker

Released: September 7, 2004

Songwriter: Anita Baker Russell Ferrante Jimmy Haslip William Kennedy Lori Perry

Producer: Barry Eastmond

When I'm all alone
And I hear your voice
There's no other man
Can make me feel the way you do
I can't describe this feeling inside
And I can't sleep at night

Home is where you belong
That's what I tell myself when you're gone
Every night I say a prayer
Hopes that you make it there
Anyone alone like me
I'm certain they'll agree
'Cause I can't sleep at night

Loneliness is my biggest fear
I wish the feeling would disappear
I can't sleep at night
Coldness is creeping in
I need to feel your warmth again
I can't sleep at night, no

Holding you so very close
That's what I need the most
And it's your job to go around and
Share your gifts from town to town
I hope I'm not misunderstood
The man that treats me so good
But I can't sleep at night

When I pick up this phone
And I hear your voice
Telling me you can't wait until you're home
I can't describe this feeling inside
And I can't sleep at night 'cause

I need to hold you in my arms
Honey, how can I be strong?
'Cause I can't sleep at night
I need a love, I need your thrill
I'm sick and tired of taking pills
'Cause I can't sleep at night
Help me
Help me

[Saxophone solo]

Ooh, holding you so very close
That's what I need the most
I know it's your job to go around
Share your gifts from town to town
Anyone who's alone like me
I'm sure they'll agree
'Cause I can't sleep at night
Sick of holding my pillow tight

(scatting and ad-libs)

Anita Baker is a Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter known for her distinct low contralto vocals. She started out in the band Chapter 8, which had the hit song “I Just Wanna Be Your Girl” that was later sampled by Bone Thugs-n-Harmony for their hit song “1st of tha Month.” “Anita” went on to become a big name in ‘80s R&B alongside “Luther” and “Whitney” as she began to rack up #1 hits.

Her debut album, The Songstress, was released in 1983 on independent label Beverly Glen and featured the hit song “Angel.” She left Beverly Glen and signed with Elektra Records, releasing her second album Rapture in 1986, which went on to sell over 5 million albums and peaked at #1 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart thanks to the hits “Sweet Love,” “Same Ole Love,” and “Caught Up in the Rapture.”

Her third album, Giving You the Best That I Got, was released in 1988 and hit #1 on the Billboard 200, and the title track hit #1 on both the Billboard R&B and Adult Contemporary Singles charts. Rapture and Giving You the Best That I Got accounted for five of her eight Grammy Awards, with her sixth in that time frame coming from her gospel collaboration with The Winans on the song “Ain’t No Need To Worry” in 1988.

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