It was the cat-poles around the lake at his grandfather’s farm that inspired Sollee’s debut album Learning To Bend. The frailty of those awkward looking plants standing stoutly against winds that challenged even the strongest of nearby trees is an affecting metaphor for human struggle and perseverance. This idea is central to Learning To Bend.
Key tracks on Learning To Bend include two reactions to the current political landscape, “A Few Honest Words,” and an adaptation of Sam Cooke’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” in which Ben has written updated, politically relevant verses. Other highlights of the album are the playful, soul track, “How To See the Sun Rise” and the vulnerable yet insistent “It’s Not Impossible,” where Ben laments the unfortunate status quo that “boys don’t cry.”
Sollee has found considerable success in recent years through his ability to bend. In 2007, he was named one of NPR’s “Top Ten Unknown Artists of the Year.” His distinctive cello technique and soulful voice have been marinating for years in his work with avant-garde bluesman Otis Taylor, The Sparrow Quartet, (featuring banjo-master Béla Fleck), and on the internationally known Woodsongs Old Time Radio Hour.
Sollee’s unique performance experience and creative vision trump his 24 years and traditional classical training; he is poised to emerge as a solo artist, bridging genres and demographics with earnest and dynamic songwriting. However, the single most salient quality of Learning to Bend, is Sollee’s contagiously optimistic worldview. Sollee is not just expressing his personal quest for flexibility, he is asking the entire country to learn to bend, learn how to cry, learn how to see the sun rise… He is at the forefront of a movement that is happening right now: a zeitgeist in which a nation can face reality and empower itself to evolve and feel deeply and stand up for the power of hope.
Close To You
Ben Sollee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sometimes, I wear feathers to feel close to the sky
When I turn off the lights I am part of the night
I’ve been layin’ next to you just to see if it feels right
I want to be close to you, but you’re miles away
Spent all my money to see how it feels to be poor
Been wracking my brain trying to read this water-stained score.
When am I gonna learn it ain’t about me…
I want to be close to you, but you’re miles away
I picked up a shovel to feel close to the earth
I’ve been running round in circles to find my way
There must be something I can do
To make things better
I want to be close to you, but you’re miles away
In Ben Sollee's song "Close to You," the singer describes his longing for someone who is physically far away. He explains that he tries to feel connected to the world around him in different ways - wearing feathers to feel close to the sky, picking up a shovel to feel close to the earth, and turning off the lights to feel part of the night. He even lays next to the person he longs for just to see if it feels right. However, he acknowledges that despite his efforts, the person he wants to be close to remains miles away.
The lyrics also reveal a sense of frustration and uncertainty. The singer talks about spending all his money to see how it feels to be poor, and wracking his brain trying to read a water-stained score. He questions when he will learn that it's not all about him, but about the person he wants to be close to. He ends by expressing a desire to make things better and find a way to be closer to the person he longs for.
Overall, "Close to You" is a poignant ode to the feeling of longing for someone who is out of reach. The lyrics capture the complex emotions associated with unrequited love and the struggle to find connection amidst physical distance.
Line by Line Meaning
Sometimes, I wear feathers to feel close to the sky
I put on feathers to feel a deeper connection with nature and the world around me.
When I turn off the lights I am part of the night
When I turn off the lights, I feel like I am part of the darkness and everything that comes with it.
I’ve been layin’ next to you just to see if it feels right
I have been lying beside you just to test whether there is a spark between us.
I want to be close to you, but you’re miles away
I yearn to be physically close to you, but you are geographically distant.
Spent all my money to see how it feels to be poor
I have spent all my money to understand and empathize with people who live with very little.
Been wracking my brain trying to read this water-stained score.
I have been trying to decipher the meaning behind an old and weathered piece of music.
When am I gonna learn it ain’t about me…
At what point will I come to the realization that it's not just about me, but also about other people and their needs.
It’s about You
It's about the other person or people involved and what they want, need, and feel.
I picked up a shovel to feel close to the earth
I used a shovel to connect with the soil and get in touch with the physical world.
I’ve been running round in circles to find my way
I have been moving aimlessly without any clear direction or purpose, trying to figure out where I am going.
There must be something I can do
I have faith that there is a solution or action I can take to change my situation or make things better.
To make things better
I want to do something that will improve the situation or make things more optimal for all those involved.
I want to be close to you, but you’re miles away
I desire to be physically and emotionally close to you, but you are far away and out of reach.
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jaymie Wahlen
An amazing writer and performer who manages to maintain independence, individuality and integrity. Always impressed by Ben Sollee.
SuziG123
Just saw him last night in brooklyn. This was one of the first songs he played. It was amazing.
KDev
I love this guys music,
MOSSIBANKS79
Damn, that's impressive. And freaky.
youllregretit
a little harsh, but it holds a little truth. i really like the texture and energy they get out of the simplicity of their tiny desk concert. it showed the brilliance of the individual parts, and this is just saturated in bland.
porcelaindove
ben sollee is a boss.
jq27272
beautiful
MadWad2020
LOVE.
Cha Dyer
i was part of this video yes that is me carrying a rock and a tree :)
Scarflix
swag