Poetry For Healing

This week Jim Adams, our host of Song Lyric Sunday, has handed the prompt reins to fellow blogger Angie from the blog King Ben’s Grandma, She has given us “Sweet, Honey, Sugar, Candy and Chocolate”, Plenty of songs out there to fit today’s theme. I have picked Sweet Love by Anita Baker. A personal favorite from the 80s.

The Song

“Sweet Love” is a song by American R&B singer and songwriter Anita Baker from her second studio album, Rapture (1986). It was written by Anita Baker, Louis A. Johnson, and Gary Bias, and produced by Michael J. Powell. It was released in July 1986, as the album’s first single.

The song was Baker’s first big hit single, peaking at number two on the US Billboard R&B chart, number three on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, and number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 in the fall of 1986. In the UK, it reached number 13 on the UK Singles Chart and peaked at number 21 on Canada’s Top Singles chart.

“Sweet Love” won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987).

Daryl Easlea of the BBC said that Baker’s voice “rings like a bell”, and that “Sweet Love” is one of the three most memorable tracks on Rapture. He felt that the lyrics might have sounded trite if sung by a different artist, but that Baker imbued them with “so much passion and wonderment” that they sound like “old love sonnets” brought back to life.

Baker won two Grammys at the 29th Annual Grammy Awards (1987). “Sweet Love” was selected as Best R&B Song, earning her (along with Gary Bias and Louis Johnson) a songwriting award. Also, the album containing this song, Rapture, won in the category Best Female R&B Vocal performance.

Courtesy of Wiki

The Lyrics

With all my heart, I love you, baby
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
I'm in love, sweet love
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?

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

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 leave me sweetly, baby
(Sweet love)
Don't nobody know
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Anita Baker / Gary Bias / Louis A. Johnson
Sweet Love lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC