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Closer
Better Than Ezra Lyrics


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And the morning light was breaking
Slowly moving across the bed
He gets up without her waking
To the voices in his head

Through the shadows in the hallway
To the room they painted blue
And on the inside he is frightened
At a loss for what to do

Until he opens up his eyes
And the angels all look down

Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win

And he knows his life is changing
It's never easy letting go
For the first time you are mortal
As the child before you grows
And he wonders at the sight
Of the joy that he has found

Even closer than this life
Closer than your faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win

And what would you intend to find?
Solitude? Your peace of mind?
Holding out for something less
Than touching the hand of God?

Even closer than this life
Closer than this faith
Closer than the things
That you hold dearly
And in vain
Closer than this life
Falling through again
Giving more than anything
That you could hope to win

Closer than this life
Closer finally
Living for the only thing
You ever made complete
Oh, for the one thing
That you both did perfectly

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Better Than Ezra's song "Closer" explore the theme of mortality and the importance of embracing life's fleeting moments. The song begins with the singer waking up early in the morning and leaving his partner sleeping in bed. He walks through the house to their child's room, admiring the blue walls that they had painted. It's evident that he's feeling overwhelmed by the responsibilities that come with being a parent and is afraid of the changes happening in his life.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "closer than this life" several times, emphasizing that everything we hold dear - faith, relationships, material possessions - are ultimately insignificant compared to the inevitability of death. The singer is reminded that life is short, and he needs to appreciate every moment and live his life to the fullest. The final lines of the song suggest that the only thing that truly matters in life is love: "Living for the only thing you ever made complete. Oh, for the one thing that you both did perfectly."


In conclusion, "Closer" by Better Than Ezra is a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the importance of cherishing every moment. The lyrics convey the singer's fear of change and acceptance of his mortality, urging listeners to live their lives to the fullest and embrace love above all else.


Line by Line Meaning

And the morning light was breaking
As the sun rises, a new day has come and something new is about to happen.


Slowly moving across the bed
The sunlight is moving slowly across the bed, representing the passage of time and the transition to a new phase of life.


He gets up without her waking
He gets up without waking his partner, leading a solitary journey in his mind to process his thoughts and emotions.


To the voices in his head
He listens to inner voices within himself, which could be a sense of intuition or a projection of his fears and insecurities.


Through the shadows in the hallway
He walks through the shadows, symbolizing uncertainty and the unknown.


To the room they painted blue
He goes to the room they both painted blue, reminding himself of what he shared with his partner and potentially searching for solace in familiarity.


And on the inside he is frightened
Internally, he is scared and vulnerable, unsure of what the future holds and how to move forward.


At a loss for what to do
He is unsure of his next steps and feels lost and directionless.


Until he opens up his eyes
He changes his perspective and starts to see things differently, leading to a potential shift in his attitude and actions.


And the angels all look down
Perhaps referring to divine or spiritual guidance, he feels like he is being watched and supported by a higher power.


Even closer than this life
The love and connection he shares with his partner is deeper than anything tangible in the physical world.


Closer than your faith
The bond the two share is unshakeable and grounded in something beyond religious or spiritual beliefs.


Closer than the things / That you hold dearly / And in vain
Their love is more important than material possessions or other things that people cling to but ultimately do not bring true fulfillment.


Falling through again
He is going through a tough time and feels like he is falling or failing in some way.


Giving more than anything / That you could hope to win
Despite the difficulties he is facing, he remains committed to giving his all to the relationship, even if it means sacrificing something else.


And he knows his life is changing
He is aware that things are different now and will never be the same as they used to be.


It's never easy letting go
He is struggling to move on from the past and the way things used to be.


For the first time you are mortal
He realizes his own mortality and that life is short, which adds a sense of urgency to his decisions.


As the child before you grows
He is watching his child grow up and sees the passing of time reflected in this development.


And he wonders at the sight / Of the joy that he has found
Despite the hardships he is facing, he is also finding moments of joy and wonder in his life, which brings him hope and motivation.


And what would you intend to find?
He is questioning his own motivations and desires, wondering what he is truly seeking in life.


Solitude? Your peace of mind?
He is suggesting that perhaps he is searching for solitude and inner peace, but is not sure if that is what will truly bring him fulfillment.


Holding out for something less / Than touching the hand of God?
He is challenging himself to question whether he is holding out for something that is ultimately less meaningful than a spiritual connection or divine guidance.


Closer than this faith
Their love is intertwined with their faith and belief in something greater than themselves.


Closer finally
After all the hardship, he is finally coming to a place of greater understanding and acceptance.


Living for the only thing / You ever made complete
He sees his relationship as the one thing in his life that has truly made him feel whole and complete.


Oh, for the one thing / That you both did perfectly
He is reminding himself of the love that he and his partner once shared, and longing to recapture that feeling of perfection in their relationship once again.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES SMITH, THEODOR BOWEN, GENE GRIFFIN, TIMOTHY WILLIAM GATLING, AARON ROBIN III HALL, TEDDY RILEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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