In 1985, she signed to A&M Records, who released her debut album Union in 1988. She had previously provided backing vocals on David & David's album Boomtown. Later that year, she was nominated for two Grammy Awards, Best New Artist and Best Rock Vocal Performance (female). Her first national tour was opening for Bob Dylan. Her follow-up album House of Hope yielded a large hit in Australia with "I've Got To Go Now", but did not sell well in the US and was dropped from the A&M label. DGC Records, a subsidiary of Geffen Records, signed her and released her third album, The Woman's Boat. Although she was nominated for another Grammy Award for Best Female Rock Performance, the album sold poorly, and Childs was again left without a recording label. She recorded another album in 1996, but could not find a label to release it. Also in 1996, "The Very Best Of Toni Childs" was released, becoming the fifth biggest-selling album of 1996 in Australia. She retired from touring in 1997 after contracting a serious illness and starting the "Dream a Dolphin" charity. Childs released a song entitled "Because You're Beautiful", which won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music & Lyrics in 2004. She has recorded a new album entitled Keep the Faith, which is expected to be released in Australia in 2006 and in the US and UK in 2007.
Next To You
Toni Childs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you want me to
I could hold you
Maybe I could show you
But I'm afraid
Cause you see I have been hurt before
Though I don't want to hurt no more
Is strong in me
Is strong in me
Could you tell me who you are
And would I really want to know
What's it been for you
Just to trust and hold on, too
I'd like to get next to you
Whenever you wanted to
I'd like to get next to you
Whenever you wanted to
You could hold me
Maybe you could show me
How to trust
Cause you see I have been hurt before
Though I don't want to hurt no more
This feeling inside of me
Is strong in me
Is strong in me
Could I tell you who I am
And would you really want to know
What it's been for me
Just to trust and to believe
Could I show you who I am
Would you really want to understand
Holding skin to skin
My emotion feels like it has no end
Could I show you myself
Could I get right next to you,
Next to you
The verses of Toni Childs's song "Next To You" explore the possibility of a new romance, with the singer expressing their desire to be close to the person they are addressing. Yet they cannot escape their previous experiences of heartbreak, expressing their fear of hurting someone new or being hurt themselves. The chorus of the song repeats the desire to be near this person, to hold them and be held by them, while recognizing that trust must be earned.
The song speaks to the universal experience of approaching new relationships with caution, afraid of repeating past mistakes or being hurt again. The vulnerability expressed in the lyrics is implicit, and the singer's voice is raw and emotional, echoing the depth of the feelings they are expressing. The strength of those feelings is underscored by the repetition of the phrase "Is strong in me."
Overall, "Next To You" is a song about the delicate dance of getting close to someone new, and the courage it takes to try again after being hurt in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd like to get next to you
The singer wants to be close to the person, physically and emotionally.
If you want me to
The singer is open to being with this person, but only if they want it too.
I could hold you
The singer would like to offer comfort and support.
Maybe I could show you
The singer would like to offer guidance and understanding.
But I'm afraid
The singer is hesitant to open up to this person because of past hurts.
Cause you see I have been hurt before
The singer has been hurt in the past and is cautious because of it.
Though I don't want to hurt no more
The singer is tired of being hurt and wants to move on.
This feeling inside of me
The singer is experiencing strong emotions.
Is strong in me
These emotions are intense and not easily suppressed.
Could you tell me who you are
The singer wants to know more about this person in order to feel comfortable with them.
And would I really want to know
The singer is uncertain if knowing more about this person would be a good idea.
What's it been for you
The singer is curious about this person's past experiences with trust and emotions.
Just to trust and hold on, too
The singer understands that trust is essential in any relationship and is willing to work on it.
Whenever you wanted to
The singer is available to be with this person whenever they feel ready.
You could hold me
The singer would like to be comforted and supported by this person.
How to trust
The singer is willing to learn how to trust again.
Could I tell you who I am
The singer is willing to open up and be vulnerable with this person.
And would you really want to know
The singer is uncertain if this person is interested in knowing them on a deeper level.
What it's been for me
The singer wants to share their past experiences with trust and emotions.
Just to trust and to believe
The singer values trust and is willing to work on building it in their relationship.
Could I show you who I am
The singer wants to be vulnerable and authentic with this person.
Would you really want to understand
The singer is uncertain if this person is capable of understanding them completely.
Holding skin to skin
The singer wants to be physically close to this person.
My emotion feels like it has no end
The singer's emotions are intense and seemingly infinite.
Could I show you myself
The singer wants to be completely open and honest with this person.
Could I get right next to you
The singer wants to be physically as close as possible to this person.
Next to you
The singer desires to be in close physical and emotional proximity to this person.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TONI CHILDS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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