‘Too Close’ is the 90s Anthem of Unwanted Sexual Advances — Lyrical Breakdown

In 1997, R&B group Next dropped the hot club banger 'Too Close,' which rose to become a massive #1 hit. It was so catchy, a lot of people didn't realize that it was, almost literally, a "club banger." Allow me to break it down for you.

Much like our recent breakdown of the dark truths hiding in plain sight on Warren G's 'Regulate,' we're going to take a "deep dive" into the lyrics of this 90s R&B staple, exposing the song for what it really is -- a disgusting song about a degenerate with no chill endlessly mashing his boner against some poor woman on the dance floor.

Male Intro (spoken):

"I wonder if she could tell I'm hard right now, hmmm
Yeah, come on, dance for me baby, ha ha, yeah
Ut oh, you feel that? Alright
Come on, don't stop now
You done did it, come on, uh, yeah, alright, hold on"

Translation:

With no regard for the inappropriate nature of his behavior in this casual encounter on the dance floor, the vocalist's inner voice immediately announces to us that he has an erection, caused by the gyrations of his dance partner. Not only does he have an erection, but the intro's conclusion leads us to believe that premature ejaculation is imminent, specifically phrases like "don't stop now" and "yeah, alright, hold on." This tale is quite similar to the film 'Pulp Fiction,' in the respect that it is presented out of sequence. Here we are, 15 seconds into the song, and our guide on this quest for female companionship is already hitting his vinegar strokes.

Male:

"Baby when we're grinding
I get so excited
Ooh, how I like it
I try but I can't fight it
Oh, you're dancing real close
Cuz it's real, real slow
(You know what you're doing, don't you)
You're making it hard for me"

Translation:

Backing up the narrative slightly, the vocalist lets us know how this predicament came to be. He explains that his proximity to his dance partner, the manner in which she rhythmically moves to the music and the incidental contact of said movement is the culprit behind his inappropriate, yet natural display of sexual interest. The song's lyrics are much more literal and direct than they're given credit for.

Male:

"All the songs on you requested
You're dancing like you're naked
Oh, it's almost like we're sexing (oh yeah)
Yeah boo, I like it
No, I can't deny it
But I know you can tell
I'm excited, oh girl"

Translation:

It's at this point in the story that things begin to take a turn, as we realize that it's being told through an unusually aggressive viewpoint of a single male speaking to a single woman. All of this is pretty straightforward, as our guide begins to inform his partner of the particulars of his uncontrollable reaction and asks the female, who we have yet to hear from thus far, if she is aware of what is going on in his swimsuit region, knowing full well that she is.

Female:

"Step back you're dancing kinda close
I feel a little poke coming through
On you"

Translation:

Said female replies, confirming her awareness of what is taking place just below her partner's waistline, but also informing him that she would like to reduce their proximity for the remainder of their rhythmic collaboration. This move is likely an effort to extinguish the inflammation of her partner's reproductive organ, which she is politely indicating she does not wish to make further contact with.

Male:

"Now girl I know you felt it
But boo, you know I can't help it
You know what I wanna do"

Translation:

The male replies, acknowledging her awareness of the stiffness in his member because of her incidental contact with it, for which he claims no responsibility. Then, quite contradictory to that statement, he clarifies what everyone is well aware of by now, his bodily reaction is an indication of his desire to engage in sexual intercourse.

Male:

"Baby us dancing so close
Ain't a good idea
Cuz I'mma want you now and here
The way that you shake it on me
Makes me want you so bad sexually
Oh girl"

Translation:

He agrees with the female about her proposed increase in distance between them for the remainder of their dance routine because it will only further his desires. After doing so, he desperately notifies her that, despite no reciprocation of his previous advances, he is still interested in procreating with her.

Female:

"Step back you're dancing kinda close
I feel a little poke coming through
On you"

Translation:

Again, the female requests that the male withdraw slightly, making us aware that he has refused to honor her requests despite agreeing with them. And yes, she is still in contact with his engorged manhood, referring to it as a "little poke" for the second time. If this amount of prolonged intimate contact has not garnered more than a "little poke" from her partner, she assumes that the mass of said erection will not increase beyond that point. This is something she is painfully aware of and causes an even more intense disinterest in the proposed sexual rendezvous.

Male:

"Now girl I know you felt it
But boo, you know I can't help it
You know what I wanna do"

Translation:

He reasserts that he is fully aware of the situation, encompassing everything up to and including his current circumstances through her awareness and disinterest in his repeated sexual advances... yet he again claims no culpability and persists by notifying her that he knows she is aware of what he wants. This is not going to end well for one of them, which one is yet to be determined.

Male:

"I love when you shake it like that, ah, ah, ah"

Translation:

He gains intense enjoyment in response to the motions produced by his female partner's rhythmic dance ritual.

Female:

"I see that you like it like that, oh, oh, oh"

Translation:

She is aware of this, but would rather he take his insufficient erection and thrust it into an electrical socket than anywhere on, in, or near her.

Male:

"I like the way you move
You're making me want you
Oh the way you move
I like those things you do
But you're a little too close"

Translation:

Obviously, all these things are said in desperation -- just in case he was unclear (he wasn't) -- as the female retreats from the dance floor, hopefully escaping to a well-lit place with a group that can protect her from being the subject of any further unwanted sexual advances from this increasingly aggressive assailant on the dance floor. Had another 5 minutes passed, she would, at the very least, be subjected to some minimal hip bruising, and at the very worst... let's not go there. No means no, fellas. No matter what your erection's origin story is.