Brenda's greatest success came in 1988 with the release of her third album, "Get Here". It featured the hit singles "Get Here" and "Piano In The Dark". At the 31st Grammy Awards, Brenda was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Performance - Female for "Get Here". "Piano In The Dark" was nominated for Song of The Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (there was a duet? -- duet vocal was by Joe Esposito of Brooklyn Dreams). "Get Here" was later a huge hit covered by Oleta Adams.
Nearly all of her songs were written by herself. Some of her compositions are also performed by others like Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, Patrice Rushen, Patti Austin, Donna Summer, Chaka Khan, Fantasia, Ruben Studdard, Justin Guarini, and very successfully by the aforementioned Luther Vandross and Oleta Adams.
Russell is also a chief songwriter and lyricist for the hit Broadway musical "The Color Purple". In 2005 she saw a Broadway musical version of Alice Walker's The Color Purple. Produced by Oprah Winfrey, the show's score is written by Russell and lyricists-composers Allee Willis and Stephen Bray. Russell and her co-writers were nominated for a Tony Award (for Best Score) and a Grammy Award (in the Best Musical Show Album category).
Get Here
Brenda Russell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can reach me by trailway.
You can reach me on an airplane,
You can reach me with your mind.
You can reach me by caravan,
Cross the desert like an Arab man
I don't care how you get here,
You can reach me by sail boat,
Climb a tree and swing rope to rope.
Take a sled and slide down the slope,
Into these arms of mine.
You can jump on a speedy colt,
Cross the border in a blaze of hope
I don't care how you get here,
Just, get here if you can.
There are hills and mountains between us,
Always something to get over.
If I had my way, surely you would be closer.
I need you closer.
You can windsurf into my life,
Take me up on a carpet ride.
You can make it in a big balloon,
But you better make it soon.
You can reach me by caravan,
Cross the desert like an Arab man.
I don't care how you get here,
Just, get here if you can
I don't care, I don't care,
I want you to get here.
I need you right here, right now
I need you closer.
I can't wait another day,
I need you right here, right now.
Right here, right now
I need, I need
I want you to get here
I need you to get here
Brenda Russell's song "Get Here" is a powerful love song about the lengths a person will go to be with the one they love. The song emphasizes the idea that distance is not an obstacle in love, and that love can conquer all. Throughout the song, Brenda Russell lists various modes of transportation that people can use to reach her, including a railway, trailway, airplane, and even their minds. These different modes of transportation represent the different ways people can connect and communicate with each other.
As the song progresses, Brenda sings about the different physical barriers that can separate people, including hills and mountains. Despite these obstacles, however, she emphasizes that love will find a way. The song's chorus, "I don't care how you get here, just, get here if you can," underscores the importance of being together, no matter what it takes.
The song's bridge emphasizes the urgency of being together: "I can't wait another day, I need you right here, right now." This line emphasizes the idea that love cannot wait, and that people should do whatever it takes to be together.
Overall, "Get Here" is a powerful love song that emphasizes the idea that distance is not an obstacle in love, and that love can conquer all. It is a reminder of the lengths people will go to be with the ones they love, and the need for human connection and companionship.
Line by Line Meaning
You can reach me by railway,
I am accessible by train and have opened up travel possibilities.
You can reach me by trailway.
You can follow a path to find me, whether it be literal or figurative.
You can reach me on an airplane,
You can fly to me, indicating my willingness for the other person to invest their time and resources to connect with me.
You can reach me with your mind.
You can connect with me mentally or emotionally, insinuating the importance of the relationship.
You can reach me by caravan,
I am willing to accept unconventional methods of travel to reach me.
Cross the desert like an Arab man
The journey may be arduous and difficult, but if you value the relationship enough, you will endure it.
I don't care how you get here,
What matters to me is that you make the effort to connect with me, even if it's not a conventional method.
Just, get here if you can
I want the other person to realize the significance of their connection with me and will do what it takes to maintain it.
You can reach me by sail boat,
I am open to various methods of transportation to connect with me.
Climb a tree and swing rope to rope.
You can take risks and try unconventional or imaginative approaches to reach me.
Take a sled and slide down the slope,
Even if it's extreme or dangerous, I'm willing to accept any kind of efforts to connect with me.
Into these arms of mine.
I am willing to embrace the person because of what their connection means to me.
You can jump on a speedy colt,
You can take any method that will help you reach me faster.
Cross the border in a blaze of hope
You can take any risk or make a leap of faith and take chances to be with me.
There are hills and mountains between us,
There are obstacles that stand in the way of us, but my desire for the other person to be closer to me is still strong.
Always something to get over.
There will always be challenges but we need to overcome them to be together.
If I had my way, surely you would be closer.
I am desperate for the other person to be closer to me and I wish I had more control over it.
I need you closer.
The distance between us is causing me pain and sadness. I want to be closer.
You can windsurf into my life,
You can approach me in an unexpected and exciting way.
Take me up on a carpet ride.
We can go on an imaginary carpet ride together, insinuating the importance of shared experiences.
You can make it in a big balloon,
You can come to me in a creative and unconventional way.
But you better make it soon.
I'm willing to wait for you, but I want the other person to be aware of my impatience and the urgency of the situation.
I don't care, I don't care,
I am earnest in my desire for the other person to be close to me.
I want you to get here.
I have a strong desire for the other person to be with me.
I need you right here, right now
I am feeling loneliness and despair due to the distance and want them to be with me immediately.
I can't wait another day,
Waiting is causing me tremendous amounts of emotional pain.
Right here, right now
I want nothing more than for the other person to be with me in the present moment.
I need, I need
I am desperate for the other person.
I want you to get here
I will do anything to make the other person be with me because of the importance of our relationship.
I need you to get here
My desire to be with the other person is overwhelming and their presence is incredibly important to me.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brenda Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NothingNobody44
Her voice is like liquid gold, medicine when your soul is crying
@victoriaqueen9934
Many years ago, a good friend of my knew how much I loved her music and surprised me on my birthday and took me to see her perform. What a beautiful surprise! I'll never forget โค๏ธ Continue to Rest in peace my good friend.
@abemcg3803
I was nearly sobbing when she got to the โIf you canโ part, holding that long note, tears were rolling down
God Bless You, Ms. Brenda ๐ญ๐
@carltondavis8652
If you can
@abemcg3803
@Carlton Davis my mistake, thanks for the correction
@cocovernon8394
This song stole my heart the first time I heard it. I played it everyday on my way to work and back. Such sweet lyrics.....she worked it too.
@snjones99
Me too. I love Brenda Russell
@anitamachado1564
I agree...I had the cassette ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐
@Nina-jz8dz
2021 I'm still listening to this song.
Never get tired of this๐ต
@kevinh8736
Brenda Russell.....The original writer and singer of this beautiful song!