Nine Days is a power pop/rock band that was popular in the early 00s. Forme… Read Full Bio ↴Nine Days is a power pop/rock band that was popular in the early 00s. Formed in New York by musicians John Hampson and Brian Desveaux in 1994, they released three albums independently during the 90s before their mainstream debut album, 'The Madding Crowd', was released in 2000. Their greatest popularity came from a handful of songs from said album (which took its title from the 1874 romantic drama novel 'Far From the Madding Crowd') such as the tracks "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)" and "If I Am".

Stylistically, the band took influence from both contemporary adult alternative bands as well as earlier power pop and Bob Dylan-like singer-songwriter music. 'The Madding Crowd' generally received positive critical reviews and reached the #67 slot on the Billboard 200, eventually being certified as gold by the RIAA. Yet Nine Days' acclaim ended up being brief. Despite the popularity of "Absolutely (Story of a Girl)", which reached the #1 slot on Billboard's 'Top 40 Mainstream' chart and raced up in other charts, the group's mainstream success quickly faded, and they became saddled with the "one hitwonder" tag because of that single's ubiquitous nature. They're also sometimes labeled as a "two hit wonder" (due to the major airplay of "If I Am" as well).

Their next album, 'So Happily Unsatisfied', was scheduled for a release in 2002. Unfortunately due to complications with their label, Sony Records, this album became delayed and the group was no longer in possession of the rights of the songs. They managed to put it up for online distribution years later after acrimonious conflict. 'Flying the Corporate Jet', released in 2003 by the band by itself, ended up being Nine Days' last full album for some time.

Justly feeling bashed by the music industry, the band went on hiatus through much of the decade. However, In mid-August 2006, Nine Days formally reunited and went back to the studio to record. 'Slow Motion Life (Part One)', a new EP with six songs, was released on January 19, 2007. Part Two was released later that year. Their more recent work has gone in a more Americana type musical direction.

The band has since performed sporadically. Both vocal artists, John Hampson and Brian Desveaux have pursued solo careers and their music is available for purchase from their respective websites. According to the Absolutely (Story of a Girl) Songfacts, Hampson ended up spending a lot of time as a high school English teacher.

Another Day
Nine Days Lyrics

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Here's another day she waits and pulls herself away
At just the right moment to save her face
I watch the time go ticking down, the water falling on the ground
I catch myself and try to speak with grace
You needed just enough anger to get you through the door
And you got just enough honesty to make you want a little more

I wish for nothing but the rain

To fall and wash away
Everything that I've done wrong
Find a way to make you strong
If only for another day

When I'm all alone, just me and my ghosts
Standing three deep, just like sentries at their post
And they make sure I remember just a little more than most
They make sure that I understand the consequence of past

You needed just enough anger to get you through the door
And you got just enough honesty to make you want a little more

I wish for nothing but the rain
To fall and wash away
Everything that I've done wrong
Find a way to make you strong
If only for another day

When you see me chasing daydreams and you know that I'm not there,
I'm not the one who sits across from you, who, returns your stare
And I watch as you grow quiet like you always did
And I wait to get what I deserve
It's the part that doesn't die that makes it hurt...

Here's another day, she waits and pulls herself away
At just the right moment to save her face
I watch the time go ticking down, the water falling on the ground
I catch myself and try to speak with grace

I wish for nothing but the rain
To fall and wash away
Everything that I've done wrong
Find a way to make you strong
If only for another day

If only for another day

Overall Meaning

The Nine Days song "Another Day" is a reflective piece that speaks of lost love, regret, and the wish to make things right even if it's just for a day. The lyrics are written in a melancholic tone and the song has a somber melody to match. The opening lines "Here's another day she waits and pulls herself away, At just the right moment to save her face" set the stage for the overall feel of the song. The subject is clearly experiencing a sense of loss and disappointment as she tries to come to terms with herself.

The song's pace is slow and measured, reflecting the length of the day and the ticking of the clock. The line "Everything that I've done wrong, Find a way to make you strong," reveals a sense of remorse, as the singer seems to be acknowledging his past mistakes and seeking redemption. The lyrics "I'm not the one who sits across from you, who, returns your stare. And I watch as you grow quiet like you always did" imply a sense of distance and longing on the part of the singer, who is unable to bridge the gap between himself and his lost love.

The repeated line "I wish for nothing but the rain, To fall and wash away" suggests a desire for a fresh start, and the need to let go of the past. This theme is mirrored in the music, which gradually builds towards the end of the song, suggesting a growing sense of hope and resolution.

Line by Line Meaning

Here's another day she waits and pulls herself away
She faces another day and tries hard not to let her emotions show

At just the right moment to save her face
She knows how to hide the tears and keep up the appearance of strength

I watch the time go ticking down, the water falling on the ground
I passively wait as time moves forward and the rain carries away my sorrows

I catch myself and try to speak with grace
I strive to remain composed and speak with kindness despite my struggles

You needed just enough anger to get you through the door
Sometimes anger is necessary to push oneself forward and achieve a goal

And you got just enough honesty to make you want a little more
Honesty can be addicting and lead to a craving for more truth and transparency

I wish for nothing but the rain
I desire a cleansing and cathartic release of my negative feelings

To fall and wash away
I long for a sense of renewal and a fresh start

Everything that I've done wrong
I want to be free of the mistakes and regrets of my past

Find a way to make you strong
I hope that this cleansing will make me stronger and better equipped to face the future

When I'm all alone, just me and my ghosts
When I am by myself, my past traumas and regrets haunt me

Standing three deep, just like sentries at their post
My regrets are always on guard and never far from my thoughts

And they make sure I remember just a little more than most
My regrets always remind me of every detail of my past actions

They make sure that I understand the consequence of past
My regrets ensure that I am aware of the impact my past mistakes have had

When you see me chasing daydreams and you know that I'm not there,
When you notice me lost in thought or distracted

I'm not the one who sits across from you, who, returns your stare
I am not the same person who used to make eye contact with you and engage in conversation

And I watch as you grow quiet like you always did
I observe you become silent, just like you used to during tense moments

And I wait to get what I deserve
I am prepared to face the consequences of my past actions

It's the part that doesn't die that makes it hurt...
The pain persists because certain aspects of my past still affect me and shape who I am today

If only for another day
If I could only have one more day where I feel cleansed and free of my regrets

Lyrics © Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN CHARLES HAMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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