Born in West Hampstead in London to a family that enjoyed music, Springfield learned to sing at home. In 1958, she joined her first professional group, the Lana Sisters. Two years later, with her brother Dion O'Brien ("Tom Springfield") and Tim Feild, she formed the folk-pop vocal trio the Springfields. Two of their five 1961–63 Top 40 UK hits – "Island of Dreams" and "Say I Won't Be There"–reached No. 5 on the charts, both in the spring of 1963. In 1962, they also achieved success in the United States with their cover of "Silver Threads and Golden Needles". Her solo career began in late 1963 with the upbeat pop record "I Only Want to Be with You"—a UK No. 4 hit, and the first of her six transatlantic Top 40 hits in the 1960s, along with "Stay Awhile" (1964), "All I See Is You" (1966), "I'll Try Anything" (1967), and two releases which are now considered her signature songs: "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (1966 UK No. 1/US No. 4) and "Son of a Preacher Man" (1968/69 UK No. 9/US No. 10). The latter is featured on the 1968 pop and soul album Dusty in Memphis, one of Springfield's defining works. In March 2020, the US Library of Congress added the album to the National Recording Registry, which preserves audio recordings considered to be "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".
Between 1964 and 1969, Springfield enjoyed success in her native United Kingdom with several singles which in America either failed to chart or were not released, among them being "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself" (the biggest of her many Burt Bacharach/Hal David covers), "In the Middle of Nowhere", "Some of Your Lovin'", "Goin' Back", and "I Close My Eyes and Count to Ten". Conversely, she charted in the US (but not in the UK) with hits including "Wishin' and Hopin'", "The Look of Love", and "The Windmills of Your Mind". From 1971 to 1986, she failed to register a hit from five album releases (aside from a minor 1979 UK chart appearance), but her 1987 collaboration with UK synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, "What Have I Done to Deserve This?", took her back near the top of the charts, reaching No. 2 on both the UK Singles Chart and the Billboard Hot 100. The collaboration yielded two 1989 UK Top 20 hits: "Nothing Has Been Proved" and "In Private". In 1990, Springfield charted with "Reputation"–the last of 25 UK Top 40 hits in which she features.
A fixture on British television, Springfield presented many episodes of the popular 1963–66 British TV music series Ready Steady Go! and, between 1966 and 1969, hosted her own series on the BBC and ITV. In 1966, she topped popularity polls, including Melody Maker's "Best International Vocalist", and was the first UK singer to top the New Musical Express readers' poll for best female singer. She has been inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the UK Music Hall of Fame. Multiple critics and polls have lauded Springfield as one of the greatest female singers in popular music.
Studio albums
A Girl Called Dusty (1964)
Stay Awhile/I Only Want To Be With You (1964)
Dusty (1964)
Ooooooweeee!!! (1965)
Ev'rything's Coming Up Dusty (1965)
You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (1966)
Where Am I Going? (1967)
The Look Of Love (1967)
Dusty... Definitely (1968)
Dusty in Memphis (1969)
A Brand New Me (1970)
See All Her Faces (1972)
Cameo (1973)
It Begins Again (1978)
Living Without Your Love (1979)
White Heat (1982)
Reputation (1990)
A Very Fine Love (1995)
Faithful (2015, recorded in 1971)
Close To You
Dusty Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every time you are near?
Just like me
They long to be close to you
Why do stars fall down from the sky
Every time you walk by?
Just like me
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
And golden starlight in your eyes of blue
That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around
Just like me
They long to be close you you
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
And golden starlight in your eyes of blue
That is why all the girls in town
Follow you all around
Just like me
They long to be close you
Oh, just like me
They long to be close to you
Baby, baby, baby
They long to be so close to you
The lyrics to Dusty Springfield's song "Close To You" express the intense desire to be close to someone, symbolized by natural phenomena like birds and stars. The singer questions why these things seem to appear every time this person is around, likening her own longing to that of the natural world. The second verse references the idea that this person is a dream come true, as though they were made by angels who sprinkled moondust in their hair and golden starlight in their blue eyes. The final chorus repeats the sentiment of the first, emphasizing that many others also wish to be close to this person, just like the singer.
The lyrics can be interpreted in several ways, but primarily they express the idea of overwhelming attraction and infatuation. Whether the person in question is a romantic interest or simply a magnetic, fascinating individual whose presence commands attention, the singer seems unable to resist the pull towards them. The use of natural imagery emphasizes the power and allure of this person's presence, suggesting that they have some kind of magical quality that draws people like moths to a flame. The repetition of the last line, "They long to be close to you," emphasizes the intensity of this desire and creates a sense of yearning in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do birds suddenly appear
The birds symbolize the feeling of love and how it suddenly manifests whenever she is with him.
Every time you are near?
The proximity to him is what makes her feel love, and she wonders why that is.
Just like me
She is not the only one who feels this way; many others do too.
They long to be close to you
Everyone wants to be close to him because of the magical way he makes them feel.
Why do stars fall down from the sky
The stars signify the magic of love and how it seems to take over the surroundings whenever he is present.
Every time you walk by?
His mere presence is enough to create a sense of awe and wonder in those around him.
On the day that you were born
The singer believes that his birth was a momentous occasion and that the universe took notice.
The angels got together
The heavenly beings joined forces to create someone special in the world.
And decided to create a dream come true
The angels intended for him to be a beacon of hope, love, and happiness to all those around him.
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
The idea of moondust represents purity, cleanliness, and specialness, which is the essence of the boy.
And golden starlight in your eyes of blue
The stars signify that the boy's eyes are bright, special, and able to bring hope wherever he looks.
That is why all the girls in town
Because of his inherent goodness and warm nature, the girls in town are drawn to him.
Follow you all around
The girls want to be where he is to experience his magic and keep him close.
Oh, just like me
The singer wants this as well and is willing to put herself in the same position.
They long to be close to you
All of these people want to be close to him because he makes them feel special and offers them hope.
Baby, baby, baby
A term of endearment used to show the depth of her feelings.
They long to be so close to you
Reiterating that it is an intense desire for everyone to be near the boy.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@비정한세상
Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near
Just like me, they long to be close to you
Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by
Just like me, they long to be close to you
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold
And starlight in your eyes of blue
That is why all the girls in town follow you all around
Just like me, they long to be close to you
@비정한세상
Close to you (당신 곁에)
Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near
당신과 가까이 있을 때면 왜 항상 새들이 나타날까요
Just like me, they long to be close to you
나처럼, 그들도 당신 곁에 머물고 싶은가봐요
Why do stars fall down from the sky every time you walk by
당신이 걸을 때면 왜 항상 별들이 쏟아질까요
On the day that you were born
당신이 태어나던 날
And the angels got together
천사들이 모여서
And decided to create a dream come true
꿈을 이루기로 했지요
So they sprinkled moon dust In your hair of gold
달빛의 가루를 당신 금빛 머리에 뿌리고
And starlight in your eyes of blue
별빛을 당신의 푸른 눈에 빠뜨린걸요
That is why all the girls in town follow you all around
그래서 동네 모든 소녀들이 당신 곁을 맴도는가봐요
Just like me, they long to be close to you
나처럼, 그들도 당신 곁에 있고 싶어하니까요
On the day that you were born
당신이 태어나던 날
And the angels got together
천사들이 모여서
And decided to create a dream come true
꿈을 이루기로 했지요
So they sprinkled moon dust In your hair of gold
달빛의 가루를 당신 금빛 머리에 뿌리고
And starlight in your eyes of blue
별빛을 당신의 푸른 눈에 빠뜨린걸요
That is why all the girls in town follow you all around
그래서 동네 모든 소녀들이 당신 곁을 맴도는가봐요
Just like me, they long to be close to you
나처럼, 그들도 당신 곁에 있고 싶어하니까요
Just like me, they long to be close to you
나처럼 그들도 당신 곁에 머물고 싶은가봐요
@azillliasmith2734
Didn't realise Dusty recorded this..... wonderful voice 🙂❤️
@lavanille1078
Que bella es... Ella y la canción...❤
@babsie47
Dusty ALWAYS gets it.
@pawdaw
This song is all about idealised, unattainable love. It's heartbreaking. Dusty GETS it.
@IMWMFLYME
pawdaw so did Karen...adore both of them.
@elizabethgeoghegan5167
No one got Bacharach like Dusty. Her version is very different, but just as sublime and perhaps a little closer to the heart of the song.
@SoniaDill
Great version of this unforgettable song!
@middleagelimbo3630
There was only one Dusty Springfield. Such a range and personality in a voice you could simply float away on.
@danb2622
Incredible voice! So beautiful!
@carlapizzicone5831
nice job DUSTY