The Closer I Get to You – English Lyrics

• By: Luther Vandross, Beyoncé Knowles
• Album: Dangerously In Love

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the magic of R&B and soul by listening to "The Closer I Get to You." This beautiful duet between two vocal powerhouses, Luther Vandross and Beyoncé, is a perfect song to learn English through its heartfelt and clear lyrics about love's progression. The song's elegance and emotional depth make it a special piece for appreciating the nuances of romantic expression in music.

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - A strong feeling of affection and care for another person. verb - To feel deep affection or liking for someone or something.
closer /ˈkloʊsər/ A2	adjective - (Comparative of 'close') At a shorter distance or interval; nearer. adverb - (Comparative of 'close') To a shorter distance or interval.
feel /fiːl/ A1	verb - To experience an emotion or sensation. noun - An act or an instance of feeling something; a sensation.
real /riːəl/ A1	adjective - Actually existing or true; authentic.
see /siː/ A1	verb - To perceive with the eyes; to understand or become aware of.
get /ɡɛt/ A1	verb - To reach or arrive at a place; to obtain or receive.
try /traɪ/ A1	verb - To make an effort to do something. noun - An attempt to do something.
time /taɪm/ A1	noun - The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future.
friends /frɛndz/ A1	noun - (Plural of 'friend') A person with whom one has a bond of mutual affection, typically one exclusive of sexual or family relations.
captured /ˈkæptʃərd/ B1	verb - (Past participle of 'capture') Took into one's possession or control by force or skill; greatly attracted and held the attention of.
fly /flaɪ/ A2	verb - (Of a bird, insect, or aircraft) move through the air using wings; (of time) pass quickly.
sweeter /ˈswiːtər/ A2	adjective - (Comparative of 'sweet') Having a pleasant taste, especially one characteristic of sugar; pleasing or delightful.
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ B1	noun - The abode of God and the angels; a place or state of supreme happiness.
fool /fuːl/ B1	verb - To trick or deceive (someone); to act in a silly or thoughtless way. noun - A person who acts unwisely or stupidly; a jester.
tricks /trɪks/ B1	noun - (Plural of 'trick') A cunning or skillful act or scheme intended to deceive or outwit someone; a playful mischievous act.
hearts /hɑːrts/ A2	noun - (Plural of 'heart') The muscular organ that pumps blood; the emotional or spiritual center of a person, especially in terms of love or compassion.
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - To discover or perceive by chance or by search.
true /truː/ A1	adjective - In accordance with fact or reality; accurate or exact; genuine.
baby /ˈbeɪbi/ A2	noun - A very young child; (informal) used as a term of endearment for a lover, spouse, or friend.
whisper /ˈwɪspər/ B1	verb - To speak very softly using one's breath rather than one's vocal cords. noun - A soft or hushed sound made by speaking.

Key Grammar Structures

• The closer I get to you The more you make me see

  ➔ Double Comparatives (Parallel Comparatives)

  ➔ This structure ""The + comparative, the + comparative"" shows that one thing depends on another, or that one thing changes in proportion to another. Here, as the speaker gets ""closer"" to the person, they ""more"" clearly understand something.

• By giving me all you've got

  ➔ Preposition + Gerund

  ➔ The preposition ""By"" is followed by a gerund (""giving""). This structure is used to describe the method or means by which something is done. In this case, the love captured the speaker *through the act of ""giving"" everything*.

• Your love has captured me

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The ""present perfect"" (""has captured"") is used here to describe an action that started in the past (love began to capture) and continues to have an effect or is still true in the present (the speaker is still captured by love). It emphasizes the result of the past action.

• Could never be more than friends

  ➔ Modal Verb 'could' (for hypothetical/impossibility)

  ➔ The modal verb ""Could"" in combination with ""never"" expresses a past belief about an absolute impossibility or an unreal hypothetical situation. It conveys a strong sense of what was thought to be unachievable or forbidden at the time.

• The way you make me feel

  ➔ Causative Verb "make"

  ➔ The verb ""make"" is used here as a ""causative verb"", meaning "to cause someone to do something" or "to cause someone to feel something." It is followed by an object (""me"") and then a bare infinitive (""feel"") without "to". This structure emphasizes the direct effect the person has on the speaker's emotions.

• Lying here next to you

  ➔ Present Participle phrase (acting adverbially)

  ➔ ""Lying here next to you"" is a ""present participle phrase"" acting adverbially. It describes an action or state (""Lying"" - being prone) that is happening simultaneously with or providing context for the main implied clause (e.g., "I feel something" while lying). It adds detail to the situation.

• Who fool the tricks of time

  ➔ Defining Relative Clause

  ➔ ""Who fool the tricks of time"" is a ""defining relative clause"" that modifies "those" (referring to people). It uses the relative pronoun ""Who"" to identify *which* specific "those" (people) are being referred to – in this case, the ones who manage to overcome or outwit the challenges of time.

• so we can see into the eyes of love

  ➔ Purpose Clause (with "so that" implied)

  ➔ ""so we can see into the eyes of love"" is a ""purpose clause"". The word ""so"" (often followed by "that", which is omitted here) introduces a clause that explains the purpose or reason for the action in the main clause ("Come a little closer"). ""can"" is used to express ability or possibility in achieving that purpose.

• I wanna tell you something

  ➔ Informal contraction "wanna"

  ➔ ""Wanna"" is an informal contraction of ""want to"". While grammatically informal, it is very common in spoken English and song lyrics, reflecting natural, conversational speech. It's important for B2/C1 learners to recognize and understand such forms in real-world contexts.

• each other's lovin'

  ➔ Possessive Reciprocal Pronoun

  ➔ ""each other's"" is a ""possessive reciprocal pronoun"". It indicates that an action or feeling is shared mutually between two or more people, and in this case, "lovin'" (an informal form of 'love' or 'loving') belongs to both individuals involved in the reciprocal relationship. It emphasizes shared possession of the feeling.