Baby Can I Hold You

Released on October 1, 1988, "Baby Can I Hold You" was the third and final single from Tracy Chapman's self-titled debut album. The song is a spare, acoustic ballad built around Chapman's warm, expressive voice and simple, poignant lyrics about the difficulty of expressing regret and longing. Chapman wrote the song alone and played rhythm guitar on the track, with production by David Kershenbaum. The single reached number 48 on the Billboard Hot 100, though the official music video description claims it peaked at number 19. Internationally it performed better, hitting number one in Brazil and Portugal and reaching the top 40 in Canada and New Zealand.

The song has been covered by Neil Diamond on his 1994 album The Best Years of Our Lives and by Boyzone, whose 1997 double A-side with "Shooting Star" reached number 2 on the UK singles chart. Chapman re-released the song in 2001 to support her greatest hits collection Collection. The track remains one of the most tender moments in her catalog, admired for its emotional directness and quiet beauty. [edit]