Near to You
Damn Yankees [Original Broadway Cast] Lyrics
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He's near to you
Near to you
Though you think he's far away
He's near to you, so near to you
As near as April is to May!
Can't you feel him there is his favorite chair
Oh so near to you, always near to you
Why you might as well be face to face
For it's just as though he were standing as close as I
I know it's hard to imagine, but try,
If he's really near to you, near to you
You may be far apart and yet
If he's in your heart
Really in your heart
How near to you can he get?
[MEG]
He's near to me, near to me
Even though he's far away
He's near to me, oh so near to me
As near as April is to May
[JOE]
If he's really dear to you,
[MEG]
He's near to me
[JOE]
You may be far apart and yet
[MEG]
If he's in my heart
[JOE]
Really in your heart
How near to you
[MEG]
How near to me
[BOTH]
How near to you/me can he get?
The song "Near to You" from the musical Damn Yankees is a duet between Joe and Meg, expressing how their loved ones may seem distant in physical distance but are never far away. The lyrics convey the idea that love can bridge any gap, and distance does not matter when two people are emotionally connected. Joe starts by reassuring Meg that the person she misses so much is near to her, just as April is near to May. He continues to describe how the person is always near her, sitting in their favorite chair, staring at the fireplace. Despite being miles away, they might as well be face to face since the person is always in Meg's heart. The message is one of hope and comfort, assuring Meg that even though they may be far apart, the person she loves is still close to her.
Meg joins in, repeating Joe's words, expressing how she, too, feels close to her loved one, even though he's far away. She acknowledges that even though she and her loved one may be physically distant, the love they share keeps them close together. The song expresses the concept of physical distance is only a temporary obstacle when there is genuine emotional connection, and it reminds listeners that love can transcend all boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
He's near to you
Even though you think he's far away, he's closer than you realize.
Near to you
He's within your reach and presence.
Though you think he's far away
Even if you perceive him as distant, he's not truly out of reach.
He's near to you, so near to you
He's extremely close - like two months that are consecutive on a calendar.
As near as April is to May!
He's so close that it's comparable to the relationship between April and May - two months that follow each other.
Can't you feel him there is his favorite chair
You can sense his presence in the things he loved, like his favorite chair.
Staring at the fireplace
He used to love staring at the fireplace, and even though he's not here, the memories remain.
Oh so near to you, always near to you
He's constantly present in your thoughts and heart, making him always within your reach.
Why you might as well be face to face
You might as well be in direct contact with each other, as close as you are.
For it's just as though he were standing as close as I
He's just as close to you as I am right now, almost like he's standing beside me.
I know it's hard to imagine, but try,
It's hard to believe, but do your best to understand and feel his closeness.
If he's really near to you, near to you
If you truly believe that he's near you, he truly is.
You may be far apart and yet
Even if you're physically separated, it doesn't mean he's not close.
If he's in your heart
If you hold him in your heart dearly,
Really in your heart
If he's truly inside you,
How near to you can he get?
How much closer can he get to you if he's already in your heart?
He's near to me, near to me
To me, he's as close as can be.
Even though he's far away
Despite his physical distance, I feel him close to me.
If he's really dear to you,
If you truly cherish and treasure him,
How near to you
How can he be any closer to you than he already is
How near to me
How can he be any closer to me than he already is
How near to you/me can he get?
If he's in our hearts, he's as close as he could ever be.
Contributed by Natalie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.