And don’t try to understand me,
Your hands already know too much anyways.

“Near You Always” is Jewel’s best song: a beautiful song about falling in love. She is falling hard and fast and is trying to slow down and catch her breath…but not really. She “warns” her lover in a tongue-in-cheek way: if he keeps treating her well and making her feel this way it is going to make her want to be near him always.

The guitar in Jewel’s “Near You Always” is in a non-standard tuning, which helps to create a nontraditional guitar sound. Her voice is amazing as it always is. Jewel sings the song passionately. Notice how she concentrates equally on embellishing the low notes as she does the high notes.

Another thing that stands out about “Near You Always” is the bridge. It sounds like it could be an entirely new song, but it still fits nicely here. Also, notice her use of harmonics. She really is a decent guitar player.

This is another song off Jewel’s first album. Her first album was such a huge success. Sometimes, I think this cripples’ artists. How can someone ever maintain that success? It must be paralyzing. She would go on to write one other great song, Grey Matter, two albums later. It is interesting to look in Spotify and see the top 10 songs played by each artist.

At the time of writing this, neither “Near You Always” or “Grey Matter” are in the top 10. That is a shame. Foolish Games is her number two most frequently played song. I feel that is correct, it is a great song. With three songs in the top 500 that makes Jewel a worthy Rock n Roll Hall of Fame candidate in ten years or so when she reaches the 25-year mark.

Ultimately what makes this song a top 100 song of all-time is the beautiful, unique melody coupled with Jewel’s restrained by powerful voice. This is an incredibly underrated song. Below is a beautiful, captivating performance, that is unfortunately low-def, but truly shows off how she is able to capture an audiences attention.

Near You Always Lyrics

Please don’t say I love you,
Those words touch me much too deeply.
They make my core tremble.
Don’t think you realize the effect you have over me.
And please don’t look at me like that,
It just makes me want to make you near me always.

And please don’t kiss me so sweet.
It makes me crave a thousand kisses to follow.
And please touch me like that.
Makes every other embrace seem pale and’ shallow.
And please don’t come so close.
It just makes me want to make you near me always.

Please don’t bring me flowers,
They only whisper the sweet things you say.
And don’t try to understand me,
Your hands already know too much anyways.
Makes me want to make you near me always.

And when you look in my eyes,
Please know my heart is in your hands.
It’s nothing that I understand,
But in your arms you have complete power over me.
So be gently if you please.
‘Cause your hands are in my hair,
But my heart is in your teeth babe,
And it makes me want to make you near me always,
Your hands are in my hair,
But my heart is in your teeth babe,
And it makes me want to make you near me always,
Want to be near you always.
Want to be near you always.
Want to be near you always.

written by Jewel