Al Martino (born Alfred Cini, October 7, 1927 - October 13, 2009, Philadelp… Read Full Bio ↴Al Martino (born Alfred Cini, October 7, 1927 - October 13, 2009, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an Italian-American singer and actor. After service with the U.S. Marines in World War II, including being a part of the Iwo Jima invasion where he was wounded, he commenced his singing career.

His single "Here in My Heart" was number one in the first UK Singles Chart, published by the New Musical Express in 1952, putting him into the Guinness Book of World Records. The song stayed there for nine weeks. Al Martino has stated that Mario Lanza dropped his plans to record this song after he called Lanza in Los Angeles and explained that his own recording would be neglected if he did so.

One of the most successful Martino hits was "Spanish Eyes", achieving several gold and platinum discs for sales. Recorded in 1965, the song reached number 5 on the UK Singles Chart when re-issued in 1973. Even today, this classic by composer Bert Kaempfert (his original title for the song was "Moon Over Naples") is among the 50 most-played songs worldwide. Another hit was "Volare", (also known as "Nel blu, Dipinto di Blu"). In 1976, it reached number one on the Italian and Flemish charts, and was in the Top Ten in Spain, The Netherlands and France, as well as in many other European countries.

In the U.S., Martino had eleven top 40 hits in the Billboard pop singles chart in the 1960s and 1970s, with 1963's "I Love You Because" (#3) and 1964's "I Love You More and More Every Day" (#9) both reaching the Top Ten. He also sang the title song for the film, "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte" (1964), and is credited in the end titles of the film.

Apart from singing, Martino played the role of Johnny Fontane in the 1972 film The Godfather, as well as singing the film's theme, "Speak Softly Love". He played the same role in The Godfather Part III and The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980. He recently returned to acting, playing aging crooner Sal Stevens in the short film "Cutout", appearing in film festivals around the world in 2006.

When an artist is able to combine several important elements -- numerous international hit records, personal charisma, and a unique vocal style -- it inevitably leads to success. Known for such hits as "Spanish Eyes" and "Can't Help Falling in Love" in the 60's, Al Martino was in the midst of beginning his second career, which had already taken off with great momentum in the European market. Since the fall of 1993, Al Martino's songs had flooded the radio and television airwaves in Germany, and he consistently had sold-out concerts throughout the continent.

He continued to play to audiences in his later years around venues in the USA. Sadly he died on the 14th October 2009.

Close To You
Al Martino Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Close to you
I will always stay
Close to you
Though you're far away
You'll always be near
As though you were here by my side
No matter where
In my dreams I'll find you there

Close to me
Sharing your caress
Can't you see

Your my happiness
Wherever you go
My heart will go too
What can I do
It only wants to be
Close to you

Wherever you go
My heart will go too
What can I do

It only wants to be
Close to you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Al Martino’s “Close to You” describe a deep sense of longing for someone who is far away. The singer expresses his desire to remain close to this person, even though they are physically distant. He suggests that his love for this person creates a spiritual connection that transcends any physical boundaries. In his dreams, the person is right beside him, and he can feel their presence through the memories and experiences they have shared.

The second stanza of the song emphasizes the power of physical touch to bring people closer together. The singer yearns for the subject of the song’s caress, describing it as a source of happiness. He implies that he will go wherever this person goes, indicating his unwavering devotion. The final stanza reinforces this idea, suggesting that the singer’s heart will follow the person wherever they go, because it simply wants to be close to them.

Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of deep love and connection between two people, despite physical distance. This message is delivered through emotive phrasing and powerful imagery, such as “sharing your caress” and “my heart will go too.”

Line by Line Meaning

Close to you
I want to be near you always

I will always stay
I am committed to being close to you

Though you're far away
Even when you're physically distant, I feel close to you

You'll always be near
I feel your presence even when you're not here

As though you were here by my side
I imagine you being beside me and it feels real

No matter where
Wherever you might be

In my dreams I'll find you there
I dream of being close to you even if it's only in my dreams

Close to me
I long for you to be near me

Sharing your caress
Feeling your touch and affection

Can't you see
Do you not understand?

Your my happiness
You make me happy

Wherever you go
Wherever you may travel

My heart will go too
My emotions will follow you everywhere

What can I do
I am helpless when it comes to my feelings for you

It only wants to be
All I desire is

Close to you
To be near you always

Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, THE MUSIC GOES ROUND
Written by: Al Hoffman, Carl G. Lampl, Jerry Livingston

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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