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.
Road You Go Down
Nine Days Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For what I've done's outlasting my place to be proud
Trust worthy of my music so I sing it to the crowd
And they'll point my direction of where, of where I want to be
The road to go down, down, down, down, down, down, down
That road that you go down
What you doing now?
I was 18 and wound up at exit 68
Oh what a place to be
We sat round the corner and talked of you and me
It would point our direction of where, of where we want to be
The road to go down, down, down, down, down, down, down
That road that you go down
Oh where everybody's drivin' down some old dusty round down the sun
Well I think I could see some new pavement comin' round, comin' round, round, round
Well in my time allowed I'm wondering where I'm going so what you doing now?
For what I've done's outlasting my place to be proud
Trust worthy of my music so I sing it to the crowd
And they'll point my direction of where, of where I want to be
The road to go down, down, down, down, down, down, down
That road that you go down
That road that you go down
Hey! What you doin' now?
The song "Road You Go Down" by Nine Days is a reflective piece on the uncertainty of life and finding one's way in the world. The opening lines, "Well in my time allowed I'm wondering where I'm going so what you doing now?" suggest a sense of questioning and confusion about one's purpose and future. The following lines, "For what I've done's outlasting my place to be proud/Trustworthy of my music so I sing it to the crowd" speak to the idea of leaving a legacy through one's work, in this case, music.
The chorus, "The road to go down, down, down, down, down, down, down/That road that you go down/What you doing now?" emphasizes the importance of choosing a direction and making decisions in life, even though it may be difficult and uncertain. The use of repetition in the chorus adds a sense of urgency to the message, while the repeated phrase "What you doing now?" encourages the listener to take action and make the most of the present moment.
The second verse describes a specific memory from the singer's past, "I was 18 and wound up at exit 68/Well it ended all our loneliness/Oh what a place to be/We sat round the corner and talked of you and me." This provides a personal context to the song and adds to the overall theme of searching and finding one's way in life.
Overall, "Road You Go Down" is a contemplative song that encourages the listener to reflect on their own journey and the choices they make in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well in my time allowed I'm wondering where I'm going so what you doing now?
With the time available to me, I am contemplating my current path and wondering about yours. What are you currently doing?
For what I've done's outlasting my place to be proud
The impact of my actions has a long-lasting effect, and I have surpassed the point of feeling proud about it.
Trust worthy of my music so I sing it to the crowd
My music is of high quality and trustworthy, so I perform it to the audience.
And they'll point my direction of where, of where I want to be
The crowd can guide me towards my desired destination and my future aspirations.
The road to go down, down, down, down, down, down, down
That road that you go down
The path that we choose to take in life, and the decisions that we make along the way, can lead us to success or failure.
I was 18 and wound up at exit 68
Well it ended all our loneliness
Oh what a place to be
At the age of 18, I found myself at exit 68, which brought an end to my feelings of loneliness. It was a great place to be at that point in time.
We sat round the corner and talked of you and me
It would point our direction of where, of where we want to be
We sat and had a conversation that helped us figure out the direction we wanted to take in life.
Oh where everybody's drivin' down some old dusty round down the sun
Well I think I could see some new pavement comin' round, comin' round, round, round
Everyone seems to be stuck in the same old routine, but I see a new opportunity and a brighter future on the horizon.
That road that you go down
Hey! What you doin' now?
The choices that you make will determine the path that you take in life. So, what choices are you making now?
Contributed by Caroline T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.