The group was part of the "Brooklyn sound" of the early 1970s, formed from three players of the group King Davis House Rockers. The House Rockers were a local dance band who had released a couple of obscure singles (1967's "We All Make Mistakes Sometimes" on Verve Records, 1972's "Rum Punch") The three players (guitarist Richard Thompson, tenor sax player Bill Risbrook, and alto sax player Carlos Ward) formed Madison Street Express along with bassist Louis Risbrook (later Muslim-monickered Jamal Rasool), percussionist Dennis Rowe, drummer Terrell Wood, and vocalist Barbara Wood. They along with producer Jeff Lane signed with production company Roadshow Records to record writer Billy Nichols "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)." The record was shopped around to major labels until it was accepted at Scepter Records. Scepter suggested the group change its name from Madison Street Express, hence the Brooklyn Transit Express. The single was released in August 1974, and reached the top 10. Lane took the group back into the studios at that point to record a second single and pitch a full album to the label. Scepter agreed to the LP and to Roadshow Records having its own label within Scepter Records.
The first two singles were hits, both number 1 R&B releases and both Top 5 pop singles in the US. The album hit number 1 on the R&B album chart and number 5 on the Pop album chart of the US. These recordings were also hits in the spreading disco culture, "Do It" peaking on club playlists before Billboard started a separate disco chart, but the follow-up single sat for five weeks at number 1. They were certified gold releases.
BT Express released an album per year through 1978. With the third album, Leslie Ming was brought in as drummer and keyboardist Michael Jones was added as keyboardist. Jamal, who had converted to the Muslim faith, gave Jones the name Kashif Saleem, which he used after departing the group, in 1979, to pursue producing ("Mighty M Productions" with Morrie Brown and Paul Laurence Jones) and solo recording ventures. That year songwriter Billy Nichols and drummer Leslie Ming also departed the group. In 1976 Scepter records was experiencing business difficulties that soon ended the company, and BT Express was given a distribution deal with Columbia Records, which, though it gave them greater exposure, resulted in less attention being paid to their production, since they had so many acts to concentrate on. The group did not achieve the level of radio or sales success on Columbia that they had on the more nurturing but by-then defunct Scepter. They stayed with Columbia for five years, with Lane producing through 1978, then Nichols producing their fifth album before he departed for solo work, and Morrie Brown producing the sixth LP and several follow-up tracks. The group switched labels to Coast To Coast Records for the 1982 LP, to Earthtone Records for a later 1982 single, and to manager King Davis' own label in 1985.
Closer
B.T. Express Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just bring your body closer
Dancing on me, Kissing on me
So far out there
Just bring your body closer
Touching on me, Dancing on me
Way you dancing on me
Got me weak in my knees
Why you standing so far out there
Just bring your body closer
Touching on me, Kissing on me
I said aye, okay
Girl ya body perfect
I can work it all day
Make ya April flower
Start to shower
Like may
Baby bring that freak out
Like it's Cirque du Soleil
I'ma mess it up
Like double cups
Of every type of vodka
When I beat it up
In her guts
All I feel Is agua
If it's on the bed
On the floor
You Kno I do you proper
If it's in the whip
Buy the tints
Now I'm a window shopper
So freaky
So fine
You know that I'm a cuff ya
Daddy love ya long time
How you do that move
Then you start to slow wine
I'ma bring the cool whip
Make her do it
Like vine
So can we chill for a little
Talk for a little
Build for a little damn
Like how u shape and you wiggle
Butt start to jiggle
Clap without a hand
Now I'm just tryna be civil
Peep me visual
And now its a change of plans
Before that left leg
Meet that right leg
Gotta talk to the middle man
Why you standing so far out there
Just bring your body closer
Dancing on me, Kissing on me
So far out there
Just bring your body closer
Touching on me, Dancing on me
Way you dancing on me
Got me weak in my knees
If you feeling lonely, tell me all of need
Why you standing so far out there
Just bring your body closer
Touching on me, Kissing on me
Come in closer babe
Do you know what one dance can do
Take your pain away
If I get one chance with you
Let's just take our time
Catch a vibe
See what mood is right
Let's not rush the night
Ease your mind
We got all this time
Hands your knees
Dancing on me
Straight under the moonlight
Gripping me tight
Taking the lead
DJ play that tune high
I wanna see what you do
When the room get hot
Don't need much conversation
Let's head to my spot
Just relax yourself a few
I could heal the situation
That sweet love you giving
So intoxicating
Late night conversations
That too is amazing
Had lovers once before
But right now I'm playing favorites
I know your heart can't take no pain no more
It hurts, believe me
All that hurt cause complications
Make it hard to breathe in
But I have the conversation
That will give you reason
To let me access your body, so baby
Why you standing so far out there
Just bring your body closer
Dancing on me, Kissing on me
So far out there
Just bring your body closer
Touching on me, Dancing on me
Way you dancing on me
Got me weak in my knees
If you feeling lonely, tell me all of need
Why you standing so far out there
Just bring your body closer
Touching on me, Kissing on me
The lyrics of B.T. Express's song "Closer" are about seduction and getting closer to someone physically and emotionally. The song's catchy beat and sensual lyrics invite the listener to move their body closer to the person they desire. The singer wants to connect intimately with their partner and expresses their feelings through sensual dancing and kissing.
Throughout the song, the singer persuades their partner to get closer, promising to make them feel good and alleviate their loneliness. The lyrics also highlight the desire for a deeper emotional connection through late-night conversations and spending time together. In the end, the singer aimed to access their partner's body both physically and emotionally, so they can be closer and grow together.
Overall, "Closer" is a sultry song about intimacy, seduction, and emotional connection. The lyrics communicate the desire to get closer, be present with one another, and enjoy each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Why you standing so far out there
Asking why the person is keeping their distance
Just bring your body closer
Requesting physical proximity
Dancing on me, Kissing on me
Describing desired actions
So far out there
Repeating the initial question
Touching on me, Dancing on me
Reiterating desired actions
Way you dancing on me
Complimenting the person's dancing skills
Got me weak in my knees
Expressing physical attraction
If you feeling lonely, tell me all of need
Offering emotional support
I said aye, okay
Affirmation
Girl ya body perfect
Complimenting the person's physical appearance
I can work it all day
Expressing sexual desire
Make ya April flower
Using poetic language to complement the person
Start to shower
Imagery related to sexual activity
Like may
Continuing the earlier poetic language
Baby bring that freak out
Encouraging the person's sexual expression
Like it's Cirque du Soleil
Using an unusual metaphor to describe the sexual activity
I'ma mess it up
Expressing confidence in sexual performance
Like double cups
Metaphor related to drinking and possibly drug use
Of every type of vodka
Continuing the metaphor
When I beat it up
Using crude language to describe sexual activity
In her guts
Continuing the crude language
All I feel Is agua
Referencing the Spanish word for water to describe sexual fluids
If it's on the bed
Describing locations for sexual activity
On the floor
Continuing to describe locations
You know I do you proper
Expressing confidence in sexual performance
If it's in the whip
Using slang for car to describe location of sexual activity
Buy the tints
Referring to buying window tint for privacy in the car
Now I'm a window shopper
Playing with the term "window shopping" to suggest looking for sexual partners
So freaky
Describing the person's behavior in a sexual context
So fine
Complimenting the person's physical appearance
You know that I'm a cuff ya
Suggesting possession or control over the person
Daddy love ya long time
Using a stereotype associated with Asian sex workers to convey sexual desire
How you do that move
Complimenting the person's dancing skills
Then you start to slow wine
Describing a specific dance move
I'ma bring the cool whip
Using slang for a type of sexual activity
Make her do it
Expressing desire for a specific sexual activity
Like vine
Referencing a popular social media platform to describe sexual activity
So can we chill for a little
Asking to slow down the pace of activity
Talk for a little
Suggesting conversation and connection are important too
Build for a little damn
Suggesting the possibility of a deeper relationship
Like how u shape and you wiggle
Complimenting the person's physical appearance
Butt start to jiggle
Focusing on a specific physical feature
Clap without a hand
Using crude language to describe the person's sexual appeal
Now I'm just tryna be civil
Suggesting that respectful behavior is desired
Peep me visual
Asking the person to look at the artist
And now its a change of plans
Indicating a shift in conversation or activity
Before that left leg
Focusing on a specific body part
Meet that right leg
Describing a specific dance move
Gotta talk to the middle man
Using crude language to describe sexual activity
Come in closer babe
Requesting physical proximity
Do you know what one dance can do
Suggesting that dancing can lead to sexual activity
Take your pain away
Suggesting that sexual activity can be a form of emotional release or healing
If I get one chance with you
Expressing desire for sexual activity with the person
Let's just take our time
Suggesting that the singer wants to slow down the pace of activity
Catch a vibe
Suggesting that the singer wants to build a connection before engaging in sexual activity
See what mood is right
Suggesting that the artist wants to assess the situation before proceeding
Let's not rush the night
Reiterating the desire to slow down the pace of activity
Ease your mind
Suggesting that the artist wants the person to feel comfortable and relaxed
We got all this time
Suggesting that there is no need to hurry
Hands your knees
Describing a specific dance move
Dancing on me
Describing desired actions
Straight under the moonlight
Describing the setting
Gripping me tight
Describing desired physical contact
Taking the lead
Describing desired behavior
DJ play that tune high
Asking the DJ to play loud music
I wanna see what you do
Expressing desire to watch the person dance or move
When the room get hot
Suggesting that sexual activity is imminent
Don't need much conversation
Suggesting that the artist wants to move directly to sexual activity
Let's head to my spot
Inviting the person to go to the artist's location
Just relax yourself a few
Asking the person to calm down and feel comfortable
I could heal the situation
Suggesting that sexual activity can be a remedy for emotional distress
That sweet love you giving
Complimenting the person's sexual performance
So intoxicating
Describing the person's sexual appeal
Late night conversations
Suggesting that the singer wants to talk after sexual activity
That too is amazing
Indicating that the singer enjoys both sexual activity and conversation
Had lovers once before
Describing the artist's past sexual experiences
But right now I'm playing favorites
Suggesting that the person is currently the artist's favorite sexual partner
I know your heart can't take no pain no more
Suggesting that the person has had past emotional experiences that were painful
It hurts, believe me
Empathizing with the person's emotional pain
All that hurt cause complications
Suggesting that past emotional pain has made future relationships difficult
Make it hard to breathe in
Using metaphor to describe emotional distress
But I have the conversation
Suggesting that the artist wants to help the person heal from past emotional pain
That will give you reason
Suggesting that the conversation will have a positive impact
To let me access your body, so baby
Expressing desire to engage in sexual activity
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Adrian Hogg, Darius Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind