Close by Nick Jonas Lyrics Meaning – Exploring Intimacy and the Fear of Vulnerability
Lyrics
I’m so perplexed
With just one breath, I’m locked in
Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn
I’m so perplexed
On that, it’s almost shocking
I know, I know you know you’re scared
Your heart, your mind, your soul, your body
They won’t, they won’t, they won’t be careful
But I guess that you don’t know me
‘Cause if I want you, and I want you, babe
Ain’t going backwards, won’t ask for space
‘Cause space is just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get too
Close, oh
Oh, so close, oh
I want you close, ooh
‘Cause space is just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get close, oh
Oh, so close, oh
I want you close, ooh
Oh, I want you close and close ain’t close enough, no
Oh man, oh man
I am not really known for ever being speechless
But now, but now somehow
My words roll off my tongue right onto your lips, oh
I’m keeping cool while you keep smiling
Saying all the things I’m thinking
Oh man, oh man
I am like you so I want proof of what you’re feeling
‘Cause if I want you, and I want you, babe
Ain’t going backwards, won’t ask for space
‘Cause space is just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get too
Close, oh
Oh, so close, oh
I want you close, oh (yeah baby)
‘Cause space was just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get close, oh
Oh, so close, ooh
I want you close, ooh
Oh, I want you close, and close ain’t close enough, no
‘Cause if I want you, and I want you, babe
Ain’t going backwards, won’t ask for space
‘Cause space was just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get too close
Close, oh (close babe)
Oh, so close, oh
I want you close, oh (baby)
‘Cause space was just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get close, oh
Oh, so close, oh (so get close, baby)
I want you close, oh (and tell me)
Oh, I want you close and close ain’t close enough, no
Yeah, baby (close, oh)
Tell me baby what you want (close)
Oh, I want you close and close ain’t close enough, no
Nick Jonas’s emotive track ‘Close,’ off his 2016 album ‘Last Year Was Complicated,’ is a profound dialogue on the complexities of human closeness and what it truly means to be vulnerable with someone. At its core, ‘Close’ shimmers with the universal human struggle to maintain a balance between needing intimacy and the instinct to guard oneself against potential heartbreak.
Through poignant lyricism and a hypnotic melody, Jonas takes us on a journey inward to the moments when walls come down and defenses are rendered useless in the face of raw emotional connection. Here are five lenses through which ‘Close’ holds up a mirror to our own relationships and the fears that accompany the quest for true closeness.
The Anatomy of Fear in Modern Love
Beneath the sleek production of ‘Close’ lies a heartbeat of trepidation that underscores modern romantic encounters. Jonas artfully navigates the push and pull of desiring deep, unfettered connection while simultaneously recognizing the paralyzing fear of giving oneself over to another. The recurring lines, ‘Space is just a word made up by someone who’s afraid to get too close,’ speak volumes about our cultural narrative that often romanticizes detachment over vulnerability.
Jonas’s raw confession juxtaposes the societal glorification of independence with the innate human yearning for partnership. He challenges the listener to confront their own guardedness and reassess what it truly means to ‘get close’ in a relationship bruised by past scars and a future shrouded in uncertainty.
Poetic Expressions of a Piercing Dichotomy
‘Close’ thrives in its poetic exploration of a piercing dichotomy — the electric rush of new love against the crippling anxiety of openness. Jonas’s initial perplexity, encapsulated in the song’s stark opening, ‘Oh damn, oh damn, oh damn, I’m so perplexed,’ signals the intensity of a connection so potent it defies simple articulation.
The track evolves as a confession, an admission of the spellbinding force that love exerts, compelling the protagonists toward each other despite their reservations. The simple, yet haunting repetition throughout the song echoes the cyclical nature of this internal battle, and the word ‘close’ begins to bear the weight of both desire and fear.
Unraveling ‘Close’s’ Hidden Meaning
Beyond the nuanced discussion of intimacy, ‘Close’ quietly wades into the depths of personal transformation that occurs in the presence of genuine connection. With the line ‘Oh, I want you close and close ain’t close enough,’ Jonas is not just singing about physical proximity but hinting at an existential closeness that merges souls into an all-encompassing oneness.
The subtext within the song’s catchy rhythms speaks to a deeper ache — that of fully knowing and being known by another. This minuscule four-letter word ‘close’ swells into a concept that invites listeners to contemplate the essence of their relationships and the lengths they would travel to bridge the gap between ‘close’ and ‘closer.’
The Emotional Kaleidoscope of a Single Breath
The significance of a breath becomes a pivotal moment of truth in ‘Close.’ The seemingly automatic and trivial act of breathing is reborn as a symbol of life-altering potential. For Jonas, ‘With just one breath, I’m locked in,’ becomes an acknowledgment of surrender, an irrevocable step into the relentless tide of affection and the utter powerlessness to resist its current.
This breath signifies boundaries dissolving and the imminence of two worlds colliding. It’s a subtle nod to love’s ability to blindside and transform the most guarded of hearts, fostering an intimate understanding that, despite its fleeting nature, can reverberate through the essence of one’s being.
Memorable Lines That Echo In Our Minds
‘Close’ serves its listeners with a buffet of memorable lines that linger long after the melody fades. One such line, ‘My words roll off my tongue right onto your lips,’ undulates with an intimacy that transcends the surface, implying a mutual exchange of innermost thoughts and a shared language of the soul.
Another layer is added as Jonas croons ‘I am like you so I want proof of what you’re feeling.’ Here he captures the delicate dance of trust and validation, the silent plea for reassurance that resides beneath the boldness of pursuit. It’s the subtle cry for a love that doesn’t retreat when faced with the daunting challenge of closing the distance between two hearts.
