Guthrie was born in Okemah, Oklahoma and raised in Newark, New Jersey. In school, she studied classical music, and her father began teaching her piano when she was eight years old. By the early 1970s, she had joined vocal groups such as the Ebonettes and the Matchmakers, meanwhile working as an elementary school teacher. When a backup singer scheduled to sing on Aretha Franklin's 1974 single "I'm in Love" fell ill, Guthrie took the vocalist's place beside Cissy Houston; thus Guthrie would happily state that her career on record began "at the top".
Guthrie soon began moonlighting as a singer of commercial jingles, sometimes with her friend Valerie Simpson (of Ashford & Simpson fame). A songwriting partnership with Patrick Grant resulted in Ben E. King's comeback single, "Supernatural Thing", and "This Time I'll Be Sweeter", covered by numerous artists. Together they wrote seven tracks on the Sister Sledge's 1975 album Circle Of Love: Cross My Heart, Protect Our Love, Love Don't You Go Through No Changes On Me, Don't You Miss Him Now, Pain Reliever, You're Much Better Off Loving Me, and Fireman. She was also the writer of Roberta Flack's "God Don't Like Ugly".
As Guthrie's solo career developed, she worked extensively with Sly and Robbie on dub-influenced club cuts, and began racking up dance hits. She was dubbed "The First Lady of the Paradise Garage" as several of her songs became anthems at the venue, helped by the frequent and dynamic performances she gave there. She soon teamed musically with famed Paradise Garage DJ Larry Levan.
Guthrie is probably best known for her 1986 dance anthem "Ain't Nothin' Goin' on But the Rent", a self-written and -produced track which garnered some controversy for lyrics such as: "No romance without finance/You've got to have a j-o-b if you want to be with me". (and "...Rent" was later sampled by numerous dance and hip hop artists, notably by Foxy Brown in 1998 "Job").
She also had a hit with a cover of "(They Long to Be) Close to You", which reached #25 in the UK charts the same year.
Her single "Can't Love You Tonight" boldly addressed AIDS at a time when the disease was a taboo subject, and she was an ally to the gay community, and people with AIDS long before the masses caught up. Proceeds from the single went to the AIDS Coalition.
Other club hits of hers include "Padlock", "Peanut Butter", and "Peek-a-Boo".
Close To You
Gwen Guthrie 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, they long to be
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 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 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
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Wa, close to you
Wa, close to you
Ha, close to you
La, close to you
The lyrics of Gwen Guthrie's song 'Close To You' is all about the singer's admiration for another person. The song cleverly uses natural phenomena such as birds and stars falling from the sky to represent how the singer feels when they are near this person. The singer suggests that this person is so wonderful that just like the birds and the stars, they long to be near them.
The second verse goes on to describe how special this person is. The angels came together on the day this person was born and sprinkled moon dust in their hair and starlight in their eyes. This is why all the girls in town follow them, just like the singer who longs to be close to them.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do birds suddenly appear
Why is it that every time you're close by, it feels like birds appear out of nowhere?
Every time you are near?
Is it just me or do the birds seem to appear every time you're nearby?
Just like me, they long to be
Just like other living things, birds also seem to have the desire to be near you.
Close to you
What they seem to be longing for is to be as close to you as possible.
Why do stars fall down from the sky
What is it about your presence that makes stars seem to fall out of the sky?
Every time you walk by?
It's almost as if the stars can't help but be drawn to you whenever you're around.
On the day that you were born
On the day you were born, a special event occurred that seems to have a lasting impact.
The angels got together
It's almost as if some divine force played a role in your birth.
And decided to create a dream come true
Perhaps, the angels saw something special in you and decided to bring that to life in the form of a dream.
So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair
In order to create this dream, it's said that the angels even sprinkled moon dust in your hair.
Of golden starlight in your eyes of blue
And bestowed upon you a mesmerizing quality, with your golden hair and blue eyes shining like starlight.
That is why all the girls in town
It's not just birds and stars, but humans, especially girls are also attracted to you.
Follow you all around
It's like you have a magnetic force pulling other human beings towards you as well.
Just like me, they long to be
These girls, like me, also seem to have a similar desire to be close to you.
Just like me, they long to be
It's as if this desire is universal and there isn't a living thing that doesn't want to be close to you.
Close to you
Which is why we can't help but be drawn to you, always wanting to be close to you.
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Real People TV
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
And 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
On the day that you were born
And 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
Just like me, they long to be
Close to you
Paula Teixeira
lose To You
Gwen Guthrie
(THEY LONG TO BE) CLOSE TO YOU LYRICS
I wanna be closer
Closer to your love
I wanna be closer
Closer to your love
I wanna be closer
Closer to your love
Why do birds suddenly appear
Everytime you are near
Just like me
They long to be
Closer to you
Why do stars
Twinkle in the sky
Each and every time that you walk by
Just like me
They long to be
Closer to you
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to make a dream come true
They sprinkled moon dust in your hair
But baby, your eyes ainโt blue
Oh but I love your
Sexy, sexy moves
Oh thats why
All the girls in town
They love to follow you
All around
Just like me
They long to be
Closer to you
I need you baby
Youโre driving me crazy
Closer
On the day that you were born
The angels got together
And decided to make a dream come true
They sprinkled gold dust in your hair
But baby your eyes ainโt blue
Oh, but I love ya
Sexy, sexy moves
You know I wanna be the one
You lay that good loving on
I wanna be closer
Closer to your love
Like the collar on a dog
Just like the ham on a country hog
I wanna be closer
Closer to your love
I wanna get so close to you
Iโll be sticking like crazy glue
I wanna be closer
Closer to your love
Oh thats why
All the girls in town
They love to follow you
All around
Just like me
They long to be
Closer to you
They love to follow you
All around
Famous Birthdays
I luv this tune!! such a classic!!
living with kason
Im just turn 35 and i came across this song on a old mixtape now i catch myself playing it every morning, her voice and vibe make me feel good,gives me a high
George Riley
You got the style Benson, enjoy mate ๐
Eugene Poona
Gwen's voice is drenched in honey - kissed by the sun's first rays of light - every time you sang you filled the world with happiness - still smiling from all the memories Gwen - who can blame the almighty for calling you home?
Terry Sanders
Gwen had an amazing voice.. Everything she sang was sweet.. her vocals said it all. Rip Classy Lady.
Logic1914
I used to absolutely LOVE this song back in the day. When this song was released back in 1986 I was a senior in college. I graduated from college the very next year and this was one of the songs that I absolutely LOVED to listen to in myt dorm and once I returned home. Gwen Guthrie was SO underrated and she definitely passed away before her time.
Leizza Ghazoui
Traduction svp
Guy Marcel Nanfack
RIP
Antonio Andaya
Beautiful, best version of this song ever!
Sugarshack22
It's amazing when a great singer takes a song, makes it their own and makes you forget the original. What a fantastic rendition.