At age 16, Doyle Bramhall II toured with Jimmie Vaughan's band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, as second guitarist. In 1992 Doyle formed Arc Angels with Charlie Sexton and Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section of bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton (also known as Double Trouble). Doyle became Eric Clapton's second guitarist in 2004 after Andy Fairweather-Low backed out of the tour. He left Clapton's band in 2009 to reform Arc Angels.
"Doyle Bramhall II was raised in a home filled with the blues and rock and roll sounds that are indigenous to his birthplace - Austin, Texas. His father, Doyle Bramhall Senior, was the drummer for blues legend Lightning Hopkins and a regular collaborator with Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
When Doyle was 16 years old, he toured as second guitarist with Jimmy Vaughan's band, The Fabulous Thunderbirds. Shortly thereafter he and fellow Texan, Charlie Sexton, co-founded the rock band Arc Angels. Doyle and Charlie enlisted the rhythm section from Stevie Ray Vaughan's backing band, Double Trouble, to complete the lineup. The group enjoyed critical acclaim and commercial success.
Following the release of "Jellycream," Doyle's 1999 RCA debut recording, he received phone calls from both Roger Waters and Eric Clapton. Doyle ended up joining Roger Waters for a summer tour while Clapton, along with fellow blues great B.B. King, chose two of Doyle's songs - "Marry You" and "I Wanna Be" - for their collaborative recording entitled "Riding With The King." Upon completion of the "Riding..." project, Doyle, his wife - Susannah Melvoin, and Clapton co-wrote and performed "Superman Inside" for Clapton's album, "Reptile." Doyle's playing is also heavily featured on the album.
The latest offering from Doyle Bramhall II, entitled - "Welcome" - is the purest sampling of Doyle's talents to date. Doyle entered the studio with Smokestack, the band he put together a couple of years ago, and co-producers Benmont Tench and Jim Scott to record the 12 - song set. Joining Doyle in Smokestack is J.J. Johnson on drums and bassist Chris Bruce. Susannah Melvoin contributed background vocals, Benmont Tench pulled keyboard duty and Craig Ross played second guitar.
The album, "Welcome" showcases the diversity of Bramhall's talent; from his songwriting to his intense, soulful vocals and virtuoso guitar playing. Doyle's gravity explosion can be readily heard on such tracks as the driving "Green Light Girl" and the uptempo "Soul Shaker." His dedication to the blues can be felt on tracks like "Life," "So You Want It To Rain" and "Send Some Love."
Doyle and his band are set to open for Eric Clapton on the first leg of a worldwide tour this year".
Official Site
Close To Me
Doyle Bramhall II Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So close to me
So you will see
What you mean to me
I want you to be
So close to me
So you will see
What you mean to me
I won't leave you ever
I promise and swear I will be there
I want you to stay
Just one more day
So you could see
We can live so happily
I want you to stay
Just one more day
So you could see
We can live so happily
I won't leave you ever
I promise and swear I will be there
I want to have you
Really need you
I won't leave you there
I won't leave you there
I won't leave you there
I won't leave you there
I want have you
Really want you
Really need you
I want to have you
I want to have you
Got to have you
Got to have you
Got to have you
The lyrics of Doyle Bramhall II's song "Close To Me" convey a deep sense of love and commitment towards someone special in his life. The singer expresses his intense desire to have the person he loves be as close to him as possible, so that they can truly understand what they mean to him. He promises to never leave them and to always be there for them whenever they need him, making it clear that his love and support is unwavering.
The second stanza highlights this commitment even further, with the singer pleading for just one more day with the person he loves, so that they can experience the joy of being truly happy and in love. The repetition of the lines "I want to have you, really need you" emphasizes the depth of his love and need for this person, as if they are a fundamental part of his existence.
Overall, the lyrics of "Close To Me" reflect a deep-rooted, unconditional love between two people, with the singer expressing his unwavering commitment and desire to always be there for the person he loves.
Line by Line Meaning
I want you to be
I desire for you to be
So close to me
In close proximity to me
So you will see
To gain clarity on what I mean
What you mean to me
The significance you hold to me
I won't leave you ever
I will never abandon you
I promise and swear I will be there
Assurance that I will be present
I want you to stay
Desire for you to remain
Just one more day
Extend your presence for a short while
So you could see
For you to comprehend
We can live so happily
We have the potential for a joyful existence
I won't leave you there
I refuse to abandon you in that state
I want have you
I desire to be with you
Really want you
Sincerity in my desire for you
Really need you
I am dependent on you
I want to have you
My aspiration is to be with you
Got to have you
Necessity to be with you
Got to have you
Crucial for me to be with you
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.