Pyeng Threadgill is an American born jazz blues singer who studied music on… Read Full Bio ↴Pyeng Threadgill is an American born jazz blues singer who studied music on a Mellon fellowship in Brazil, and graduated from Oberlin college. She has been a fixture in New York venues like The Kitchen, Joe's Pub etc, has toured Europe extensively, and moved to Berkeley CA after releasing 2 LPs on the Random Chance label. In her first Random Chance effort 2004's "Sweet Home: The Music Of Robert Johnson" she took some dirt encrusted Robert Johnson tunes and polished them with a laid back moderne jazzy feel that makes 'em shine and glimmer as bright as the platinum platters of contemporaries like Norah Jones. While embraced in the jazz world, and the daughter of jazz composer Henry Threadgill, Pyeng categorizes her music as progressive pop, asserting that jazz was once considered popular music. "I'm just trying to bring jazz in all of its branches back to a popular position, which is where it originated. People who listen to straight ahead Jazz may not listen to the more avant garde improvisation or mainstream Pop and if someone is listening to my music they wind up hearing influences from all of the above. That's when I feel I am succeeding as an artist."

Her album "Of The Air", which inclues a cover of the Cure's "Close to Me" was recorded with Berkeley CA based guitarist Shelley Doty and local avant music scene producer Myles Boisen.

Close To Me
Pyeng Threadgill Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've waited hours for this,
I've made myself so sick

I wish I'd stayed asleep today,
I never thought this day would end
I never thought tonight could ever be
This close to me

Just try to see in the dark,
Just try to make it work,
To feel the fear before you're here
I make the shapes come much too close,
I pull my eyes out,
Hold my breath,
And wait until I shake
But if I had your faith,
Then I could make it safe and clean
If only I was sure,
That my head on the door was a dream

I've waited hours for this,
I've made myself so sick,
I wish I'd stayed asleep today
I never thought this day would end,
I never thought tonight could ever be
This close to me
But if I had your face,
Then I could make it safe and clean
If only I was sure,
That my head on the door, Was a dream
But if I had your faith,
Then I could make it safe and clean
If only I was sure,
That my head on the door, Was a dream
yeah-eh If I had your face
then I could make it safe and clean
If you only I was sure
That my head on the door was a dream
If i had your faith
If i had your faith
If I I I I I I...

Oh if I was sure that my head on the door was a dream (fading)
END

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Pyeng Threadgill’s “Close To Me” convey a feeling of desperation and vulnerability. The singer seems to be struggling with something, possibly an illness, and is waiting for something to happen that will make everything better. They express their desire to have someone to rely on, someone who has faith in them and can make things safe and clean. The line “I make the shapes come much too close” implies a struggle with anxiety or fear, and the repetition of “if only I was sure” suggests a lack of confidence or certainty. The final line, “if I was sure that my head on the door was a dream,” could be interpreted in different ways, but it seems to suggest that the singer is seeking reassurance that their situation is not as dire as it seems.

The song also uses metaphorical language to convey the mood and emotions of the singer. The idea of waiting for something and making oneself sick with anxiety is expressed in the opening lines, and the repetition of “this close to me” emphasizes the intensity of the singer’s feelings. The line “just try to see in the dark” could suggest an attempt to find a way forward when things seem darkest or unclear, while the lines “I pull my eyes out, hold my breath, and wait until I shake” imply a struggle to control or manage one’s emotions.

Overall, “Close To Me” is a heartfelt and introspective song that explores themes of fear, uncertainty, and the need for support.

Line by Line Meaning

I've waited hours for this,
I've been eagerly anticipating this moment for a long time

I've made myself so sick
I've become physically and emotionally drained from waiting and worrying

I wish I'd stayed asleep today,
I regret waking up and facing the day's challenges

I never thought this day would end
I never imagined the day would be so draining or seem to last so long

I never thought tonight could ever be This close to me
I never believed I would be this close to achieving my goal tonight

Just try to see in the dark,
Attempt to overcome obstacles during difficult times

Just try to make it work,
Attempt to find solutions for any problems

To feel the fear before you're here
Experience the fear before it manifests itself

I make the shapes come much too close,
I get too close to danger and feel overwhelmed

I pull my eyes out,
I try to avoid seeing what I don't want to see

Hold my breath,
Stop breathing for a moment due to fear or anxiety

And wait until I shake
Wait until I can calm down and control my emotions

But if I had your faith, Then I could make it safe and clean
If I had someone to trust, I would feel secure and able to make things right

If only I was sure, That my head on the door was a dream
If only I could be certain that my problems were not real and I could wake up from this situation

yeah-eh If I had your face
Yeah, if I could have someone to rely on

then I could make it safe and clean
Then I would feel secure and able to solve any problems in a straightforward manner

If you only I was sure That my head on the door was a dream
If I could be certain that my situation was not real, I would feel more confident and able to handle it

If i had your faith If i had your faith
If I had someone I could trust and believe in

If I I I I I I...
If only I could overcome my doubts and fears

Oh if I was sure that my head on the door was a dream (fading)
Oh, I wish I could be sure that my problems were not real and would eventually fade away

Writer(s): Robert James Smith

Contributed by Ryan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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