Molly Burch is an American singer-songwriter based in Austin, TX. When on t… Read Full Bio ↴Molly Burch is an American singer-songwriter based in Austin, TX. When on tour, she is the lead vocalist and writer backed by four musicians. She and her band have toured with Sallie Ford. Burch studied jazz vocal performance in college and gravitated towards vocalists such as Nina Simone and Billie Holiday.

Burch's voice takes cues from old timers like Dusty Springfield and Patsy Cline to create throaty mountains and valleys of sound. It's retro country and soul in the best way. Growing up in Los Angeles with a writer/producer father and a casting director mother, Burch's childhood was filled with old Hollywood musicals and the sounds of Patsy Cline, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone. After finding her voice in adolescence, Burch packed up for the University of North Carolina in Asheville to study Jazz Vocal Performance.

Next to Me
Molly Burch Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Drive my car, I don't go far
I haven't been alone in some time

I just want to do everything with you
Is that so bad?
Tell me, is that so bad?

Lately, I've been told

You need space of your own
How is it hard to breathe
With you next to me

Love of mine
I kiss you goodnight
And then you turn over
Like it's the end of your life

I just want to do everything with you
Is that so bad?
Honey, is that so bad?

Lately, I've been told
You need space of your own
How is it hard to breathe
With you next to me

With you next to me
With you next to me

Overall Meaning

In the song "Next to Me" by Molly Burch, the lyrics convey a feeling of suffocation and desperation. The opening lines "Drive my car, I don't go far, I haven't been alone in some time" suggest that the singer is always with their partner and hasn't had any time to themselves. The lyrics "I just want to do everything with you, is that so bad?" emphasize the singer's desire to be constantly with their partner and do everything together.

However, the singer is faced with the realization that their partner needs space, as heard in the lyrics "Lately, I've been told you need space of your own." Despite acknowledging this, the singer is confused as to why it's "hard to breathe with you next to me." The love of the singer's life is turning away from them at night, and even though the singer wishes for nothing more than to be with them, it seems like it's not enough.

The song portrays a complex relationship that is constantly fraught with tension between wanting to be close to someone and also giving them space to breathe. The lyrics highlight the insecurity and vulnerability that comes with being in love and trying to balance the desires of both partners.

Line by Line Meaning

Drive my car, I don't go far
I don't need to go far, just driving around with you is enough for me

I haven't been alone in some time
I don't like being alone and I enjoy your company

I just want to do everything with you
I want to share every experience with you, good or bad

Is that so bad?
I don't understand why you need space from me

Tell me, is that so bad?
I am asking for your validation and reassurance

Lately, I've been told
I have been hearing that you need space from me

You need space of your own
You want to have time to yourself

How is it hard to breathe
Why does it feel suffocating to be around me

With you next to me
I want you to be physically close to me

Love of mine
I am expressing my affection towards you

I kiss you goodnight
I express my love for you through physical actions