Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz (born May 26, 1964. New York, USA) is an Ame… Read Full Bio ↴Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz (born May 26, 1964. New York, USA) is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, guitarist and actor whose retro amalgam of rock, pop, funk, and even techno is inspired by such music icons as David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. Like Prince and Sly Stone before him, Kravitz uses a multi-ethnic, mixed-gender backing band.

Kravitz plays guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, percussion, and sitar. He often plays these instruments on each recorded track, but frequently collaborates with other musicians as well when recording.

His 1989 debut album Let Love Rule was a moderate success. In 1991 he released his second album, Mama Said, which reached the top 40 of the Billboard album charts. In 1993, the album Are You Gonna Go My Way was released, reaching #12 on the Billboard 200 and Kravitz earned a Brit Award for best international male artist in 1994. He released the Circus album in 1995, which reached number 10 on the Billboard chart on the back of his past achievement. With 5 (1999), Kravitz embraced digital technology such as Pro Tools and samplers for the first time. He would win the first of his four consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1999.

His cover version of The Guess Who's hit "American Woman" won him another Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2000. Kravitz released a Greatest Hits compilation in 2000. It proved to be his most successful album. The single "Again" would earn him his third consecutive Grammy for the Best Male Rock Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 2001. Kravitz released his sixth album Lenny in October 2001. He won his fourth consecutive Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal at the Grammy Awards of 2002. Kravitz's seventh album Baptism was released in May 2004. His album, It Is Time For A Love Revolution was released in 2008. He has always edited his albums on Virgin Records America. The lead single from Kravitz’s ninth album, Black and White America, "Stand" was released on June 3, 2011. (Stand Songfacts).

He is the son of Ukrainian-Jewish American NBC television news producer Sy Kravitz, and Bahamian American actress Roxie Roker, best known as her character Helen Willis on the hit 1970s television sitcom The Jeffersons. Black and White America's title track is an autobiographical look back at his upbringing in New York. (Black and White America Songfacts).

Artist website: www.lennykravitz.com

If Six Was Nine
Lenny Kravitz Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If the sun refused to shine
I don't mind, no baby I don't mind
And if the mountains fell in the sea
It ain't me, you know you've got to be free

I got my own world to live through
And I ain't gonna copy you

Now if six turned out to be nine
I don't mind, no baby I don't mind,
If all the hippies cut off all their hair,
I don't care, no baby I don't care

Because I, I've got my own world to live through,
And I ain't gonna copy you

White collar conservative walkin' down the street
Pointin' their plastic finger at me,
Hopin' my kind will drop and die
But I'm gonna wave my freak flag high,
So..., play on drummer

I've got my own world to live through,
And I ain't gonna copy you

Overall Meaning

Lenny Kravitz's song If Six Was Nine has a lot of symbolism and social commentary in the lyrics. The opening lines, "If the sun refused to shine, I don't mind, no baby I don't mind, and if the mountains fell in the sea, it ain't me, you know you've got to be free" suggest that the singer is comfortable with chaos and unpredictability. He is not attached to a particular outcome and encourages others to embrace their freedom.

The lyrics "I got my own world to live through, and I ain't gonna copy you" highlights the importance of individuality and self-expression. The singer is committed to living his life on his terms and not conforming to societal pressures or expectations. The phrase "if six turned out to be nine" is a reference to the uncertainty and fluidity of reality. It suggests that anything is possible.

In the final verse, the lyrics critique conservative and conformist attitudes. The singer feels judged by these people and their "plastic finger" pointing at him. However, he is unapologetic about who he is and intends to "wave [his] freak flag high." This line emphasizes the importance of individuality and owning one's identity.

Line by Line Meaning

If the sun refused to shine
I'm not bothered by such things as the sun refusing to shine.

I don't mind, no baby I don't mind
It doesn't bother me at all.

And if the mountains fell in the sea
Even if the unimaginable were to happen.

It ain't me, you know you've got to be free
It's not my concern as everyone has to be free to make their own choices.

I got my own world to live through
I have my own life to live.

And I ain't gonna copy you
I won't follow anyone else's path.

Now if six turned out to be nine
Even if things that are expected to be true are not.

I don't mind, no baby I don't mind
It wouldn't cause me any trouble.

If all the hippies cut off all their hair,
If everyone changed their ways.

I don't care, no baby I don't care
It wouldn't matter to me.

Because I, I've got my own world to live through,
I'm only concerned with living my own life.