And through decades of solid output, rigorous touring, and unyielding punk ethos, he cemented himself as one of the most influential heroes of the DIY scene.
Rosenstock is a self-made artist who's built a bridge between enraged, angst-ridden political catharsis and hard-hitting depressive emotional introspection. His voice is loud, raspy, and on the cusp of anger, but underneath that lies enough nuance and subtlety to make his music fun and arresting all at once.
In just a couple of years, Jeff Rosenstock has gone from beloved underground punk mainstay to a DIY legend and one of the most acclaimed figures in modern punk.
9/10
Jeff Rosenstock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You wake up just a little more in pain
Every time you're dressing for a sunny day
The clouds surprise you with rain
Every cigarette you smoke
'Cause you're addicted to a quiet source of company
Every time you told 'em you were busy
'Cause you'd rather go to sleep
Nine times out of ten I'll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I'll be thinking of you
Every little victory don't matter when nobody seems to care
Winning ten bucks on a scratch-off lotto ticket
The keys you thought disappeared
Every vacant moment you've exhausted all the options
That you thought could fill the hole
Every star you're wishing on just hoping for a little self-control
Tired of feeling selfish
You're tired of feeling restless
You're tired of feeling down
Nine times out of ten I'll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I'll be thinking of you
I'm so out of place when I can't be with you
If I don't see your face
It's almost like I missed you
Don't see your face, it's almost like I missed you
It's almost like I miss you
It's almost like I miss you
Nine times out of ten I'll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I'll be thinking of you
The lyrics of "9/10" by Jeff Rosenstock explore the struggles of daily life and the longing for a deeper connection with someone. The first verse describes the pain that comes with everyday activities - going to bed, dressing for the weather, smoking a cigarette - as if life is constantly throwing curveballs. The second verse dives deeper into feelings of insignificance and frustration, where little victories go unnoticed and even winning a few dollars in the lottery can't fill the sense of emptiness. The chorus brings it all home, emphasizing the singer's intense desire for someone they miss dearly. They are stoned and reading directions on the subway and dodging contact with others because all they can think about is the person they're longing for.
Overall, this song is about the challenges of daily life, the longing for connection, and the pain of missing someone important. It speaks to the human experience of trying to find meaning in life amid chaos, and the sense of despair that can come with feeling alone in a crowded world.
Line by Line Meaning
Every night you go to bed
You end each day with disappointment and sadness
You wake up just a little more in pain
You feel more and more emotional pain with each passing day
Every time you're dressing for a sunny day
You hope for happiness and joy, but are often let down
The clouds surprise you with rain
Disappointments and setbacks continuously occur, even when unexpected
Every cigarette you smoke
You turn to bad habits for comfort and companionship
'Cause you're addicted to a quiet source of company
You rely on substances as a way to cope with loneliness and sadness
Every time you told 'em you were busy
You use excuses to avoid social interaction and personal commitments
'Cause you'd rather go to sleep
You would rather escape reality than face the struggles of everyday life
Nine times out of ten I'll be stoned on the subway
Most of the time, I feel isolated and disconnected from the world around me
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
I search for guidance and direction, but often feel directionless
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
I avoid social interaction and connection with others
Nine times out of ten I'll be thinking of you
You are my source of comfort and happiness, even when you're not there
Every little victory don't matter when nobody seems to care
Success and accomplishments lose their meaning when they go unnoticed or unappreciated
Winning ten bucks on a scratch-off lotto ticket
Small moments of joy and luck are fleeting and unfulfilling
The keys you thought disappeared
The things you thought you lost are sometimes right in front of you
Every vacant moment you've exhausted all the options
You have tried everything you can think of to fill the void inside of you
That you thought could fill the hole
But nothing seems to completely heal the hurt you feel
Every star you're wishing on just hoping for a little self-control
You strive for self-improvement and discipline, but it's a constant battle
Tired of feeling selfish
You are exhausted with feeling like you are only thinking of yourself
You're tired of feeling restless
You are fed up with the constant inner turmoil and unease
You're tired of feeling down
You are exhausted with the sadness and disappointment that plagues you
I'm so out of place when I can't be with you
I feel lost and incomplete without you by my side
If I don't see your face
Without the comfort of your presence, I feel lost and disconnected
It's almost like I missed you
Your presence is so important to me, that even a moment without you feels like a loss
Nine times out of ten I'll be stoned on the subway
Most of the time, I feel disconnected and isolated from the world around me
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
I seek direction and guidance, but struggle with finding my purpose
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
I avoid social interaction and connection, and feel more lonely as a result
Nine times out of ten I'll be thinking of you
You are the light in the darkness, the comfort in the struggle, and the reason I keep going
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeffrey Ernest Rosenstock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Thickest Santa
lyrics:
Every night you go to bed
You wake up just a little more in pain
Every time you’re dressing for a sunny day
The clouds surprise you with rain
Every cigarette you smoke
‘Cause you’re addicted to a quiet source of company
Every time you told ‘em you were busy
‘Cause you’d rather go to sleep
Nine times out of ten I’ll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I’ll be thinking of you
Every little victory don’t matter when nobody seems to care
Winning ten bucks on a scratch-off lotto ticket
The keys you thought disappeared
Every vacant moment you’ve exhausted all the options
That you thought could fill the hole
Every star you’re wishing on just hoping for a little self-control
Tired of feeling selfish
You're tired of feeling restless
You're tired of feeling down
Nine times out of ten I’ll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I’ll be thinking of you
I’m so out of place when I can’t be with you
If I don’t see your face
It’s almost like I missed you
Don’t see your face, it’s almost like I missed you
It’s almost like I miss you
It’s almost like I miss you
Nine times out of ten I’ll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I’ll be thinking of you
Thickest Santa
lyrics:
Every night you go to bed
You wake up just a little more in pain
Every time you’re dressing for a sunny day
The clouds surprise you with rain
Every cigarette you smoke
‘Cause you’re addicted to a quiet source of company
Every time you told ‘em you were busy
‘Cause you’d rather go to sleep
Nine times out of ten I’ll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I’ll be thinking of you
Every little victory don’t matter when nobody seems to care
Winning ten bucks on a scratch-off lotto ticket
The keys you thought disappeared
Every vacant moment you’ve exhausted all the options
That you thought could fill the hole
Every star you’re wishing on just hoping for a little self-control
Tired of feeling selfish
You're tired of feeling restless
You're tired of feeling down
Nine times out of ten I’ll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I’ll be thinking of you
I’m so out of place when I can’t be with you
If I don’t see your face
It’s almost like I missed you
Don’t see your face, it’s almost like I missed you
It’s almost like I miss you
It’s almost like I miss you
Nine times out of ten I’ll be stoned on the subway
Reading backlit directives of what I should do
Dodging eye contact with anyone who looks my way
Nine times out of ten I’ll be thinking of you
Francisco hhjtg
2019
Thickest Santa
Francisco hhjtg ✊
demency
Sometimes, even when the world has torn you to pieces and yr at yr lowest, sometimes a total stranger will walk by and give you the kindness you need to survive.
Francisco hhjtg
2019
Surreptitious Writings
beautifully put
bewy
this makes me think about when i was about to jump off an overpass. i worked up the courage for 15 minutes as dozens of cars passed by and just as i was climbing up a lady pulled over and talked to me. it's a weird feeling. i think i might have felt seen, or like it was worth holding on to life at least a little bit longer. and i was reminded that there are kind people out there who help even when they can just drive by
demency
@bewy yeah. it's a bad world a lot of the time, but i think there are a lot more people like that in it than we realize. and i think a lot of people who do care, and would stop to help, but don't, are just afraid. i think a lot more people are stopped by fear than they are stopped by lack of caring, i really do. there are people in this world who care enough to put themselves at risk for strangers, again and again. knowing that is one of the things that keeps me going. i'm glad you didn't jump off that overpass, and i'm glad you left this response. <3
Seymour PSVR2 Gamecat
The best song on the record gets a video and its the most beautiful and morbid thing ever. Thank you Papa Jeff.
Francisco hhjtg
2020