The Dance Hall Crashers recorded a few songs during their first year (these are featured on The Old Record), and in 1990, they made their most notable lineup change, adding second vocalist Karina Denike. Soon after, the band members parted ways, but they played a reunion show in 1992 due to pressure from fans. The show met with great fanfare, and so the band decided to reunite on a more permanent basis, with Rogers and Denike on vocals, Hammon on lead guitar, his brother Gavin on drums, Scott Goodell on second guitar, and Mikey Weiss on bass. The Dance Hall Crashers song "Enough" was featured on the soundtrack for Angus (1995 film). The song "Don't Wanna Behave" was featured in the 1996 film "Biodome" as well.
As of August 2005, the band members lead separate lives but still play a few shows per year. In November 2004 they played and recorded a show at the Hollywood House of Blues; the concert was released by Kung Fu Records in September 2005 as part of the popular The Show Must Go Off DVD series.
Next to You
Dance Hall Crashers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I guess I know you better than you think
Try to pretend that you are far away
I guess I better buy you a stiff drink
How could you try to forget what we once had
Better not tell anyone it was bad
Sorry I can't get any further away
You better deal cause I'm gonna stay
Next to you, I never wanted to, but now that I'm
Next to you, I just can't help myself being
Next to you, there isn't anyone else
That I would rather do
Try to pretend that you don't get a small chill
Every single time that I pass you
Try to pretend that you don't want a big thrill
Even half as much as I know you do
I knew you couldn't forget what you once had
Even though it ended so awfully bad
I'm sure the second round won't end the same way
You'd better hope cause I'm gonna stay
Next to you, I never wanted to, but now that I'm
Next to you, I just can't help myself being
Next to you, there isn't anyone else
That I would rather do
Try to pretend that you are comfortable
I guess I know you better than you think
Try to pretend that you are far away
I guess I better buy you a stiff drink
Don't think of running away cause I'll catch you
And make you sorrier than you ever knew
I know I've lost it - I don't care, so anyway
You'd better deal cause I'm gonna stay
Next to you, I never wanted to, but now that I'm
Next to you, I just can't help myself being
Next to you, there isn't anyone else
That I would rather do
Next to you, next to you, next to you, next to you.
The lyrics of Dance Hall Crashers's "Next To You" depict a situation where two people who have had a failed romantic relationship find themselves near each other again. The first verse suggests that one person is uncomfortable and trying to pretend they are far away from the other. However, the other person knows them well enough to see through their act and plans to buy them a drink. The second verse implies that both parties have lingering feelings for each other and are trying to pretend they don't. The singer believes that the previous relationship ended badly, but there may be a chance for a second round with a different outcome.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of reluctance in the singer's actions, even though they are drawn to the other person. The repeated chorus emphasizes that the singer would rather be "next to you" than anyone else, despite the history between them.
The lyrics seem to capture the complicated emotions that can arise when two people with a shared past are brought back into each other's lives. There is a sense of ambiguity in their feelings, as the singer is both drawn to and uncertain about the other person. The song ends on a unresolved note, leaving the listener to wonder what will happen next between these two characters.
Line by Line Meaning
Try to pretend that you are comfortable
I understand that you're uncomfortable, but just pretend for me.
I guess I know you better than you think
I know you better than you think I do.
Try to pretend that you are far away
Even though we're right next to each other, try to imagine that you're far away.
I guess I better buy you a stiff drink
I'll buy you a strong drink to help you cope with being close to me.
How could you try to forget what we once had
How could you forget the strong connection we used to share?
Better not tell anyone it was bad
Let's pretend that our past relationship was good, and not talk about its flaws.
Sorry I can't get any further away
Unfortunately, I can't distance myself any further from you.
You better deal cause I'm gonna stay
You'll have to deal with me being near you, because I'm not going anywhere.
Next to you, I never wanted to, but now that I'm
I didn't want to be next to you, but now that I am,
Next to you, I just can't help myself being
I can't help but be drawn to you when we're next to each other.
Next to you, there isn't anyone else
When I'm next to you, there's no one else I'd rather be with.
That I would rather do
There's nothing else I'd rather do than spend time with you when we're close.
Try to pretend that you don't get a small chill
Even though I know you feel a little nervous when I'm near you, try to hide it.
Every single time that I pass you
Each time I walk by you, I know you feel something.
Try to pretend that you don't want a big thrill
I know you want more excitement from being near me, but try to pretend otherwise.
Even half as much as I know you do
I know you want to feel closer to me, even if you won't admit it.
I knew you couldn't forget what you once had
I knew our past relationship was too strong to forget completely.
Even though it ended so awfully bad
Even though things didn't end well for us, our past connection still lingers.
I'm sure the second round won't end the same way
I believe we can have a better relationship if we try again.
You'd better hope cause I'm gonna stay
You'd better accept being near me, because I'm not going anywhere.
Don't think of running away cause I'll catch you
I won't let you run away from being near me again.
And make you sorrier than you ever knew
I'll make you regret trying to escape from me.
I know I've lost it - I don't care, so anyway
I know I'm a little crazy, but I don't care - I'll still stay next to you.
Next to you, next to you, next to you, next to you.
Being next to you is where I want to be, no matter how crazy it might seem.
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DARREN STOKES, PHILIP (GB) LARSEN, DAN BROWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Roopaloooop
on Cricket
When I listen to it, it makes me sad in a good way. It makes me think it's being sung to a terminally ill child.
"Why are you worried about the dirt? I don't think that you'll mind. When it's your time." And the "promise I'll wait a while. To make sure that you've moved on." If it's a lullaby, it's scary. Ha. I thought maybe it was her singing to her grandma on her deathbed, too. Makes more sense I guess.