Next To Me

The woman who showed me this song once said: “to be is to be perceived” I tried my best to see what she meant by that, as she gently smiled at me, studying my face and knowing that I was having a hard time understanding.

Listening to ‘Next To Me’ by Rufus Du Sol eventually made me see what her cryptic quote meant. When I was happy the song was bitter sweet and brought feelings of comfort and even ecstasy. When I started to listen to it sad- the lyrics took on a different meaning and hearing the intro would make me tear up. I believe this is how the song was intended to make one feel.

It starts with what I call the loneliest keys in the world. Isolated and yearning for company. Asking permission to enter your senses.

The song builds and other sounds suddenly kick in. What once perked me up now makes me overwhelmed with emotion. The singer’s voice strains and pleads to be heard out. Background singers repeatedly sing in unison. What are they saying? Hard to be sure as it’s apparent that the listener ultimately decides.

“Can you hear me out? There’s a lifetime in front of me.” He is eager and impatient. The sirens in the background continue as the song builds to the drop. “I wanna feel you standing next to me.” His relationship with this person is on a deep level. He wants to feel them next to him…maybe spiritually.

The song starts to peak. Like angels singing to him, comforting him, even forging new feelings and emotions in the listener. Their soothing sounds offer a release to the tension of the build up. He goes on as the bass hugs your soul. “Oh my God, oh my God!” he professes. It reminds me of Steve Jobs’s last words, simply: “oh wow, oh wow, oh wow.” The lead singer is confessing the utter unbelief of the feelings he has for this individual. He calls out to God acknowledging the beauty He created in that person, that no doubt is both physical and spiritual.

The angels try harder as his sad voice exclaims again: “oh my God, oh my God!” Then the tribal-like bassy drums rally to the singer’s aid and lay a stability and beat. You can’t help but move…or be moved.

The song’s lyrics are poetic and generate memories of a once happy time.”It’s in the air!” he almost demands. He repeats “It’s in the air we breathe.” He argues that their connection, the feelings they have or once had is not up for debate, for the universe is aware and doesn’t forget.

The drums pulse in my head, my heart, my soul…