In 2001, DeGraw released his first album independently named Gavin Live.
In 2003, his first major studio album was released, entitled Chariot, on July 22nd. He released Chariot Stripped a year later, an album with the same songs, but the instruments brought down to a minimum. The album has so far peaked at #1 in two countries, in Denmark and on the US Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. It went to #2 in Norway and #56 on the Billboard 200 and has benn certified Platinum. His first single, I Don't Want To Be, was released on December 14th 2004 and was the theme tune to the hit TV. drama series One Tree Hill. It peaked on the Billboard Hot 100 at #10, the Billboard Pop 100 at #3, #6 in Norway and #38 in the UK, making it his only UK top 40 hit. It has been certified 2x Platinum, selling over 2 million copies. The second single, Chariot, was released on March 1st 2005 and made it to #1 on the Italian Airplay chart. It also did quite well in the US, hitting #30 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single was Follow Through and it was released on November 17th 2005. It was used on several TV shows, including Scrubs, and was used on the Carte D'or, an ice cream company. The song peaked at #12 in Norway, #13 in Holland, #38 in Portugal and #52 on the Billboard Hot 100. The final single from the album, Just Friends was released in early 2006 and went to #21 in Holland.
DeGraw's second album, the self-titled Gavin DeGraw, was released on May 6th 2008. It debuted and peaked on the US Billboard 200 at #7, selling 66,000 copies in its first week. It also made #3 in Denmark, #8 in Norway and #13 in Sweden. The first single, We Belong Together, was featured on the soundtrack of the film Tristan & Isolde. It peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single, In Love With A Girl, was released on February 12th 2008. It peaked at #5 on the US Hot Adult Top 40 Tracks, #22 in Holland, #24 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #32 in Canada. She Holds A Key was released next, in Mid-2008, and peaked at #29 in Holland. The next single, Cheated On Me, was released in September 2008 and peaked at #77 on the Billboard Pop 100. I Have You To Thank was the final single of the album, being released in early 2009.
His third album, Free, was released less than a year after Gavin DeGraw, on March 31st 2009, and was made in less than two weeks. It entered the Billboard 200 at #19, selling 29,000 copies. The first single, Stay, was released on March 11th 2009, through the internet.
His fourth album Sweeter was released on September 20th, 2011 and spawned lead single Not Over You which peaked at #18 on the Hot 100 and has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. Second singlek Sweeter reached #18 on Billboard's Adult Pop Songs chart. The final single from the album was Soldier.
Gavin released a live album on December 4th, 2012 entitled "Sweeter Live" singing some tracks from Sweeter and earlier favorites.
His current single Best I Ever Had is a song from upcoming fifth studio album Make A Move to be released on October 15th, 2013 in the US. The song has so far peaked at 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart.
Next to Me
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you wanna get pressed to me
So don't be such a stone when I call you on the phone
The rock won't be using that number, too scared.
Maybe what you had was broke
You wanna get high and they don't
So I had a drink posed to help me think
But my hands start shakin' and my hearts starts quakin'
Like a white man playin' his cool.
And I wanna tell you
Wait a minute sister
I know I ain't your mister yet
Just give me the chance and see.
But you won't even get next to me.
What'chya wanna do now
You're gonna have to give somehow
Think I got that thing you need
But you won't even get next to me
Once I get you in my grip
Follow my eyes to your hips.
Don't you crawl away
You done it everyday.
Just stay, why don't you stay, why don?t you stay, baby.
Put away your old disguise
You don't want no other guys.
We're havin' so much fun
I know you shouldn't run
But you run, you just run, you just run, baby.
Wait a minute sister
I know I ain't your mister yet
Just give me the chance and see.
But you won't even get next to me.
What'chya wanna do now
You're gonna have to give somehow
Think I got that thing you need
But you won't even get next to me
Here, heart in hand.
Off the rim, what I can,
Patience, running thin.
Come on girl, let me in.
Wait a minute sister
I know I ain't your mister yet
Just give me the chance and see.
But you won't even get next to me.
What'chya wanna do now
You're gonna have to give somehow
Think I got that thing you need
But you won't even get next to me
Wait a minute sister
I know I ain't your mister yet
Just give me the chance and see.
But you won't even get next to me.
What'chya wanna do now
You're gonna have to give somehow
Think I got that thing you need
But you won't even get next to me
You won't get next to me.
Why
Why why why why why why why
Oh
Wait a minute.
Oh whoa
You won't even get next to me.
The song "Next to Me" by Gavin DeGraw is all about the frustration of unreciprocated feelings. The persona sings to his desired lover, whom fate seems to prevent him from reaching out to. He knows the destiny wants to bring them together, but she remains elusive. Gavin DeGraw's lyrics are expressive and emotional, trying to convince his lover to take a chance on him. He uses metaphors, such as destiny being a "stone" and the persona being "high," to convey how he feels. Gavin suggests that he's willing to overcome his obstacles, his struggles with drinking, to make the relationship work. He pleads with the lady to give him a chance, but she doesn't even acknowledge his presence, leading him to conclude that he's not even worth her time.
Gavin DeGraw's "Next to Me" is a heartening song that tells of the triumph of persistent love. The chords suggest a sense of hopefulness, but there's a certain melancholia that pervades the song. The instrumental build-up evokes the feeling of mounting frustration, and the lyrics hint at the persona's internal turmoil. The song is a heartfelt plea to a person's intended lover to take a chance on them. However, fate is unpredictable, and sometimes, destiny is not enough. Gavin DeGraw's "Next to Me" hits a sweet spot, speaking to the deep-seated longing most people feel for a significant other who seems just out of reach.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen up destiny
Pay attention, fate
I know you wanna get pressed to me
I know you want to bring me close to my destiny
So don't be such a stone when I call you on the phone
Don’t ignore me when I need you, destiny
Maybe what you had was broke
Maybe what you had planned for me wasn’t going to work
You wanna get high and they don't
You want me to reach my full potential, but no one else does
So I had a drink posed to help me think
I had a drink to help me think about how to deal with this situation
Now you say I've been drinkin' too much
Now you’re making me question myself by suggesting I’ve been drinking too much
But my hands start shakin' and my hearts starts quakin'
But my anxiety starts to get the best of me
Like a white man playin' his cool.
Like someone pretending to be calm and collected
And I wanna tell you
And I want to express myself to you
Wait a minute sister
Hold on for a moment, lady
I know I ain't your mister yet
I know we’re not in a relationship yet
Just give me the chance and see.
Just give me a chance to prove myself to you
But you won't even get next to me.
But you won’t even give me a chance to be close to you
What'chya wanna do now
What do you want to do next?
You're gonna have to give somehow
You need to make some effort too
Think I got that thing you need
I think I have what you want
Once I get you in my grip
Once I have you, firmly
Follow my eyes to your hips.
I’ll look at your hips as you walk
Don't you crawl away
Don’t run away from me
You done it everyday.
You’ve been doing that every day
Just stay, why don't you stay, why don?t you stay, baby.
Just stay here with me, why won’t you stay?
Put away your old disguise
Stop pretending to be something you’re not
You don't want no other guys.
You don’t want anyone else
We're havin' so much fun
We’re enjoying ourselves
I know you shouldn't run
I know you shouldn’t try to escape
But you run, you just run, you just run, baby.
But you keep running, you keep running
Here, heart in hand.
Here, I’m offering you my heart
Off the rim, what I can,
I’m doing what I can, hoping for the best outcome
Patience, running thin.
I’m starting to lose my patience
Come on girl, let me in.
Please let me into your life/heart
You won't get next to me.
You are still not giving me a chance to be close to you
Why why why why why why why
Asking why you won’t let me in
Oh
Exclamation
Wait a minute.
Hold on a moment
Oh whoa
Exclamation
You won't even get next to me.
You’re still not letting me get close to you
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GAVIN DEGRAW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind