Wilson's repertoire includes both jazz and blues standards and renditions of pop and rock songs. Her contralto voice has been described as bluesy and sultry, and the style of her music ranges from swing to funk to bossa nova. Many of the songs she covers are by artists who usually record in other genres.
Wilson counts the late Miles Davis as one of her greatest influences. In 1989 she performed as the opening act for Davis at the JVC Jazz Festival in Chicago. In 1999 she produced Traveling Miles as a tribute to Davis. The album developed from a series of jazz concerts that she performed at Lincoln Center in November 1997 in Davis's honor and includes three selections based on Davis's own compositions, in which Wilson adapted the original themes.
A Brief Discography
Point of View (1986, JMT)
Days Aweigh (1987, JMT)
Blue Skies (1988, JMT)
Jumpworld (1989, JMT)
She Who Weeps (1990, JMT)
Live (1991, JMT)
After the Beginning Again (1992, JMT)
Dance to the Drums Again (1992, DIW/Columbia)
Blue Light 'til Dawn (1993, Blue Note)
New Moon Daughter (1995, Blue Note)
Rendezvous (with Jacky Terrasson) (1998, Blue Note)
Traveling Miles (1999, Blue Note)
Belly of the Sun (2002, Blue Note)
Glamoured (2003, Blue Note)
Thunderbird (2006, Blue Note)
Loverly (2008, Blue Note)
Silver Pony (2010, Blue Note)
Another Country (2012, eOne)
Official website: www.cassandrawilson.com
Closer to You
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you're walking through a crowded space
I hear every word that you said
I remember that everyday
I get a little bit closer to you, to you
How long an hour can take
When you're staring into open space
I remember that everyday
I get a little bit closer to you, to you
These are the days that I won't get back
Won't hear you cry or hear you laugh
When it's quiet I don't hear a thing
I can always hear you breathe
You know there's nowhere else that I've wanted to be
But be there when you need me
I'm sorry too but don't give up on me
And just remember that when you went to sleep
I got a little bit closer to you, closer to you, closer to you
Oh, closer, closer to you
Little bit closer, closer to you
I got closer to you
In Cassandra Wilson's song Closer to You, she explores the idea of love and its ability to connect individuals despite distance and time. The opening lines, "How soft a whisper can get when you're walking through a crowded space, I hear every word that you said, I remember that everyday," suggest that even in the midst of chaos and noise, the love between two individuals has the power to cut through and reach the other person. The second verse continues this theme with, "How long an hour can take when you're staring into open space, when I feel I'm slipping further away, I remember that everyday, I get a little bit closer to you."
The chorus, "These are the days that I won't get back, won't hear you cry or hear you laugh, when it's quiet I don't hear a thing, I can always hear you breathe," emphasizes the importance of cherishing each moment, as time is fleeting and we never know when we may lose those we love. The final verse, "You know there's nowhere else that I've wanted to be, but be there when you need me, I'm sorry too but don't give up on me, and just remember that when you went to sleep, I got a little bit closer to you," highlights the commitment and effort that love requires, as well as the idea that even when physically apart, love can continue to bring individuals closer.
Overall, Wilson's song is a beautiful testament to the enduring nature of love and its ability to overcome even the greatest of distances.
Line by Line Meaning
How soft a whisper can get
The volume of your voice is so low that your words are only audible to me as a gentle whisper.
When you're walking through a crowded space
Even amidst a large number of people, I can hear your faint whisper while you walk by.
I hear every word that you said
Though your words were soft, I was able to listen to, comprehend, and remember each one of them.
I remember that everyday
I do not forget any of the conversations I have with you on any given day, and I reflect on them.
I get a little bit closer to you, to you
With every conversation we have, I feel a sense of closeness to you growing within me.
How long an hour can take
In a state of boredom or sadness, time seems to pass very slowly and an hour can feel like a long time.
When you're staring into open space
When you are deep in thought while staring ahead and not engaging with me, time seems to pass more slowly in my boredom.
When I feel I'm slipping further away
When I sense that we are growing apart or losing touch, I feel the need to hold on tighter to our budding relationship.
These are the days that I won't get back
I am aware that the present is fleeting and these moments spent with you are precious, and I don't want to miss the opportunity to cherish them.
Won't hear you cry or hear you laugh
If we miss the chance to make good memories, I may not be able to realize your true emotions; your joys, as well as your sorrows.
When it's quiet I don't hear a thing
In a minute of silence, I can only think of you, and my mind refuses to imagine otherwise.
I can always hear you breathe
You may go unnoticed by others, but I do not fail to notice your simple, precious moments of breathing.
You know there's nowhere else that I've wanted to be
There is nowhere else that captures my interest as much as being by your side.
But be there when you need me
I endeavour to be close to you, to support you, and to give you comfort and reassurance when needed.
I'm sorry too but don't give up on me
I admit to my shortcomings, and vow to improve myself, even when I inevitably falter.
And just remember that when you went to sleep
Despite being separated by distance and time, my plan was to always maintain my intimacy by thinking of you fondly.
I got a little bit closer to you, closer to you, closer to you
With each passing moment spent thinking of you, I become more and more closely tied to you.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAKOB DYLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind