The Closer I Get To You

Album: Blue Lights in the Basement (1977)
Charted: 42 2
Play Video
  • The closer i get to you
    The more you'll make me see
    Like giving me all you've got
    Your love has captured me

    Over and over again
    I'll try to tell myself that we
    Could never be more than friends
    And all the while inside
    I knew it was real
    The way you make me feel

    Lying here next to you
    Time just seems to fly
    Needing you more and more
    Let's give love a try

    Sweeter than sweeter love grows
    And heaven's there for those
    Who fool the tricks of time
    With the hearts in love you find
    True love
    In a special way

    The closer I get to you
    The more you'll make me see
    By giving me all you've got
    Your love has captured me

    Over and over again
    I'll try to tell myself that we
    Could never be more than friends
    And all the while inside
    I knew it was real
    The way you make me feel

    The closer I get to you
    The more you'll make me see
    By giving you all I've got
    Your love has captured me
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 12th 1978, "The Closer I Get To You" by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway entered Billboard's Hot top 100 chart at position #86; and on May 7th it peaked at #2 (for 2 weeks) and spent 20 weeks on the Top 100 (and for 8 of those 20 weeks it was on the Top 10)...
    And on March 26th, 1978 it reached #1 (for 2 weeks) on the Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
    The first week it was at #2, the #1 record was "If I Can't Have You" by Yvonne Elliman; and for the 2nd week it was "With A Little Luck" by Wings that was in the top spot...
    The second week "The Closer I Get To You" was at #2; Ms. Flack entered the Top 100 at #87 with "If Ever I See You Again" (eventually it would peak at #24)...
    R.I.P. Mr. Hathaway (1945 - 1979) and Ms. Flack celebrated her 75th birthday two days ago on February 10th (2014).
  • Matt from Boston, MaI love hard rock and, for the most part, I hate love songs. That being said, every time I hear this song, and also "Where is the love?", the window in the car goes up and I sing like Donnie Hathaway (alright, probably not). This is just one of those songs that crosses all boundaries. That is the sign of a great song. What a shame a great voice like Hathaway left us so soon.
  • John from Nashville, TnBefore writing this classic, percussionist James Mtume and guitarist Reggie Lucas were popular session musicians who were band members of jazz superstar Miles Davis during the mid-1970s. The team went on to produce three gold albums for Stephanie Mills (as well as her only top 10 pop hit "Never Knew love Like This Before"). Lucas went on to produce the majority of Madonna's first album, while Mtume scored a gold record with the sexually-charged "Juicy Fruit".
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."

Glen Ballard

Glen BallardSongwriter Interviews

Glen Ballard talks about co-writing and producing Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill album, and his work with Dave Matthews, Aerosmith and Annie Lennox.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Chris Frantz of Talking Heads

Chris Frantz of Talking HeadsSongwriter Interviews

Talking Heads drummer Chris Frantz on where the term "new wave" originated, the story of "Naive Melody," and why they never recorded another cover song after "Take Me To The River."