Julia Carin Cavazos (born November 13, 1993 in Davenport, Iowa), known by h… Read Full Bio ↴Julia Carin Cavazos (born November 13, 1993 in Davenport, Iowa), known by her stage name Julia Michaels, is an American singer and songwriter. She has written several popular songs that have been recorded by the likes of Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Fifth Harmony, Shawn Mendes, Britney Spears, Justin Bieber, Hailee Steinfeld, and Gwen Stefani.

In 2017, she decided to try singing her own songs and released her debut single Issues. The song peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Chart, was certified triple-platinum and got her 2 Grammy Award nominations. After releasing her debut album "Nervous System" in 2017, Julia was the opening act for the European dates of Niall Horan’s Flicker World Tour in 2018.

She has also collaborated on songs with various major artists, such as Niall Horan, Noah Kahan, James Bay, Justin Bieber, 5 Seconds of Summer, LANY, Trippie Redd, LAUV, Kygo, RL Grime, Maroon 5, Shawn Mendes, Rita Ora, Clean Bandit, Keith Urban, Jordan Davis, JP Saxe and Selena Gomez.

The Closet
Julia Michaels Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lock the door, me in the closet
Picture of you in my pocket
It's all I really have left of you
And it's not enough to keep me goin'
This emptiness is always showin'
But it's all I really have left of you

But I don't understand why it has to be this way, no

I'm reaching for the door
But it's just too hard for me, oh
And I don't understand why it has to be this way
So come back home, mmm

Lock the door, me in the closet
Tears are shootin' out like rockets
Cold and dark, twisted solitude
I see memories through my fingers
Now you and I, just like strangers
So what part of me is part of you? Oooh

And I don't understand why it has to be this way, no
I'm reaching for the door
But it's just too hard on me, oh
And I don't understand why it has to be this way
So come back home

And how can I breathe
When there's no air comin' through
And what do I have
When there's nothing left to do

I don't understand why it has to be this way, no
I'm reaching for the door
But it's just too hard on me, oh
And I don't understand why it has to be this way

So come back home
So come back

Overall Meaning

"The Closet" is a song by Julia Michaels that explores the feelings of grief and loss that come after a relationship ends. The singer is stuck in a state of emotional limbo, unable to forget her ex and move on with her life. The title of the song, "The Closet," represents the metaphorical space she has put herself in - a place with no air and no light. The picture of her ex in her pocket is all she has left of him, and she clings to it even though she knows it's not enough to keep her going. The imagery of tears shooting out like rockets and memories slipping through her fingers highlights her sadness and desperation.

The song's chorus contains the lines, "And I don't understand why it has to be this way / So come back home." This shows that the singer is still holding on to the hope that her ex will come back to her, and she can't understand why they can't be together. The final lines of the song, "So come back," show the desperate pleading of someone who is not ready to let go of their past love.

Overall, "The Closet" is a powerful exploration of grief, loss, and the difficulties of moving on from a relationship. It captures the feelings of desperation that come with heartbreak and the lingering hope that things will go back to the way they were.

Line by Line Meaning

Lock the door, me in the closet
I have locked myself in the closet and isolated myself from the outside world.

Picture of you in my pocket
I keep a photo of you close to me at all times.

It's all I really have left of you
The photo is the only tangible reminder of the relationship we had.

And it's not enough to keep me goin'
The photo is not enough to sustain me emotionally.

This emptiness is always showin'
I am constantly feeling a sense of emptiness and loss.

But it's all I really have left of you
Despite my sadness, the photo is still the most valuable possession I have.

But I don't understand why it has to be this way, no
I am confused and frustrated by the fact that our relationship has ended.

I'm reaching for the door
I want to leave the closet and move on, but I am struggling to do so.

But it's just too hard for me, oh
My pain and sadness are making it difficult for me to move on.

So come back home, mmm
I want you to come back to me and restore our relationship.

Tears are shootin' out like rockets
I am crying uncontrollably and my emotions feel overwhelming.

Cold and dark, twisted solitude
Being locked in the closet feels suffocating and isolating.

I see memories through my fingers
As I hold onto the photo, I am flooded with memories of our time together.

Now you and I, just like strangers
Our relationship has deteriorated to the point where we feel like strangers to each other.

So what part of me is part of you? Oooh
I am questioning how much of myself was tied up in our relationship and how much of you is still a part of me.

And how can I breathe When there's no air comin' through
My grief and pain are suffocating me, making it difficult to even breathe.

And what do I have When there's nothing left to do
Without you, I feel lost and directionless.

So come back home
I am still hoping for a reconciliation and for you to return to me.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Anthony George Anderson, Julia Carin Cavazos, Joleen Belle, Steven Andrew Smith

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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