Anywhere But Here
Christina Aguilera Lyrics


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There's no need for distance
No need for touch
No need for answers 'cause I've heard enough
I've just found a chest some place out of reach
I entered the darkness and laid my release
And open my, open my heart
Seem like a nightingale opened my, opened my hands
When no one else understands

I just close my eyes
And count to ten
Breathing twice
And all be bent
Nowhere to go 'cause I've been there before
In my mind it is near
I escape all I fear
So by closing my eyes
I am anywhere but here

There's no need for anger
Religion or faith
One glade of grief
Will always remain
It's not on the paper
Or a story book
It's a place to reunite with all that was took
And open my, I open my heart
Seem like a nightingale opened my, opened my hands
When no one else understands

I just close my eyes
And count to ten
Breathing twice
And all be bent
Nowhere to go 'cause I've been there before
In my mind it is near
I escape all I fear
So by closing my eyes
I am anywhere but here

Picture a land where you never have been
Where life is a eternal and ever green
The future of happiness ends silently
He loved and you're lost for now in eternity

Oh, I close my eyes
And count to ten
Breathing twice
And all be bent
Nowhere to go 'cause I've been there before
In my mind it is near
I escape all I fear




So by closing my eyes
I am anywhere but here

Overall Meaning

The song "Anywhere But Here" by Christina Aguilera portrays a sense of escapism, highlighting the power of the imagination and the ability to transcend reality through the act of closing one's eyes. The lyrics emphasise the idea that one can find solace and peace within themselves by entering a personal “darkness” where they can lay their “release” and unlock a deeper understanding of themselves. The idea of counting to ten and breathing twice serves as a coping mechanism or a way to center oneself in times of stress or anxiety.


The lyrics further convey that the need for distance, touch and answers is unnecessary as what is important is the search for peace within. The use of the lines "And open my, open my heart, Seem like a nightingale opened my, opened my hands. When no one else understands" suggests a spiritual reference of opening oneself up to nature, which is often used as a symbol of healing and faith. The line "Nowhere to go 'cause I've been there before" suggests that the singer has already gone down the path of despair and the song is their way of finding a way out of it.


In conclusion, "Anywhere But Here" is a song about the power of the imagination and finding solace within oneself. It encourages the idea of finding peace by accepting and understanding oneself better, rather than seeking answers from others.


Line by Line Meaning

There's no need for distance
Physical distance is irrelevant to me.


No need for touch
I don't require physical touch to feel comforted.


No need for answers 'cause I've heard enough
I don't need any more answers because I already know enough.


I've just found a chest some place out of reach
I've found something meaningful that is out of my grasp.


I entered the darkness and laid my release
I found peace in the unknown and in letting go.


And open my, open my heart
I am opening myself emotionally.


Seem like a nightingale opened my, opened my hands
It's as if a bird has set me free and allowed me to let go.


When no one else understands
I feel like no one else can relate to me.


I just close my eyes
I find comfort in shutting out the world.


And count to ten
I take deep breaths to calm myself.


Breathing twice
I take long, slow breaths to relax.


And all be bent
I focus on being flexible and not rigid.


Nowhere to go 'cause I've been there before
I feel trapped because I feel like I've been here before and nothing has changed.


In my mind it is near
In my imagination, I can find whatever I need.


I escape all I fear
I am able to overcome my fears by closing my eyes and imagining a new reality.


So by closing my eyes
I find comfort in blocking out the outside world.


I am anywhere but here
Through my imagination, I can transport myself wherever I want to be.


There's no need for anger
I don't feel angry or resentful.


Religion or faith
I don't need religion or faith to ground myself.


One glade of grief
I still have a place in my heart for my past grief.


Will always remain
It will always be a part of who I am.


It's not on the paper
I can't find what I need in books, writing, or information.


Or a story book
I can't find it in stories or fables.


It's a place to reunite with all that was took
I find what I need in a place where I can retrieve what was taken from me and put things back in their rightful place.


Picture a land where you never have been
Imagine a place that you've never been to before.


Where life is a eternal and ever green
Imagine a place that is always new and lush.


The future of happiness ends silently
Eventually, all happiness will come to an end.


He loved and you're lost for now in eternity
You loved someone who has passed on, and now you feel lost in time and space.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GARY BARLOW, ELIOT KENNEDY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@juliaborkowska6020

There’s no need for distance
No need for touch
No need for answers cause I’ve heard enough
I just find a chair, some place out of reach
I enter the darkness and claim my release

And open my, open my heart
Sing like a nightingale
Open my, open my hands
When no one else understands

I just close my eyes and count to ten
Breathe in twice and open them
Nowhere to go cause I’ve been there before
In my mind it is near, I escape all I fear
So by closing my eyes I am anywhere but here.

There’s no need for anger, religion or faith
One blade of grief will always remain
It’s not on a paper or a story book
It’s a place to reunite with all that was took

And open my, open my heart
Sing like a nightingale
Open my, open my hands
When no one else understands

I just close my eyes and count to ten
Breathe in twice and open them
Nowhere to go cause I’ve been there before
In my mind it is near, I escape all I fear
So by closing my eyes I am anywhere but here.

Picture a land where you never have been
Where life is eternal and ever green
The future of happiness and certainty
You're loved and you're lost 
There for now and eternity

I Close my eyes and count to ten
Breathe in twice and open them
Nowhere to go cause I’ve been there before
In my mind it is near, I escape all I fear
So by closing my eyes I am anywhere but here.



All comments from YouTube:

@lyvian0321

I wonder how someone who's so talented, so passionate, and so good in singing can have so many haters. She's a legend.

@charongilchrist9305

lyvian0321 I think all artist that's on her level has haters, it comes with the territory.  One thing I do respect from Christina is, she never let people bring her down regardless of what she's going through....She is a real artist, she always stay true to herself.

@charongilchrist9305

***** Who really cares about album sales at this point in her career.  Christina books private shows for millions of dollars alone......

@Alex4u

+Toby Robertson in this time, no one sells albums except Adele and Taylor Swift. It's all about streaming and touring.

@skyelouise5312

+Toby Robertson and yet you haven't sold shit bitch, now sit down and be quiet 🖕🏻

@rachaelparker7894

@Bradley thanks!! Tell that hater!

6 More Replies...

@Thespian5592

No other singer has the amount of talent and ability that Christina does! She is able to sing any genre with ease and her voice is the best I have heard in the music business! She has most amazing raw talent that you dont see or hear anymore.

@dextersullivan16

Been a fan of hers since "Genie in a bottle" this was just beautiful. I love her and her voice. She knows how to emote and capture the true essence of a song. Maybe it's me but when she sings and pours her all into I feel she knows what I'm going through or how I feel. Love it.

@rafaelcamargourango5082

Deepest voice of a female in mainstream music.. She is pure talent, her new album is gonna rock.

@alexlinder9294

What did I just hear? Because it certainly wasn't made by any mortal means... Christina Aguilera's voice is angelic and pure... Her voice echos her pain, and hurt, painting clearly the true emotion of this song. Few can sing with such depth and conviction. It's clear that she was put on this world to sing. Not sell records. Not become a pop star. But to simply grace this weary world this divine instrument she calls a voice, and to provide a bright light to the gloom around us all...

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