Released: October 18, 1988

Songwriter: Vernon Fails Anita Baker

Producer: Michael J. Powell

[Verse 1]
Yes, I've been around and I watch you, baby
I know you're the one
And I see you and I cry inside, baby
The moment has come-but I
I try to hide what I feel like, baby
Don't want you to know
It's a feeling so deep in my heart, baby
I can't let it go

[Chorus]
No one to blame
If I miss this, sho' would be shame
No one to blame, baby
Sho' is a shame

[Verse 2]
There ain't no reason to doubt me, baby
You know I don't lie
And I tell you from deep in my heart, baby
I'm willing to try, yes I am
'Cause this ain't no game that I'm playing, baby
Our love is for real
And I tell you I know that it's strong
I know what I feel, yes

[Chorus]
No one to blame, baby
If I miss this, sho' would be shame
No one to blame, darlin' if
I miss this, sho' would be a shame
No one to blame, baby
Sho' is a shame

[Bridge]
My baby, life offers no prize
No guarantees, baby, for missed opportunitites
And I won't let you walk by
I've got to try, telling you I know it's right
It's the truth, don't you lie, baby, yes

[Verse 3]
You know that I tried to resist you, baby
But I'm losin' my fight
I mean this, I really do mean this, baby
You know that I'm tell you no lies
This ain't no game that I'm playing, baby
This thing is for real
And I want you to know that it's strong
I know what I feel

[Chorus]
No one to blame, baby
I don't wanna miss this, you know I don't, baby
No one to blame
Sho' is a shame
No one to blame
If I miss this, sho' would be a shame
No one to blame
Sho' is a shame
No one to blame
If I miss this, sho' would be a shame
No one to blame
Sho' is a shame
No one to blame
If I miss this, sho' would be a shame

Anita Baker

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.