He frequently works as a guest musician for other bands. He has known to have performed with Dave Matthews Band, Karl Denson, and even with the Hungarian Ambassador to the United States.
Popper also played on Pocket Full of Kryptonite, the Spin Doctors' most successful album. His harmonica music can be heard in the feature film Blues Brothers 2000 (in which Blues Traveler appears). His harmonica was also featured on "What Would You Say", the second track on the Dave Matthews Band album, Under the Table and Dreaming.
John Popper was obese for most of the band's history. After undergoing angioplasty surgery in July 1999, he continued to have health problems having weighed near 400 lbs. In 2000, he underwent gastric bypass surgery, which led to a dramatic weight reduction.
He is an outspoken supporter of the Libertarian Party .
CLOSER I GET
John Popper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The closer I get I'm giving in
I can't escape
Damn what a shame
Listen to me just for a minute
I can be quick, no gimmick
I got a plan we should live it
This ain't our place, let us go far far away
Find a new home, rules of our own
You and me both are the same
Try to be strong baby come on now, come on
Lie after lie, so many times
When I'm trying to find a peace of mind
I've got love for you when the time gets rough
When all the stress adds up
When you say I've had enough
Got love for you when the time gets rough
When all the stress adds up
When you say I've had enough
What ever happened to the good times?
We should create for ourselves, not rely on
They'll never get a hold of me
Simple you see, the simplicity
Yeah the closer I get I can't relate
I can't escape, oh the pain
How they lie all the time
When I'm trying to find a peace of mind
I've got love for you when the time gets rough
When all the stress adds up
When you say I've had enough
Got love for you when the time gets rough
When all the stress adds up
When you say I've had enough
Yes I found my own way out
I'm going all the way
Until the people all find out
They're going all the way down
In "Closer I Get" by John Popper, the lyrics express a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the world. The singer acknowledges that people may say that certain things don't matter, but as they get closer to understanding the truth, they cannot help but give in to the reality. They feel trapped and unable to escape the shame that surrounds them. The singer pleads for someone to listen, offering a plan to live life differently.
As the singer gets closer to this truth, they realize that they no longer relate to their current surroundings. They yearn to find a new home where they can establish their own rules and escape the constraints of the world they know. They emphasize the similarity between themselves and the person they address, urging them to be strong and come along on this journey.
The lyrics allude to the difficulties and lies they have encountered while searching for peace of mind. Regardless of the hardships, the singer declares their love for the person they address, promising to support them during tough times and when they feel overwhelmed by stress. They acknowledge that the world may never fully understand them, and they seek to create their own happiness without relying on others.
In the final lines, the singer asserts their determination to find their own way out and go all the way, despite the opposition they may face from others. They suggest that eventually, people will come to realize their own downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
People say it just doesn't matter but
Despite what people say, it truly does matter
The closer I get I'm giving in
As I get closer, I'm surrendering to the situation
I can't escape
There is no way for me to break free
Damn what a shame
It is truly unfortunate
Listen to me just for a minute
Please lend me your attention briefly
I can be quick, no gimmick
I can express myself concisely without any tricks
I got a plan we should live it
I have a plan that we should embrace and experience
The closer I get, I can't relate
As I become closer, I find it harder to connect with
This ain't our place, let us go far far away
This is not where we belong, let's escape to a distant place
Find a new home, rules of our own
Discover a new dwelling where we establish our own guidelines
You and me both are the same
Both of us share similar characteristics
Try to be strong baby come on now, come on
Make an effort to be resilient, my love, come on now, come on
Lie after lie, so many times
Multiple lies have been told repeatedly
When I'm trying to find a peace of mind
During my pursuit of tranquility
I've got love for you when the time gets rough
I possess affection for you during difficult times
When all the stress adds up
As the stress accumulates
When you say I've had enough
When you express that you can't handle anymore
What ever happened to the good times?
What happened to the pleasant moments we used to have?
We should create for ourselves, not rely on
We should establish our own experiences, not depend on others
They'll never get a hold of me
They will never have control over me
Simple you see, the simplicity
It's easy to understand, the state of being simple
Yeah the closer I get I can't relate
Indeed, as I approach, I find it harder to understand
I can't escape, oh the pain
I am unable to break free, oh, the agony
How they lie all the time
The extent to which they constantly deceive
When I'm trying to find a peace of mind
During my quest to discover inner harmony
Yes I found my own way out
Yes, I managed to discover my own means of escape
I'm going all the way
I am committed wholeheartedly
Until the people all find out
Until everyone becomes aware
They're going all the way down
They are spiraling downwards completely
Lyrics Β© Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC RACHMANY, MARLEY WILLIAMS, ROURKE CAREY, WESLEY FINLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheRealPots
Lyrics for "Closer I Get"
(feat. John Popper)
People say it just doesnβt matter but,
The Closer I Get, Iβm giving in, I canβt escape, damn what a shame.
Listen to me just for a minute,
I can be quick no gimmick.
Iβve got a plan we should live it.
The Closer I Get, I can't relate,
This ainβt our place, let us go far far away.
Find a new home, rules of our own, you and me both are the same.
Try to be strong, baby come on now, come on.
Lie after lie, so many times, when I try to find a peace of mind.
Iβve got love for you when the time gets rough
When all the stress adds up,
When you say βIβve had enoughβ.
Got love for, you when the time gets rough.
When all the stress adds up,
When you say βIβve had enoughβ.
Whatever happened to the good times?
We should create for ourselves, not rely on.
Theyβll never get a hold of me.
Simple you see, simplicity.
Yeah, the Closer I Get, I can't relate, I canβt escape, oh the pain.
Iβve been lied all the time, when I'm tryinβ to find a peace of mind.
Iβve got love for you when the time gets rough.
When all the stress adds up,
When you say βIβve had enoughβ.
Got love for, you when the time gets rough.
When all the stress adds up,
When you say βIβve had enoughβ.
Yes I found my own way out,
Iβm going all the way,
Until the people all find out,
They're going all the way down.
@trav-the-sav
I see a lot of people associating this song with a relationship but to me it really resonates with my struggles with addiction. Sometimes this song can bring me to tears, so happy to be sober now and out of that dark place addiction brings you to. I got love for all the addicts out there and their struggles when the times get rough. Give yourself a chance, it gets better.
@desireebanuelos6694
Thisss!!! π―
@keenbot92
Congratulations on sobriety brother! I made it a year myself on nov 16th. Much love my dude π
@luishenriquez8824
I feel the same way but instead of addiction Iβm struggling to find happiness since I lost my grandma and my family is slowly becoming more and more distant. I need my brothers and to me they are going through depressions, each one struggling in their own ways trying to make a better life for themselves. But I will get through this and bring them up, I love this song and it has helped me.
@dylang8359
Me as well
@nassimasoukeur6732
β@@keenbot92 Ωβ
@Truthseeker182
"lie after lie, so many times. When I'm just trying to find a piece of mind." _you can feel the frustration in his voice. Like, why can't people just be real to one another?
@AstralLights
The pain is throughout the entire song... Compassion when. We have love for another when it all adds up...
@RiceWithRamen
So relaxing, I swear I was lost before I found this genre of music
@CURLYJAY69
Its like entering another perspective on life