Landing their first record deal with Twin/Tone in 1984, Soul Asylum recorded a total of four albums for the local label: Say What You Will... Everything Can Happen in 1984 (later reissued as Say What You Will, Clarence... Karl Sold the Truck), Made To Be Broken in 1986, While You Were Out in 1986, and the EP Clam Dip and Other Delights in 1988. The band then switched to A&M, releasing Hang Time in 1988 and And the Horse They Rode In On in 1990 under that label. Although they enjoyed some success as a live band, Soul Asylum suffered from low album sales and considered disbanding.
In 1992, they signed with Columbia Records to produce Grave Dancers Union, a record that would come to transform them from underground college rockers to international superstars. The first two singles off the album, Somebody To Shove and Black Gold, both came in at high positions at the Modern Rock and Album Rock charts, but it was the album's third track and it's video of missing teens that led them to their major breakthrough. Runaway Train peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, raised album sales to double-platinum level, and won Soul Asylum the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song in 1994.
In 1995, Soul Asylum followed up the success of Grave Dancers Union with Let Your Dim Light Shine, which climbed to #6 on the Billboard 200 and featured the #1 Modern Rock track Misery. After releasing Candy From A Stranger in 1998, the band members took a break from recording and didn't release a new studio album for the better part of seven years. During the interim singer Dave Pirner released a solo album and Dan Murphy toured and recorded with Golden Smog.
They reunited in 2004 to record their ninth full-length album, The Silver Lining, brought together by the news of Mueller being diagnosed with throat cancer. Up until this point, Soul Asylum had always included Murphy, Mueller, and Pirner, despite several line-up changes. This changed on June 17th, 2005, when Mueller passed away after finishing his work on several tracks on the new album. The Silver Lining was released in 2006 and dedicated to Karl Mueller's life and memory, with Murphy expressing that, "For me, this record is Karl."
In late 2005, ex-Replacements bassist (and current Guns N' Roses bassist) Tommy Stinson and former Prince drummer Michael Bland joined Soul Asylum in tribute to the late Karl Mueller. They completed their American tour in support of The Silver Lining in late 2006. In November and December 2006 they opened for Cheap Trick on their American tour. On March 10th, 2007, Soul Asylum joined Cyndi Lauper, Mint Condition, and Lifehouse to hold a concert to benefit Wain McFarlane, the leader of the legendary reggae band Ipso Facto, to help pay for the expenses of a kidney transplant.
http://www.soulasylum.com
Close
Soul Asylum Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Short of dying just the other day, fell short of picking up a mop
If it's the thought that counts, you can always count on me
I think about it all the time
It's going to hit me like a bolt of white lightning
Here it comes, my peace of mind
Cause I'm close, so close, so close
I'm close, so close, so close
Little shy of improving it, here I come, I'm coming through
Pretty soon I'm going to shed this skin I'm wearing
I've been keeping it inside
No one cares just how you got there
No one cares how hard you've tried
But you're close, so close, so close
You're close, so close, so close
Well I've known you forever, we complete each other's thoughts
Ain't like we never got in trouble, it's just we've never gotten caught
And if you've got a secret, it's in me you can confide
And if we ever get split up, I'll always be on your side
Cause we're close, so close, so close
We're close, so close, so close
The lyrics of Soul Asylum's song "Close" is about the struggle of getting to the top, almost giving up along the way but still feeling hopeful and optimistic. The first verse describes a moment of almost reaching the end goal, but just falling short. It acknowledges the effort put in, even if it did not yield the desired result. The second verse talks about how close the singer is to finding the truth and figuring things out, and how he feels like he's shedding his "skin" and moving forward. He also discusses how success is not always acknowledged, but he feels close to achieving what he wants.
In the third verse, the singer addresses his friend, who he has known for a long time and how they are there for each other, even if they got in trouble or made mistakes. He assures his friend that he is always on their side, and how close they are to each other. Through these lyrics, the song portrays the strength of friendships and its importance in hard times.
Overall, "Close" by Soul Asylum is a song about hope, friendship, and perseverance. It encourages listeners to keep going, to believe in themselves and in their journey, and to find comfort in the people they care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Almost gave up yesterday, almost made it to the top
I nearly lost hope in achieving my goals, though I was close to reaching them.
Short of dying just the other day, fell short of picking up a mop
I had a close call with death, but still haven't found the motivation to do something as simple as cleaning.
If it's the thought that counts, you can always count on me
I may not always be able to follow through with actions, but you can trust that I'm sincere in my intentions.
I think about it all the time
My desire to succeed consumes my thoughts constantly.
It's going to hit me like a bolt of white lightning
When I finally achieve my goal, it will be a powerful and significant moment in my life.
Here it comes, my peace of mind
Success will bring me the inner peace and satisfaction I've been seeking.
Cause I'm close, so close, so close
I'm right on the cusp of achieving my goal and fulfilling my dreams.
Falling short of proving it, just a hair from the truth
I haven't quite been able to demonstrate or prove my abilities, but I'm incredibly close to doing so.
Little shy of improving it, here I come, I'm coming through
I've made some progress, but I know I can do even better, and I'm determined to make it happen.
Pretty soon I'm going to shed this skin I'm wearing
I'm on the brink of leaving my old self behind and becoming the person I've always wanted to be.
I've been keeping it inside
I haven't shared the full extent of my ambition and desire for success with many people.
No one cares just how you got there
People often only care about the end result, and don't consider the difficult journey it takes to get there.
No one cares how hard you've tried
Even though I've put in a lot of effort and hard work, it often goes unnoticed or unappreciated.
But you're close, so close, so close
Even though it's been difficult, you're getting closer and closer to reaching your goals.
Well I've known you forever, we complete each other's thoughts
We have a deep and longstanding connection, where we understand each other so well that we can anticipate each other's thoughts and actions.
Ain't like we never got in trouble, it's just we've never gotten caught
We've had our fair share of mischief and run-ins with the law, but we've always managed to avoid getting in serious trouble.
And if you've got a secret, it's in me you can confide
I'm a trustworthy and loyal friend, and you can always feel comfortable sharing your secrets with me.
And if we ever get split up, I'll always be on your side
No matter what happens, I'll always have your back and support you in your endeavors.
Cause we're close, so close, so close
Our bond is strong and unbreakable, and we're always there for each other.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PIRNER, DAVID ANTHONY PIRNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind