How soft a whisper can get
When you're walking through a crowded space
I hear every word being said
And I remember that everyday
I get a little bit closer to you

How long an hour can take
When you're starting into open space
When I feel I'm slipping further away
I remember that everyday
I get a little bit closer to you

These are the days
That I won't get back
I won't hear you cry
Or hear you laugh
And when it's quite
And I don't hear a thing
I can always hear you breathe

You know there's nowhere else
I've wanted to be
Than be there when you need me
I'm sorry too
But don't give up on me
And just remember that when you get asleep
I got a little bit closer to you



Lyrics submitted by Stoney

Track duration: 03:17

"Closer 2 U" as written by Jackie Greene

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Closer To You song meanings
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27 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:to me, it's about holding back on love.

    1st phrase is about how much the guy absolutely adores the girl;

    2nd phrase is about holding back but every time he tries to, he remembers that he's getting closer to her as he spends more time with her; he's trying to decide at this point if he is to truly hold back or not;

    3rd phrase is about being firm on the decision of holding back;

    4th phrase is about regret of holding back and regret of letting time pass by without her; in the end, he's asking the girl to wait for him after apologizing.

    seems like a passive aggressive guy;
    Flag ctcbrinkon March 04, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I have to agree with therealsvenden above. Although it could easily be a love song to a woman, I'd always assumed he'd written this song about being on the road away from his wife and, particularly, his children.
    Flag baybelleon July 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is achingly beautiful. To me, it seems like the narrator of the song has passed away. I feel that it follows the belief that some spirits don't always "pass over" to the other side and walk among us and watch loved ones.
    "How soft a whisper can get
    When you're walking through a
    crowded space
    I hear every word being said"
    I picture him walking with her on the street and trying to talk to her (whisper) and she cannot hear.

    "How long an hour can take
    When you're staring into open
    space
    When I feel I'm slipping further
    away
    I remember that everyday
    I get a little bit closer to you"

    He is watching her grieve over his death and sees her blank stare. He feels helpless and feels as though he's slipping away from her.

    "These are the days
    That I won't get back
    I won't hear you cry
    Or hear you laugh
    And when it's quiet
    And I don't hear a thing
    I can always hear you breathe"
    His living days are over. He can't actually be there for her in her every day life and make memories with her. His life has ended while hers goes on. He is unable to interact with her. However, when it's quiet, he can always feel her breathe and feels close to her again.
    "You know there's nowhere else
    I've wanted to be
    Than be there when you needed me
    I'm sorry too
    But don't give up on me
    And just remember that when you
    Were asleep
    I got a little bit closer to you"
    The narrator regrets not being able to love and support his girlfriend/wife as she goes through the trials and tribulations of life. Taking a page from "Sixth Sense", the only time Bruce Willis' character could communicate with his still living wife was when she was sleeping. Her mind was clear and receptive to "other-worldly" visitors. Jakob's constant reference to his being "closer" to his lover while she was asleep lead me to that conclusion. With each day that passes in her life, she is closer to joining him in the after life/heaven and they can finally be together. Just my take :) Love this song
    Flag LaddyDaddyon July 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the song does seem more complex than my chosen interpretation, but here goes. i like to think it's about the important relationship work that happens in between events. like, sleeping next to someone, hanging in there while they are too busy for you or distracted, everyday things that happen without pomp & circumstance, and how even these times (and maybe especially these times) you really sink into your relationship. this is what makes it work or at least what demonstrates whether or not it will work. it does seem as though maybe he wasn't expressive enough of how he felt, and maybe he wasn't physically around to show her how he felt per se, relying instead on the comfort level between them to get them through and keep things going until he is available to her in that way.

    i guess i'm just babbling now.

    my partner is away at school, and there are times when i want more of his attention. but we both know every day he's away, he's closer to getting it done and coming home. and he IS missing out on some of my life events by being away, moments he "won't get back," though he would choose to be here if he could. but he's doing what he can in light of the obvious limitations. and if we can get through this, if neither of us "gives up," then we're set.
    Flag resurion June 12, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:just an absolutely great song. theres a girl i always think of when i hear this song and it just puts a smile on my face...wow great job jakob
    Flag soybomb2on March 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:just an absolutely great song. theres a girl i always think of when i hear this song and it just puts a smile on my face...wow great job jakob
    Flag soybomb2on March 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song refers to someone who has a gf/wife/partner that gets him through the hard times in his life. Someone that when the chips are down, lift him up and gets him on track again. Somone he can always rely on, as the song progesses he starts to say how he wants to do the same for her and that he can be the man she deserves. Never to give up on him, as he can be the man to save her also if she ever needs it.

    The lines: "When I feel I’m slipping further away
    I remember that everyday
    I get a little bit closer to you" and

    The lines: "And when it’s quite
    And I don’t hear a thing
    I can always hear you breathe".

    Both of these groups of lines seem to me that it is about a guy that has someone in his life that is his saving grace. Someone who is always there to save him, from life.

    And the lines:
    "You know there’s nowhere else
    I’ve wanted to be
    Than be there when you need me
    I’m sorry too
    But don’t give up on me"

    These to me sound like he wants to one day to the same for her, and he is asking her to please don't give up on him, one day things will be good and he will be the kind of man to look after her, not the other way around.

    Finally, as for the last lines:
    "And just remember that when you get asleep
    I got a little bit closer to you"

    These were the hardest for me to get my head around but what I have come up with is that when she sleeps she is dreaming of the man she deserves, the man he hopes to be one day for her.
    Flag diehardson March 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:To me it sounds just like a guy who's far away from the girl who he loves, and neither of them can stand it. The idea of gradually getting "closer to" the person could be because he is on his way home or nearing the day when he can return, and the "when you were asleep" line tells me that the guy is saying, "When we're asleep, we both dream about each other... so during that time, we are together."
    Flag musikingon November 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:exactly how i feel about a girl right now, she introduced me to this song
    Flag everything4heron September 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song. Its means so much.

    I'm sorry too but don't give up on me.

    Absolutely love that line. Thats wallflowers for you guys! Amazing.
    Flag itsme!on August 29, 2007   Link

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