Morphine was formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States in 1990 by M… Read Full Bio ↴Morphine was formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States in 1990 by Mark Sandman (vocals, bass) and Dana Colley (saxophone). Jerome Dupree became the group's drummer in 1991 prior to the release of their debut album, Good. "Low Rock" is Morphine's unique combination of jazz, blues and pop/rock, sung with darkly comic and ironic lyrics. Their guitarless sound relied on an unusual combination of baritone/tenor sax, percussion and a two string slide bass.

While "Good" earned the band critical notoriety and substantial underground cred, they did not -- with this release or any subsequent -- break into the mainstream. After the release of Good, the band replaced Dupree with Billy Conway, a former bandmate of Sandman. Morphine's 1992 release of Cure for Pain, promoted by heavy touring, received some mainstream positive attention, selling over 300,000 copies worldwide and spawning a chart hit in many countries with the single Buena

Subsequent releases include Yes and Like Swimming.

On July 3, 1999, Mark Sandman collapsed on stage in Palestrina, Italy, a suburb of Rome. He was pronounced dead of a heart attack at the scene. He was 46. Morphine released The Night -- arguably their best effort -- posthumously in 2000.

After Sandman's death, the remaining band members reformed and continued to record as Twinemen and later as The Ever Expanding Elastic Waste Band

In 2004, the Mark Sandman box set Sandbox was released by Hi-n-Dry, Mark Sandman's own label. It contains two CDs and a DVD of previously unreleased material spanning Sandman’s musical career. The DVD features clips from early Sandman shows, interviews from the Morphine tours, and various videos from other Sandman solo and group projects, such as Treat Her Right.

"Some day there'll be a cure for pain,
And that's the day I throw my drugs away" - Mark Sandman

Links:
The Other Side - A Morphine Fanzine
Morphine at Myspace

Slow Numbers
Morphine Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lazy boys and shy Diane's
One at a time, single file
They counted the low numbers
As they walked by

I count a high number, a low number
Among the slow numbers

The number four means nothin' to me
But the number four means death to Chinese
Number seven is lucky in Japan
Here we don't give a damn

But on the elevator, no thirteenth floor
On the elevator, no thirteenth floor
Thirteenth goin' up, goin' up, goin' up

Relaxin' as I wait in line
Some of the numbers
Lose their smiles
Specially the numbers one through nine

Because they're only seatin' parties
Of ten or higher
For the dancin' the question mark sticker
And the mermaid kickers

The number four means nothin' to me
But the number four means death to Chinese
Number seven is lucky in Japan
Here we don't give a damn

But on the elevator, no thirteenth floor

On the elevator, no thirteenth floor
Goin' up, goin' up, goin' up

Overall Meaning

Morphine's song "Slow Numbers" is a reflective piece about how we perceive numbers and the cultural significance attached to them. Opening with the line "lazy boys and shy Diane's," the song seems to be set in a waiting room of sorts. The singer observes people counting numbers as they walk by in single file. The phrase "slow numbers" may have a double meaning: these numbers are low (in counting) and they also might have personal significance for the people counting them.

The next stanza finds the singer contemplating what numbers mean to different cultures. The number four does not hold any meaning for the singer, but in Chinese culture, it is associated with death. Conversely, the number seven is considered lucky in Japan, but the singer could not care less. The refrain "on the elevator, no thirteenth floor" reinforces this theme of cultural significance: many people believe that the number thirteen brings bad luck, so some buildings omit it from floor numbers.

The final stanza describes waiting in line as people lose their smiles, particularly those waiting in parties of fewer than ten people. The "question mark sticker" and "mermaid kickers" add a surreal quality to the scene. Finally, the refrain repeats one more time, stating that there is "no thirteenth floor" on the elevator.

Overall, "Slow Numbers" is a thoughtful exploration of how we attach meaning to both large and small components of our lives, and how those meanings may differ based on culture or personal experience.

Line by Line Meaning

Lazy boys and shy Diane's
Boys who want to take it slow and shy Diane's who are afraid of going too fast, all together in a waiting line for something.

One at a time, single file
They are taking their sweet time, and are walking in a single file.

They counted the low numbers
They were focusing only on the low numbers, or numbers of lesser significance.

As they walked by
As they were lining up or walking past something.

I count a high number, a low number
I am focusing on both the high and low numbers, not just one type.

Among the slow numbers
I am focusing on the slower numbers rather than the faster ones.

The number four means nothin' to me
The number four doesn't hold any specific meaning to me.

But the number four means death to Chinese
In Chinese culture, the number four is seen as unlucky as it sounds similar to the word for death.

Number seven is lucky in Japan
In Japan, the number seven is seen as lucky.

Here we don't give a damn
But in this particular context, people don't really care about superstitions related to numbers.

But on the elevator, no thirteenth floor
Despite not caring about numbers and superstitions, the elevator skips the thirteenth floor anyways due to traditional beliefs.

Thirteenth goin' up, goin' up, goin' up
However, the singer insists on acknowledging that the thirteenth floor still exists even if the elevator doesn't stop there.

Relaxin' as I wait in line
The singer is at ease while waiting in line.

Some of the numbers
However, some particular numbers do not share the same peaceful state as the singer.

Lose their smiles
Their previously cheerful demeanor fades away as they realize they may not get into the event they are waiting for.

Specially the numbers one through nine
These numbers are seen as too small to be considered for entry into the event.

Because they're only seatin' parties
Entry is limited only to groups larger than nine people.

Of ten or higher
Groups consisting of ten or more people only are allowed entry.

For the dancin' the question mark sticker
This is for those who wish to dance and have earned the special question mark sticker on their tickets.

And the mermaid kickers
Also for those who are wearing special mermaid kicker shoes.

Goin' up, goin' up, goin' up
However, despite all of these peculiar rules and regulations, the singer continues to look upwards and forwards, excited for what is to come next.

Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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