Johannes has significantly contributed to albums by Chris Cornell, Queens of the Stone Age, Eagles of Death Metal, Desert Sessions and the Mark Lanegan Band as well as mixing, recording and producing a number of other records. He also frequently tours with other bands and artists, most notably the hard rock band Queens of the Stone Age throughout 2005 and 2006 (Natasha Shneider also joined him on this tour).
Most recently Johannes recorded new material with Brody Dalle and Eleven bandmate Jack Irons as part of Spinnerette. They released their first EP 'Ghetto Love' in 2008, though Johannes isn't joining them on tour. Johannes is releasing his first solo record, Spark, on Oct. 5th, 2010. He continues to perform live solo, and tour with Them Crooked Vultures.
Nine
Alain Johannes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you dear
Shadowing me
Circling air
You draw on the moon
The morning will
kill me again
but I'll see you soon
You again
Inside the flame
Dancing a message
Of hope regained
Taking my wheel
Right off its track
Searing the mind
So there's no going back
I received a message
From my number nine
You again
So good to me
Lifting the dark
So I may see
I step to the edge
Look just beyond
I see you my love
And I'm letting me go
I received a message
From my number nine
In Alain Johannes's song "Nine," the lyrics depict a person's recurring encounter with an elusive presence or force that seems to bring both joy and pain. The song opens with "You again, I know you dear, shadowing me, circling air." This mysterious entity seems to have an intangible quality to it, as if it moves through the air and remains difficult for the singer to grasp or understand. The verse continues with "You draw on the moon, the morning will kill me again, but I'll see you soon," suggesting that the singer has some sort of recurring cycle with this force or presence. The next verse adds another layer to this enigma, describing how "Inside the flame, dancing a message of hope regained, taking my wheel right off its track, searing the mind, so there's no going back." Here, the force or presence seems to be able to invoke feelings of excitement and hope, but also have a destructive or transformative effect on the singer.
The chorus of the song begins with "I received a message, from my number nine." This line may be interpreted in different ways, but it may suggest that the singer has received some sort of spiritual or mystical message from the number nine, which may represent a connection to higher realms of consciousness or existence. The second half of the chorus features the lyrics "You again, so good to me, lifting the dark so I may see, I step to the edge, look just beyond, I see you my love and I'm letting me go." Here, the relationship between the singer and the force or presence becomes more complex, with the presence seeming to hold both light and dark qualities, and the singer being led towards some sort of surrender or release.
Overall, "Nine" by Alain Johannes is a haunting and introspective song that touches on themes of the mysterious forces that permeate our lives, the cycles that we may find ourselves in, and the transformative power of surrendering to these forces. The lyrics are open to interpretation and may be understood in many different ways, making the song a thought-provoking and emotionally impactful piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
You again
Encountering someone familiar once again
I know you dear
Recognizing the person as someone known and dear
Shadowing me
Following and accompanying me
Circling air
Moving around in the air
You draw on the moon
Creating something on the surface of the moon
The morning will kill me again but I'll see you soon
Anticipating an unpleasant experience in the morning but knowing that the person will be seen soon
Inside the flame
Being inside the fire
Dancing a message of hope regained
Performing a dance that conveys the restoration of hope
Taking my wheel right off its track
Causing a disruption in one's course of action
Searing the mind so there's no going back
Affecting the mind in such a way that there is no possibility of returning to a previous state
I received a message from my number nine
Receiving a message from a significant figure or influence
So good to me
Being very kind or benevolent
Lifting the dark so I may see
Removing negative influence so that clarity and understanding can be achieved
I step to the edge, look just beyond
Approaching a critical point and observing what is beyond it
I see you my love and I'm letting me go
Recognizing the presence of love and willingly releasing attachment to oneself
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Alain Johannes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind