Cloud Nine
Me'Shell Ndeg?Ocello / The Funk Brothers Lyrics
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You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city,
It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me.
We hardly had enough food or room to sleep.
It was hard times,
Needed something to ease my troubled mind.
Listen! my father didn't know the meaning of work,
He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt.
Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine,
I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
Listen one more time I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
Folks down there tell me,
They say, "give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by".
But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive,
It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie.
Listen! it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night,
I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine.
Let me tell you about cloud nine.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
(cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
I wanna say I love the life I live,
And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine.
I'm riding high
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
(cloud nine) there's no diff'rence between day and night
(cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
(cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
Cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)
The lyrics to "Cloud Nine" by Me'Shell NdegéOcello and The Funk Brothers tell the story of a person who grew up in poverty in a one-room shack with ten other children. The singer's father did not work and disrespected the mother, leaving the singer and their family with little food or space to live. Despite seeking a job, the singer was unable to find work and became depressed and downhearted. In search of something to ease their troubled mind, the singer turns to the idea of "cloud nine," a place where all responsibilities are gone and everyone is free.
The song's lyrics touch on themes of poverty, struggle, and the desire for escape. The singer describes the harsh realities of life on the ground, where survival is a competition and safety is not guaranteed. They contrast this with the idea of "cloud nine," a utopian vision where all burdens are lifted and individuals can be whoever they want to be. Ultimately, the singer declares their love for the life they live on cloud nine and their intention to stay there.
Overall, "Cloud Nine" is a powerful commentary on the American Dream and the struggle to achieve it. It suggests that for many individuals, the only way to escape poverty and hardship is to create an alternate world where they are free from the pressures of society.
Line by Line Meaning
Childhood part of my life, it wasn't very pretty.
My childhood was difficult and not pleasant.
You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city,
I grew up in a poor area of the city.
It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me.
My family lived in a small and cramped space with many other kids.
We hardly had enough food or room to sleep.
We were lacking in basic resources like food and sleeping space.
It was hard times,
Life was tough and challenging.
Needed something to ease my troubled mind.
I was looking for a way to escape my difficulties.
Listen! my father didn't know the meaning of work,
My dad was lazy and didn't understand the value of hard work.
He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt.
My dad was abusive to my mom and treated us poorly.
I left home, seekin' a job that I never did find,
I left to try and find work, but was unsuccessful.
Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine,
Feeling sad and hopeless, I turned to drugs (cloud nine) as an escape.
I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
I feel good when I'm high on drugs.
Listen one more time I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
Let me repeat, I feel great when I'm high on drugs.
Folks down there tell me,
People back home advise me.
They say, "give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by".
They advise me to not give up on myself and grasp opportunities.
But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive,
However, life is a competition where only the most resilient endure.
It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie.
The world is harsh and cut-throat.
Listen! it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night,
Danger is so prevalent that it's not even safe to walk outside during nighttime.
I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine.
Despite the dangers and hardships of reality, I still feel good when I'm high.
Let me tell you about cloud nine.
Let me explain to you what it feels like to be high on drugs.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
Being high makes you feel like you can do anything you desire.
(cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
When high, you don't feel any obligations or duties.
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
Everyone feels liberated when they're high.
(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
Being high takes you far away from the burdens of the real world.
I wanna say I love the life I live,
I want to express my enjoyment of my current state of being.
And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine.
I plan on continuing to use drugs and enjoying the high life.
I'm riding high
I'm currently high on drugs.
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
Being high feels like you're free like a bird in the sky.
(cloud nine) there's no diff'rence between day and night
Time loses its meaning when you're high.
(cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
The high world is peaceful and full of love.
(cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality.
Being high takes you so far away from reality.
(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)
Repeating the chorus and praise for being high.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jae White
Me'Shell Ndegéocello is one of the RARE artist who REFUSES to alter her artistry to keep up with the industry, so she is not played on radio or promoted! "PLEASE SUPPORT NEO-SOUL / INDIE SOUL" These are the Neo-Soul/Indie Soul Artists that are staying true to their craft people like Angela Johnson, Amel Larrieux, Adriana Evans, Alice Smith, Alice Russell, Bilal (Sayeed Oliver), Carol Riddick, Chico Debarge, Cilla K., Conya Doss, The Endangered, Eric Roberson, Gaelle, Renee Neufville, Jean Baylor, Kelvin Roston Jr., Shana Tucker, Trish Andrews, Moodymann, Marques Wyatt, Tracy Hamlin, Aysha, Soulsearcher, Brent Laurence, Julie McKnight, Nicolas Matar, Pete Philly & Perquisite, Corinne Bailey Rae,
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"THE DEFINITION OF NEO-SOUL / INDIE SOUL"
Neo-Soul / Indie Soul is a timeless musical genre that fuses real instrumental, Jazz, Contemporary R&B and 1970s/80’s style Soul,Funk,Rock and Deep House Soul Music with some elements of 90’s Hip-Hop. As it's name (new soul) implies, Neo-Soul / Indie Soul music is essentially modern-day soul music, with contemporary attitudes and sensibilities. It differs from contemporary R&B in that it's organic and obviously more soulful,and it also tends to have deeper messages and meanings than R&B.
bronx flava
WHAT A AMAZING EXPERIENCE.... I am the male dancer in the video and she was the most humble sweetest women i have ever met.... she would just talk to me most of the shoot and was so inspiring.... this was one moment in time i will never forget....
Harmony
Awww how lovely
Derek W. Wright
2019 and Me'shell is STILL the only artist who's gotten this cover right!
thesun collective147
Bill Withers R.I.P.
Michele Dain
Uh in 2022 as well.....shes the best
David II Houston
Right??
Victor Roshu
@Nicko Nicko i have a thing for 7inch instrumental version, but they are all good, i agree
Nicko Nicko
@Victor Roshu Vocal and instrumental versions. Especially the long one though.
LaChele
She was so dope. It's a shame that her talent wasn't received abroad. Her 1st and 2nd albums are legit everything.
Navanod27
first two are perfection, indeed