Giving You the Best That I Got Lyrics
Ain't there something I can give you?
In exchange for everything you give to me
Read my mind
And make me feel just fine
When I think my peace of mind is out of reach
The scales are sometimes unbalanced
And you bear the weight of all that has to be
I hope you see that you can lean on me
And together
We can calm a stormy sea
[Chorus]
We love so strong and so unselfishly
And I tell you now that I made a vow
I'm giving you the best that I got, baby
Yes, I tell you now
That I made a vow
I'm giving you the best that I got, honey
[Verse 2]
Everybody's got opinions
'Bout the way they think our story's gonna end
Some folks feel it's just a superficial thrill
Everybody's gonna have to think again
We love so strong and so unselfishly
They don't bother me so I'm gonna keep on
Giving you the best that I got, baby
They don't bother me
Said I'm gonna keep on
Giving you the best that I got
[Bridge]
Listen, baby
Somebody understands me
Somebody gave his heart to me
I stumbled my whole life long
Always on my own
Now I'm home
[Verse 3]
My weary mind is rested
And I feel as if my home is in your arms
Fears are all gone
I like the sound of your song
And I think I want to sing it forever
[Chorus]
We love so strong and so unselfishly
And I made a vow so I tell you now
I'm giving you the best that I got
I bet everything on my wedding ring
I'm...giving you the best that I got
Giving it to you, baby
[Outro]
Giving you the best that I got
Giving you the best that I got
Giving you the best that I got
Giving you the best that I got
About
Giving You The Best That I Got is the lead single & title song of Anita Baker’s third album.
The song became her highest charting song on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #3 on the chart.
It also topped Billboard’s R&B chart for two weeks in November of 1988 and topped Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart for a week in December of 1988.
“Giving You The Best That I Got” won a Grammy Award for “Best R&B Song” and “Best Female R&B Vocal Performance” in 1989. It was also nominated for “Song of the Year” and “Record of the Year.”
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Baker heard the song and asked to record it as long as she could make some changes to the lyric; she was engaged to be married, so she felt a deep connection with the song. Baker took it and added some detail at the beginning and had the tempo sped up, producing the peppier version. Her changes earned her a writing credit on the song, which she split with Holland and Scarborough.
- 1.Priceless
- 3.Giving You the Best That I Got
- 4.Good Love
- 5.Rules
- 6.Good Enough
- 7.Just Because
