Anita Baker

Released: September 13, 1994

Songwriter: Dawn Thomas

Producer: Tommy LiPuma

[Verse 1]
For a little while, we know what heartache is
And we feel the pain the world can sometimes bring
For a little while, we cry in the night
Without a single song to sing
But one day it all will change
There'll be no more stormy rain
Then at last we will rest forevermore

[Chorus]
So if you're in the valley
(if you're in the valley now)
And life is so unkind
(life is so unkind)
And if your tears keep falling
(if your tears keep falling)
From your tired eyes
(from your eyes)
If burdens seem so heavy
(your burdens seem so heavy now)
And it's hard to smile
(so hard to smile)
Then just remember
(you better remember)
It's only for a while

[Verse 2]
For a little while, you lose someone you love
And you miss the time together that you shared
For a little while, you feel all alone and scared
With no one there to hold
Oh, the nights get long and cold
But it won't last, it will pass in time

[Chorus]
So if you're in the valley
(if you're in the valley now)
And life is so unkind
(life is so unkind)
And if your tears keep falling
(if your tears keep falling)
From your tired eyes
(from your eyes)
Your burdens seem so heavy
(your burdens seem so heavy now)
And it's hard to smile
(so hard to smile)
Oh, you gotta remember
(you gotta remember)
It's only for a while

[Break]

Oh, you better remember, better remember
It's only for a while
Oh, yes, remember
It's only for a while, ooh...

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.

more tracks from the album

Rhythm Of Love

From the album

Rhythm Of Love (1994)

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