He and I; had something beautiful
But so dysfunctional it couldn't last
Loved him so, but I let him go
'Cause I knew he'd never love me back

Such pain as this shouldn't have to be experienced
I'm still reeling from the loss, still a little bit delirious

Near to you, I am healing but it is taking so long
'Cause though he's gone and you are wonderful, it's hard to move on
Yeah, I'm better near to you

With you and I, it's something different
I'm enjoying it cautiously
I'm battle scarred; I am workin' oh-so hard to get
Back to who I used to be

He's disappearing, fading steadily
When I'm so close to being yours
Won't you stay with me, please?

'Cause near to you, I am healing but it is taking so long
'Cause though he's gone and you are wonderful, it's hard to move on
Yet I'm better near to you
Yeah, I'm better near to you

I only know that I am better where you are
I only know that I am better where you are
I only know that I belong where you are

Near to you, I am healing but it is taking so long
Though he's gone and you are wonderful, it's hard to move on
Near to you, I am healing but it is taking so long
'Cause though he's gone and you are wonderful, it's hard to move on

Yeah, I'm better near to you
Yeah, I'm better near to you



Lyrics submitted by MusicLady86

Track duration: 04:35

"Near to You" as written by Alison Loren/sample Sudol

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Near To You song meanings
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  • 0
    Memory:I also feel the need to vomit out my life story, so here goes... Line by line...

    He and I had something beautiful
    But so dysfunctional it couldn't last

    My ex (let's call him Edward and keep with the New Moon theme) had a beautiful, wonderful, amazing relationship. He wrote songs for me, he stayed up with me when I was feeling bad, we had light saber fights... I could go on. But it was great. There was a lot of trust there and I put a lot, emotionally, into that relationship. Then we broke up. He has problems with depression and he doesn't have a great home life, and that took it's toll on what we had. I'd tell him to move out of his parent's house- go to a friends, find a cheap apartment- anything. But he wouldn't, and that caused a lot of tension between us. It couldn't last.

    I loved him so but I let him go
    Because I knew he'd never love me back

    I did love him- I still do. For the first time in my life, I thought I was going to marry him. He was everything I'd ever wanted, and everything I could have asked for. I thought maybe, initially, we'd get back together. But when it became clear that fighting the breakup would lead to nothing but more arguing, I just... stopped. I let him go.

    Such pain as this shouldn't have to be experienced
    I'm still reeling from the loss, still a little bit delirious

    I am still getting over Edward. I have my good days and my bad days and my in-between days, where I wish I could call him and we could just talk- about anything. Sometimes I think "well, maybe he WILL come back and we can start over", but I know truthfully that that's wishful thinking.

    Near to you I am healing but it's taking so long
    Though he's gone and you are wonderful, it's hard to move on
    Yet I'm better near to you

    "You" in this context is one of my friends; let's call him Jacob. He's listened to me at my very worst- either so depressed that I'd be nearing drastic action, or so incredibly mad that I'd be ready to beat Edward to a pulp, if only he were around. He's always listened to me. Edward left at one of the worst times in my life. A family friend had just passed away from cancer, and then a friend of mine from school had just committed suicide. When Edward and I broke up, I literally felt like I had nowhere and no one to turn to. But Jacob was there. Even though I'm sure I sounded like a whiny 13-year-old most of the time, he always listened. And because of that, I started healing. Even though I know Edward is not coming back, and Jacob is great, it is hard. But I'm better when I'm talking to Jacob.

    You and I have something different
    And I'm enjoying it cautiously

    Jacob and I have a very different relationship than the ones I'm used to. Edward was the guy that I usually fall for: musical, a little hyperactive, and if I'm totally honest, someone who needed fixing. Yes, I'm one of those people who falls for broken people. But Jacob is different. He's very calm and collected at all times. He doesn't have a musical bone in his body. But he's normal. By that I mean he doesn't need fixing. Rather, he's the one fixing me. And I like it. I do have feelings for him, and I like that, but I don't want to hurt him or myself while I'm still getting over Edward. So I'm enjoying it... cautiously.

    I'm battle scarred, I am working oh so hard
    To get back to who I used to be

    When I met Jacob at college, he met the happy me. The one who was excited to start school. The one who had an incredible boyfriend who I loved. The one who hadn't experienced death, more death, heartbreak, and even more death in one summer. But now I've been broken and I'm trying to put myself back together. The last two weeks have been incredible; there's been a lot of healing going on, but I'm still not quite whole again.

    He's disappearing, fading, steadily
    When I'm so close to being yours, won't you stay with me?
    Please...

    Edward is slowly fading from my life. When we first broke up, it was like I couldn't go two seconds without thinking of something that reminded me of him. But now those are less frequent, and I don't feel the need to go cry when I do. I do feel like I'm close to being Jacob's. As I said before, I have feelings for him, and I don't know for sure, but I think he does too. But for now, I cling to his friendship, and hope that maybe, someday, in the future (Ingrid Michaelson reference!!) we can have a relationship.

    I only know that I am better where you are
    I only know that I belong where you are

    This part is kind of unique to my situation. I met Jacob, as I mentioned before, at school. My school is 200 miles away from my hometown, 200 miles away from Edward. One of the only things I know for sure now is that I belong at school, that I'm better at school. Pretty much ever since we've broken up, I've been counting the days until I go back. Today there are four. I know that I have friends there who are always there for me, and I know that I'll be better there.

    That's my story. Wow, that's a lot of typing.
    Flag guitargirlmollyon August 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:For me, it's about getting over unrequited love.

    Of course, it is because of my life experience. I was half in love with a close friend, and he enjoyed flirting with me. But then he started dating another girl, then marrying her. It hurt a lot.

    But now, I'm getting to know someone else. I could fall for this guy, but I've learned my lesson. I'm cautious. I'll only fall if he makes it clear that he'll catch me. It's taken a while to be over the first guy. I'm happy for him, and I don't pine for him. But the pain still hid inside of me, long after I partied at his wedding.

    I know someday, I will find the right guy. The first love will be fondly remembered, but never as good as the true one.
    Flag LNikkyon March 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Does anybody else think that this song could be about a tortured romantic experience and an old friend?

    "He and I had something beautiful
    But so dysfunctional, it couldn't last
    I loved him so but I let him go
    Cause I knew he'd never love me back"

    The "relationship" has just ended, and she's still convinced that it was something good, but she's just beginning to realize that it wasn't really. She loved him and knew they could be something, but he wanted nothing more than the physical with a facade of emotion.

    "Such pain as this
    Shouldn't have to be experienced
    I'm still reeling from the loss,
    Still a little bit delirious"

    She's finally figured the whole thing out and can't believe she didn't see it sooner. The whole thing has confused her - she didn't know that she had let herself be that vulnerable.

    "Near to you, I am healing
    But it's taking so long
    'Cause though he's gone
    And you are wonderful
    It's hard to move on
    Yet, I'm better near to you."

    She's having trouble getting over it, but she's been spending time with a friend who's been there all along, and she realizes that she isn't so consumed by it when she's with him.

    "You and I have something different
    And I'm enjoying it cautiously
    I'm battle scarred, I am working oh so hard
    To get back to who I used to be"

    She's enjoying just being friends with him, and she's being careful, trying really hard to not fall for him, even though she knows it wouldn't be hard to. She's not ready for that, because right now, she's just trying to find herself again.

    "He's disappearing
    Fading subtley
    I'm so close to being yours
    Won't you stay with me
    Please"

    She can see some of the signs that this guy has feelings for her, but he might be starting to give up on the chance of being with her. She knows that she really loves him, but she's inches from falling 'in' love with him. Because of her wanting for him to not give up on her, the horrible guy is almost completely faded from her mind, but she doesn't really notice.

    "I only know that I am better where you are
    I only know that I am better where you are
    I only know that I belong where you are"

    In these first two lines, she's stating what she knows, like she's trying to figure out what to do. In the last line, her voice gets stronger, more pleading, in a way, and she's figured out that she's really in love with this guy.

    The last two choruses are her way of saying that in a while, she'll be ready to be with him, she just doesn't want for him to suffer any over her fragility.
    Flag AllAboutSwingson December 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Wow this is my favorite AFF song except Almost Lover. It's amazing. This is one of her few songs that doesn't use some kind of cryptic symbolism (like Ashes and Wine, Rangers) Not that there's anything wrong with those songs. I just really love this one because it's easy to apply to yourself. Alot of people have that person that helps them heal from the last heartbreak. When I first heard this I thought of New Moon. It should be on the soundtrack! The lyrics are so perfect for the story.
    Flag music1794on May 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Aweosme song! The piano sounds a bit like Almost Lover in places, and the crescendo sounds like it too, but it's still beautiful in it's own way.
    Flag smartykat37on February 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is perfect for how Bella feels in New Moon.
    She falls for Jacob but she has a hard time dealing with the fact that Edward left her. I really like when it says "He and I had something beautiful
    But so dysfunctional, it couldn't last
    I loved him so but I let him go
    Cause I knew he'd never love me back" -- Her & Edward's relationship was so dysfunctional because of the choice that she wanted to make to be immortal with him but he didn't want that for her. Not that he didn't love her..he couldn't. But I can't help but to feel sympathy for her when he leaves. In the book she goes months and months living in a numb state of mind. When she reconnects with Jacob, she starts showing caring and happier characterictics.

    But in the end we all know Bella & Edward belong together.
    Can't wait for the movie :]
    Flag LyricCrazed302on June 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song. I am going through a divorce right now and I know it will take a long time to heal and I'm prepared for that but I just hope the deep emotional scars won't keep me from ever being able to fall in love again and I worry I won't find anyone willing to love me despite all the emotional baggage I have.

    My husband and I have been together since I was a teenager so I've always been dependant on him in every way. It's scary, the thought of being on my own. I was reconsidering the divorce and then yesterday he punched me in the face and that was the final straw. I KNOW I have to go no matter how much of a challenge this will be.
    Flag ndenialon May 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this is so new moon. [:
    i love this song.
    Flag hayleyxjordanon April 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think the point and meaning of this song is obvious, but it's so beautiful and well put.
    It describes my situation so wonderfully right now, and almost makes me feel a little better about it.
    I love it so much. Ah!
    Flag erikawearspradaon March 23, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:omg i love this song :)
    and i think the same as gramcracker231
    :/
    this song also describles my life rite now
    i was in a realtionship with a guy i truly loved but he never cared about me and it seemed like he would never love me so i left him. and now im with this AMAZING guy :) hes the best boyfriend ive had by far :D and now that im with him im slowly forgetting my ex cuz wen we broke up it hurt like fuck -_-
    so i dedicate this song to my boyfriend!! ^_^
    (haha sorry i had to be like those ppl who post their life stories on here but i was just letting ppl kno) >.<
    Flag chemical331on March 02, 2009   Link

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