Dillon was born in 1944 in Linstead, St. Catherine, Jamaica.[1] Influenced by American singers Connie Francis, Patti Page and Dionne Warwick, she began singing in talent contests. It was during a performance at the Glass Bucket Club in Kingston, Jamaica with the group The Vulcans, that Duke Reid's session guitarist Lynn Taitt discovered Dillon.[1]
Dillon was 22 when she recorded her first record for Duke Reid. In 1967, Reid released Dillon's "Don’t Stay Away". While most of Dillon’s subsequent recordings would be covers of popular and obscure American songs including Bettye Swann's "Make Me Yours", Perry Como's "Tulips and Heather," The Grass Roots "Midnight Confessions", and Stephen Stills's "Love the One You're With"; "Don't Stay Away" was an original composition featuring Tommy McCook and the Supersonics as the backing band.
Another original song, "It’s Rocking Time" would later be turned into the Alton Ellis' hit "Rocksteady". While these early recordings demonstrate Dillon's mastery of the rocksteady sound, a much slower, soulful, response to the sultry weather that made ska's upbeat rhythm and tempo undesirable even impracticable, it was no indication of her greatest performance, 1967’s "Perfidia". Popularized by the American surf rock band The Ventures, "Perfidia" is a 1940 song written by Alberto Domínguez and made popular by the Cuban bandleader, Xavier Cugat.
At the end of 1967, Dillon moved to New York.[1] The following five years, she spent living a double life. She had a family and career in the United States, flying frequently back to Kingston, Jamaica to continue recording for Reid.
After a number of singles and an album entitled Living in Love, Dillon ended her recording career in 1971. She was 27 years old.
In 1991, Michael Bonnet, the entertainment director for the Oceanea Hotel in Kingston approached Dillon inviting her to sing. Her refusal at first was later rescinded and sparked a revitalized interest in performing and recording. In the years following, Dillion would tour the UK, Germany and Japan.
In 1998 Phyllis Dillon returned to the recording studio with Lynn Taitt, marked by reinterest in ska music in the United States. She remained active until illness took hold.
Phyllis Dillon died on 15 April 2004 in New York, after a two year battle with cancer, at the age of 59.
Close To You
Phyllis Dillon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Suddenly appear?
Everytime you are near
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you
Why do stars
Everytime you walk by
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 moondust 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
Repeat (*)
Repeat (**)
Just like me
They long to be
Close to you
Woo... Close to you...
The song "Close to You" by Phyllis Dillon talks about the inexplicable pull someone can have on another person. The first two verses ask the question of why natural occurrences happen in the presence of a particular person. The lyrics discuss birds and stars, which are naturally occurring phenomena, gravitating towards the person the singer is talking about. They compare themselves to these natural occurrences, expressing their desire to be close and attached to the person of interest just like the birds and stars are. The song also references a special quality in the person of interest, portraying that the angels' creativity and irresistible beauty are what attract everyone to that person's presence.
The chorus of the song states the reason why this person is so attractive. They reveal that the person was crafted by a collective effort of celestial beings and sprinkled with starlight in their eyes of blue and moon dust in their hair of gold, making them mix of cosmic elements. That's why the girls won't stop following them around, including the singer of the song. Everyone is drawn to this person like a moth to a flame, and they all long to be as close to them as possible.
Line by Line Meaning
Why do birds
Why do birds suddenly appear?
Suddenly appear?
What is the reason that they appear out of nowhere?
Every time you are near
Whenever you are around?
Just like me
Similar to me?
They long to be
They desire to be?
Close to you
Near you
Why do stars
What is the reason that stars
Fall down from the sky?
Drop down from the sky?
Every time you walk by
Whenever you pass by?
On the day that you were born
When you were born?
The angels got together and decided
Angels gathered and made a decision
To create a dream come true
To bring a dream to life?
So they sprinkled moondust in your hair
They put moondust in your hair?
Of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue
They also placed gold and starlight in your blue eyes
That is why all the girls in town
This is why every girl around
Follow you all around
Flock around you
Just like me
Same as me
They long to be
They yearn to be
Close to you
Near you
Just like me
Similar to me?
They long to be
They desire to be?
Close to you
Near you
Woo... Close to you...
Woo... Near you...
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
isolation
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 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 the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they…
isolation
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 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 the angels got together
And decided to create a dream come true
So they…
The Master
Queen Phillis Dillon !!!!!
dubbyrankin
Never heard this one by Phyllis before, Nice
Intra Stellar
great version!
Usue
una joyita
Louie Mendoza
Thank you very much for this gem stayupbrothersandsisters 👆
Yama Pon
涙が出てしまう。いい歌です。
arianna yisel
i love her ....
CeciTunes
wonderfull
Thomas Priou
I like all the song but i love the 9 first seconds