The duet version was not originally planned for the album. Perri and Mraz first performed the song together during a radio show in San Diego in December 2011.
Perri wrote the song based on her personal experience in the summer of 2010 when she fell in love with someone she worked with closely. Because she had to hide her feelings, the lyrics focus on the "tension" of being near someone your heart longs for without being able to show it. christina perri feat. jason mraz - distance
: Lines like "Say I love you when you're not listening" and "Please don't stand so close to me / I'm having trouble breathing" highlight the struggle of maintaining boundaries while feeling deep affection. The Collaboration with Jason Mraz The duet version was not originally planned for the album
: The video takes place in a "cool house" where Perri and Mraz are in separate rooms, singing the song without ever appearing on screen together. Because she had to hide her feelings, the
: Perri chose a simple, natural look—a white dress and minimal makeup—to ensure the video felt like a "real life experience" rather than a dream.