<… Read Full Bio ↴Gary Bartz (born in 1940) is an American alto and soprano saxophonist.
Since graduating from The Juilliard School he has worked with Charles Mingus, Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers, Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Max Roach, and Jackie McLean, as well as performing and recording with his own groups, among them the Gary Bartz NTU Troop, which combined soul, funk, African folk music, hard bop, and avant-garde jazz.
In 2005, Bartz won a Grammy for playing on McCoy Tyner's album Illuminations.
He currently teaches at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music when not touring.
I Wanna Be Where You Are
Gary Bartz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not my thing trying get back
But this time let me tell you where I'm at
You don't have to worry cause I'm comin'
Back to where I should have always stayed
And now I've heard the maybe to your story
Can it be I stayed away too long?
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
It's not my thing trying get back
But this time let me tell you where I'm at
I wanna, wanna be where you are, oh oh
Anywhere you are, oh oh
I wanna wanna be where you are, oh oh
Everywhere you are, oh oh
Please, don't close the door to our future
There's so many things we haven't tried
I could love you better than I used to
And give you all the love I have inside
(Oooh!!)
I wanna, wanna be where you are, oh oh
Any, any, anywhere you are, oh oh
I wanna wanna be where you are, oh oh
I gotta be where you are, oh oh
I wanna be...
I wanna be... oh, oh
Yeah yeah, baby now
I wanna be...
I wanna be... oh., oh
Oooh
I wanna be...
I wanna be... ohoh
Now, now, yeah baby
Oooh
I wanna be...
I wanna be.. ohoh
Yeah, yeah, baby now
Oooh
In "I Wanna Be Where You Are," Gary Bartz sings about his love's impact on him after being away for too long. The first verse serves as a reflection of his time away and questioning whether he stayed away for too long or left her mind while he was gone. Bartz says that, although it is not his usual thing, he wants to communicate where he is emotionally and let her know that she does not need to worry since he is coming back to where he should have always been. He has heard the "maybe" in her story, and it is enough for him to stay with her.
In the second verse, Bartz repeats that he wants to be where his lover is, anywhere and everywhere with her. He pleads with her to keep the door open to their future together, promising that there are so many things they haven't tried. He is willing to love her better than before and give her all the love he has inside.
The song is an excellent example of the power of love and the willingness to repair a relationship. The repetition of the lyrics reinforces his determination to be with his love and make things work. Bartz's emotional delivery of the lyrics, with the 'ooohs', adds to the song's sweetness.
Line by Line Meaning
Can it be I stayed away too long?
Is it possible that I stayed away from you for too long?
Did I leave your mind when I was gone?
Did I make you forget about me when I was not around?
It's not my thing trying get back
I don't usually try to come back to something I left behind
But this time let me tell you where I'm at
However, this time, let me explain where I am with my feelings
You don't have to worry cause I'm comin'
Don't worry, I am coming back to you
Back to where I should have always stayed
Back to where I belong and should not have left in the first place
And now I've heard the maybe to your story
I have listened to your explanation, and it makes sense to me now
And it's enough, love, for me stay
Your explanation is enough for me to want to stay with you
I wanna, wanna be where you are, oh oh
I desire to be where you are, regardless of where that is
Anywhere you are, oh oh
I am willing to follow you wherever you go
Everywhere you are, oh oh
I want to be with you wherever you may be
Please, don't close the door to our future
Don't give up on us, let's keep our future open
There's so many things we haven't tried
There are many experiences we have not shared together
I could love you better than I used to
I am confident that I can love you better than before
And give you all the love I have inside
I have a lot of love to give, and I want to give it to you
Oooh!!
Vocal expression
Any, any, anywhere you are, oh oh
I am willing to go wherever you go, any time, any place
I gotta be where you are, oh oh
I must be where you are, no matter what it takes
I wanna be...
I desire to be...
Yeah yeah, baby now
Vocal expression
Now, now, yeah baby
Vocal expression
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Arthur Ross, Leon Ware
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bounty125th
My Father loved Gary Bartz... I had old pictures of Mr. Bartz I sent to him and he bugged out... But this song right here is a song I remember very viviidly while listening to his records with my father...This would be the number one song on my songtracks list for life...!!! Thank you Mr. Bartz
ShandaaPandaa
This thrill is zo smoothly gentle. Gary is the man
Gary Lewis
A Superb track xx
BastiatHayek
Gary Bartz (a sax), Andy Bey (p), Stafford James (b) and Howard King (d) in 1972.
Rudi Tiessler
How he was doing that effect with the saxophone???
4Youalone3
Why is the day appropriate? This head is curious.
BlendMasta Lark
wow kan kick rippin shit
avivajazz
Gary Bartz NTU Troop ~ I Wanna Be Where You Are ~ Juju Street Songs
BlendMasta Lark
krazee
Grand Master Hef
indeed