Born in Bessemer, Alabama, USA, he first appeared on stage at the age of four, then joined a children's gospel group at thirteen, soon obtaining his own radio show. He organized another group after his mother sent him to New York City following a racial incident; he continued singing after returning to attend the Snow Hill Institute in Snow Hill, Alabama, where he acquired the title "Professor" while teaching as a student.
He moved to Chicago in 1947, where he worked briefly with Roberta Martin and toured with Mahalia Jackson, then struck out on his own with his own group, the Bradford Singers, followed by another group, the Bradford Specials. He recorded his first hit record, "Too Close To Heaven" (1954), billed as Professor Alex Bradford and his singers, sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc, then followed it with a number of other successes in the rest of the decade.
Artists such as Little Richard imitated Bradford's energetic style, ranging from a gravelly bass to a whooping falsetto, and his flamboyant stage presence. Ray Charles, for his part, not only borrowed some of Bradford's vocal mannerisms but based his Raelets on the Bradford Specials. His 1962 gospel song composition "Let the Lord Be Seen in Me", recorded for his One Step & Angel on Vacation album, was also recorded in 1964 by an emerging force in Jamaican music, Bob Marley & the Spiritual Sisters. Marley later adopted the Rastafarian faith, but along with his mother, at first he sung gospel in the local Shilo Apostolic Church.
In 1961, when his recording career was in decline, Bradford joined the cast of the off-Broadway show Black Nativity, based on the writings of Langston Hughes, which toured Europe in 1962. A member of the Alex Bradford Singers at that time was Madeline Bell, who settled in England after the show ended. Bradford appeared in Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, for which he won the Obie award, in 1972. He died in Newark, New Jersey, in 1978, as the musical Your Arms Too Short to Box with God was in production.
Too Close
Alex Bradford Lyrics
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Yeah, come on, dance for me baby, ha ha, yeah
Oh, oh, you feel that? Alright
Come on, don't stop now
You done did it, come on, uh, yeah, alright, hold on
Baby when we're grinding
I get so excited
Ooh, how I like it
Oh, your dancing real close
Plus it's real real slow
(You know what you're doing, don't you)
You're making it hard for me
All the slow songs you requested
You're dancing like you're naked
Oh, it's almost like we're sexing (oh yeah)
Yeah boo, I like it
No, I can't deny it
But I know you can tell
I'm excited, oh girl
Step back you're dancing kinda close
I feel a little poke coming through
On you
Now girl I know you felt it
Boo you know I can't help it
You know what I want to do
Baby when we're grinding
I get so excited
Ooh, how I like it
I try but I can't fight it
Oh, your dancing real close
Plus it's real real slow
(You know what you're doing, don't you)
You're making it hard for me
Baby girl's dancing so close
Ain't a good idea
'Cause I'mma want you now and here
The way that you shake it on me
Makes me want you so bad sexually
Oh girl
Step back you're dancing kinda close
I feel a little poke coming through
On you
Baby when we're grinding
I get so excited
Oh, how I like it
I try but I can't fight it
Oh, your dancing real close
Plus it's real real slow
(You know what you're doing, don't you)
You're making it hard for me
Baby when we're grinding
I get so excited
Oh, how I like it
I try but I can't fight it
Oh, your dancing real close
Plus it's real real slow
(You know what you're doing, don't you)
You're making it hard for me
I love when you shake it like that, ah, ah, ah
I see that you like it like that, oh, oh, oh
I love when you shake it like that, ah, ah, ah
I see that you like it like that, oh, oh, oh
Well baby I like the way that you grind
On me
Baby when we're grinding
I get so excited
Oh, how I like it
I try but I can't fight it
Oh, your dancing real close
Plus it's real real slow
(You know what you're doing, don't you)
You're making it hard for me
I like the way you move
You're making me want you
Oh the way
I like those things you do
But you're a little too closeÂ
The song "Too Close" by Alex Bradford is about a man who is sexually aroused by a woman he's dancing with. The lyrics give a clear image of their closeness and physical attraction. The man is going through a hard time resisting his sexual urges towards the woman, as she's dancing too close to him. The woman seems to be aware of his intentions, and she's making it hard for the man to control his desires. The lyrics are quite explicit, and they describe sexual tension and physical attraction between the two individuals.
The song portrays how dancing can be a form of sexual foreplay, and how it can bring two people together in a sensual and intimate way. It also reflects how some people are unable to control their sexual desires, and how they struggle to resist someone they find attractive. The song has a slow and seductive beat that adds to its sensual vibe. It reflects the mood of the two characters in the song and the tension they're experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder if she could tell I'm hard right now, hmm
I am wondering whether my partner knows I am becoming aroused.
Yeah, come on, dance for me baby, ha ha, yeah
Encouragement for my partner to dance seductively.
Oh, oh, you feel that? Alright
Acknowledgment of my partner's seductive movements.
Come on, don't stop now
Further encouragement for my partner to continue dancing.
You done did it, come on, uh, yeah, alright, hold on
Expressing excitement for my partner's dancing abilities.
Baby when we're grinding
Referring to engaging in a sexually suggestive dance move with my partner.
I get so excited
The dance move excites me sexually.
Ooh, how I like it
Expressing pleasure from the sexual excitement.
I try but I can't fight it
Trying, but failing, to resist the sexual desire that comes from the dance move.
Oh, your dancing real close
My partner is dancing in very close proximity to me.
Plus it's real real slow
The dance move is slow and sensual.
(You know what you're doing, don't you)
Suggesting that my partner is fully aware of how seductive her moves are.
You're making it hard for me
The dance move is arousing me to the point of physical discomfort.
All the slow songs you requested
Acknowledging that the song choices have contributed to the slow and suggestive nature of the dance moves.
You're dancing like you're naked
My partner's dance moves are so suggestive that she might as well be naked.
Oh, it's almost like we're sexing (oh yeah)
Comparing the suggestive dance moves to sexual intercourse.
Yeah boo, I like it
Expressing enjoyment of the seductive dance moves.
No, I can't deny it
Acknowledging that the dance moves are arousing me physically and emotionally.
But I know you can tell
I am aware that my partner is aware of how aroused I am becoming.
Step back you're dancing kinda close
Suggesting that my partner is dancing too close for me to handle.
I feel a little poke coming through
The arousal is becoming physically uncomfortable for me.
On you
The physical feeling of arousal is affecting my partner as well.
Now girl I know you felt it
Acknowledging that my partner has also felt the physical discomfort from my arousal.
Boo you know I can't help it
Apologizing for not being able to control my physical response to the dance moves.
Baby girl's dancing so close
Reiterating that my partner is dancing too close to me.
Ain't a good idea
I am aware that allowing my partner to continue dancing so close is not a wise decision.
'Cause I'mma want you now and here
The arousal caused by the dance moves is leading to an increased desire for immediate sexual activity.
The way that you shake it on me
Expressing the pleasure I feel from my partner's suggestive dance moves.
Makes me want you so bad sexually
The dance moves are increasing my sexual desire for my partner.
I love when you shake it like that, ah, ah, ah
Expressing the enjoyment of my partner's suggestive dance moves.
I see that you like it like that, oh, oh, oh
Acknowledging that my partner is enjoying her own dance moves as well.
Well baby I like the way that you grind
Expressing pleasure in my partner's sexually suggestive dance moves.
I like the way you move
Acknowledging the pleasure I feel from my partner's dance moves.
You're making me want you
The dance moves are increasing my sexual desire for my partner.
Oh the way
The dance moves are causing me emotional and physical arousal.
I like those things you do
Expressing pleasure from my partner's suggestive dance moves.
But you're a little too close
Reiterating that my partner is dancing too close to me and the physical arousal is becoming uncomfortable.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: DENZIL A. MILLER, DENZIL A. JR. MILLER, J.B. MOORE, KEIR GIST, KEIR LAMONT GIST, KURTIS WALKER, LAWRENCE SMITH, RAPHAEL BROWN, ROBERT FORD, ROBERT HUGGAR, ROBERT L. HUGGAR
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