John Butler was born on April 1, 1975 in Torrance, California, to an Australian father and American mother. He moved to the small Western Australian town of Pinjarra in January 1986, when he was eleven. Butler began playing guitar at the age of sixteen, and by 1996 started his career as a busker in Fremantle, Western Australia. The John Butler Trio was formed in 1998 when Butler was joined by Gavin Shoesmith on bass and Jason McGann on drums, and by the end of that year had recorded their debut album John Butler.
They then released Three in 2001, Sunrise Over Sea in 2004 and Grand National in 2007, all of which were certified platinum.
In June 2009, a new line up of the ever evolving John Butler Trio emerged. Prominent Melbourne musician Nicky Bomba of Bomba fame and principal drummer on Sunrise Over Sea joined the band on drums and percussion, as did bass player Byron Luiters from Sydney outfit Ray Mann Three.
The latest album entitled April Uprising came from a journey John Butler undertook for the ‘Who Do You Think You Are’ TV series. He traces the Butler name through generations of hardship to a matriarch who sang for her survival and follows his Bulgarian ancestry to a forebear caught up in a violent revolt called the April Uprising. The recording process for the new album was shared with avid followers via a special studio sessions page on the band’s website.
John Butler comments on the forthcoming new album,
“The whole rehearsal and recording process so far has been a lot of fun and very gratifying. I feel the sounds and general spirit and energy of this album are best summed up in the words – free, melodic, funky, phat and rocking. There’s definitely a certain attitude that comes across on the album. Perhaps there’s a conviction, in a song writing and production sense, that I haven’t tapped into so much on earlier works that seems to be more prevalent on April Uprising. There’s chemistry and language that Nicky, Byron and I have found that really compliments these songs in all their different facets”.
Close To You
The John Butler Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got to clear my mind, mind, mind
Out of this mundane god-forsaken 9-5 waste of my time.
I'm gonna tell the boss man
I'm never coming back, back, back
I'm just a one way crazy locomotive jumpin' off of my tracks.
'Cause I'm jacked up, sucked up, cut down,
Thrown around, discarded like a cigarette butt
Yes you know I got to pick myself up out of this rut,
But I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you, you.
I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you.
I don't know why we've never been told
That the life we're living it is made from gold
Work our whole damn lives just to make "it", it's sold
So boy don't worry don't worry don't worry
I got to get away man this moment it won't last, last, last
I got a chained up brumby in my head and it's kicking my ass
I'm roaming like a dog yeah
Looking for my bone, bone, bone
I got to hijack my body just to make it my own, my own, my own, my own
Because I'm jacked up, sucked up, cut down,
Thrown around, discarded like a cigarette butt
I'm just a no good excuse for a man yes you know
I've got to pick myself up out of this rut.
But I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you, you.
I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you, you.
I don't know why we've never been told
That the life we're living it is made from gold
Work our whole damn lives just to make "it", it's sold
So boy don't worry, don't worry, don't worry now
Don't worry.
The song “Close To You” by The John Butler Trio is an emotionally charged anthem for those who are feeling lost, disconnected, and disillusioned by the daily grind of life. The lyrics describe a man who is stuck in a mundane 9-5 job, feeling like he's being thrown around and discarded like a cigarette butt. He's searching desperately for a way to escape, hoping to break free from the monotony and find something that gives his life meaning. He wants to tell his boss that he's never coming back and jump off the tracks of his current life, but he's struggling to find the courage and motivation to do so.
As the song progresses, the chorus repeats the phrase “I want to be close to you”, which could be interpreted as a plea to a loved one or a higher power for guidance or support. The verses suggest that the man is searching for something deeper than just a change of scenery or a new job opportunity. He's looking for a sense of purpose and connection that he feels is missing from his current existence. He acknowledges the futility of working his whole life just to make something that's ultimately sold off, and he wants to break free from that cycle.
The song culminates in a final plea not to worry, hinting that the man may have found some kind of solace or hope in the process of searching for meaning. Ultimately, “Close To You” is a powerful commentary on the struggle to find one's place in a world that often feels hollow and unfulfilling.
Line by Line Meaning
I got to get away man,
Got to clear my mind, mind, mind
I need a break from this mundane 9-5 work routine to refresh my mind
Out of this mundane god-forsaken 9-5 waste of my time.
My work is tiresome and soul-sucking, leaving me feeling empty and unfulfilled.
I'm gonna tell the boss man
I'm never coming back, back, back
I'm at the point where I don't care about the consequences and I want to quit right away.
I'm just a one way crazy locomotive jumpin' off of my tracks.
I feel like I'm going in a single direction, without options and I want to get off that path.
'Cause I'm jacked up, sucked up, cut down,
Thrown around, discarded like a cigarette butt
I'm just a no good excuse for a man.
I feel degraded and like a waste of person.
Yes you know I got to pick myself up out of this rut,
But I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you, you.
I want to be close to you, I want to be close to you.
I acknowledge I need to change, but I also need someone special to be around for encouragement and support.
I don't know why we've never been told
That the life we're living it is made from gold
Work our whole damn lives just to make "it", it's sold
So boy don't worry don't worry don't worry
Life is precious, meaningful and priceless, but unfortunately, people don't place value on it as they need to work all their lives to make ends meet.
I got to get away man this moment it won't last, last, last
I got a chained up brumby in my head and it's kicking my ass
I'm roaming like a dog yeah
Looking for my bone, bone, bone
I got to hijack my body just to make it my own, my own, my own, my own
My thoughts are chaotic and restless. Feeling lost and drifting around, struggling to find focus and purpose. I need to take control of myself and find what makes me happy.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: JOHN CHARLES WILTSHIRE BUTLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Marshall "Arts" Conner
I am a 17 year old musician from America with autism and I have grown up on a good variety of your music. I play just about any instrument I can touch. I've grown up on your songs and took in your examples of a positive outlook on life. That's what keeps me happy every day is trying to keep that outlook especially in these times. I would love to meet you somewhere down the road maybe if I would ever get the privilege's or the chance to. Thank you greatly for the good music and the words. All of them are lessons to be learned. God be with you and have a blessed day.
Emanuele Barba
Read medical medium by Anthony William for autism Is djokovic's doctor
Marshall "Arts" Conner
@Emanuele Barba I will definitely take a look at it!
JustGuitar
Hey man, rooting for ya!! I would love to see you upload some music sometime! 😁 I'm sure you're A M A Z I N G!!! Glad you love John Butler like I do 😜
Luke Gilchrist
Really hope you get to meet the great man
Marshall "Arts" Conner
To all, I will be releasing some music other than rap, it’s not for me 😂, but anyway you’re gonna here some good tunes if you’re a folk fan and maybe I can do a couple covers of the great man’s songs. Peace among all of you ☮️✌️
JC
Such a great album.
Jesus Cavalcante de Assis Neto
Essa musica é muito boaa!!!❤
Error Crew
Love this band and this man in particular, such a unique sound to their music🤘🏼🎸
9305vrg
NO WAY!!! THIS VIBE!! Gives Me a little bit 2000's and I LOVE IT!!!