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.
Ocean
Nine Days Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even in our finest hour
All the dream you realize
Are you sleeping here with me tonight
Words are falling off the pages
Letter kept locked birds in cages
Feeling like I've lost my mind
In dreams of lavish gifts we hide
And if you'd wake up near me here you'd find
I would be the water
Of waves in oceans crashing
On the shores of your body
I am forever sinking in your sand
Don't have to look much further
Standing strong for you
I'd steal all the salt from the raging sea
To bring back love's divinity
Today
Pieces fall along the way
Scattered thoughts of yesterday
If I could find a way to put this
Back together again
A dream you keep inside your mind
And if you wake up near me you will find
I would be the water
Of waves in oceans crashing
On the shores of your body
I am forever sinking in your sand
Don't have to look much further
Standing strong for you
I'd steal all the salt from the raging sea
To bring back love's divinity
Today
Look what you've got
Look what you've got
'Cause you're not getting any younger than today
Fading like a wilted flower
This could be our finest hour
All the dreams you realize
Are sleeping here with me tonight
I would be the water
Of waves in oceans crashing
On the shores of your body
I am forever sinking in your sand
Don't have to look much further
Standing strong for you
I'd steal all the salt from the raging sea
To bring back love's divinity
Today
Look what you've got
Look what you've got, yeah
The lyrics to Nine Days' "Ocean" speak to the desire to be truly connected to someone, to be seemingly as intertwined with them as the waves are with the sand on the shore. The song is an ode to the intensity of emotions that come with true love, and the idea that love can sometimes feel all-encompassing, like you're drowning in an ocean of feelings. The metaphor of the ocean and the waves is utilized throughout the song to convey the depth and power of the feeling being expressed.
The opening lines set the stage for the rest of the song, establishing that even in the best of times, love can still feel tenuous, like a wilting flower. The second verse seems to speak to a sense of loss, with the writer feeling like they've lost their mind without the person they love. The chorus spells out the connection that the writer desires, to be "the water/Of waves in oceans crashing/On the shores of your body," and to be a source of strength for their partner.
The bridge seems to speak to a desire to go back in time, to "put this/Back together again," and is followed by a hopeful chorus that repeats the sentiment of the first one. The song ends on a note of appreciation and gratitude for the present moment, and for the love that is currently in their life.
Overall, "Ocean" is a poignant song about longing, connection, and the overwhelming emotions that can come with love. The metaphor of the ocean is used skillfully and effectively throughout the song, allowing the writer to convey their feelings in a vivid and evocative way.
Line by Line Meaning
Fading like a wilted flower
Our love is wilting and losing strength.
Even in our finest hour
Even at our best moment, our love struggles.
All the dreams you realize
The things we hoped for have come true.
Are you sleeping here with me tonight
Are we still together and in love tonight?
Words are falling off the pages
Our communication is breaking down.
Letter kept locked birds in cages
Our words are trapped and unable to express our feelings.
Feeling like I've lost my mind
Our relationship is driving me crazy.
Here forever missing you
I will always long for you.
In dreams of lavish gifts we hide
We hide our desires for extravagant gifts and luxuries.
And if you'd wake up near me here you'd find
If we were together, you would see that I love you deeply.
I would be the water
I am the love that surrounds you and sustains you.
Of waves in oceans crashing
My love for you is powerful and full of energy.
On the shores of your body
You are the only one who can bring peacefulness to my love.
I am forever sinking in your sand
My love for you is deep and endless.
Don't have to look much further
You don't need to search for love, as it's already here.
Standing strong for you
My love for you will never falter.
I'd steal all the salt from the raging sea
I would do anything to remove any bitterness from our love.
To bring back love's divinity
To restore our love and make it sacred again.
Today
Right now, in this moment.
Pieces fall along the way
Our relationship has been broken and lost fragments along the way.
Scattered thoughts of yesterday
Memories of the past interrupt our ability to move forward.
If I could find a way to put this
If only I could repair our love.
Back together again
And make it whole like it was before.
Look what you've got
Appreciate what you have in your life.
Cause you're not getting any younger than today
Life is short, so cherish the present moment of love.
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Brian Dennis Desveaux, Jason Michael Wade
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind