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.
The End of Agent Bobby Roe
Nine Days Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Found his body in the bay
He was thrown in undercover
Put a hundred thieves away
But with the fall of old town bosses
Old traditions starts to fade
What should have been the end of the story
Would mark the end of Bobby's day
Some trigger happy punk with a nose full of blow
's got a contract out on agent Bobby Roe
So he'd get that little fucker if it's the last thing I do
Still he might not make it past Fifth Avenue
Bobby's daughter Jane was single
Early twenties, like to date
When with this guy at work from Boston
He tied her up and left a steak
They headed back to Massachusetts
To warehouse by the bay
On Bobby's desk a letter urged him:
"Come alone or it's bye, bye Jane"
So Bobby strapped on his gun, hopped on route 95
For a three hour drive, take a normal man five
What comes up ahead, didn't know, didn't wait
Did a hundred flyin' up the interstate
Well he got to the door with a cautious hand
Six shots rang out, Bobby falls dead man
Soaked his feet in cement on a boat, on their way
Had a beer as they watch Bobby sink into the bay
Some trigger happy punk with a nose full of blow
's got a contract out on agent Bobby Roe
So he'd get that little fucker if it's the last thing I do
Still he might not make it past Fifth Avenue
If we could make it to the boat then there might be a chance
We could save Bobby's life and his wife named Blanche
But his friend Jimmy Bullet's got his own kinda plan
Gonna save Bobby's life with the whole damn plan
It was a cold and dark frost morning
Certain sounds that set the mood
Jane was history before he even got there
Hear the talkback on the radio
Six gun-shot wounds on top of water logged balloon type features
One zip and he was on his way home
They stopped to notify his wife, knocked on the door but no one answers
The song "The End of Agent Bobby Roe" by Nine Days recounts the tragic story of Agent Bobby Roe, who worked undercover and had put a hundred thieves away. However, as old traditions began to fade with the fall of the old town bosses, Bobby's safety was put into jeopardy. Someone with a "nose full of blow" had a contract out on him, and he was eventually killed when he was lured into a trap by a letter urging him to come alone to a warehouse by the bay, where his daughter Jane was being held hostage.
Bobby strapped on his gun and drove for three hours to rescue his daughter, but tragically, he was met with six gunshots as he arrived at the warehouse. His feet were soaked in cement, and he was thrown off a boat into the bay while his killers toasted to his demise. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and tragedy as Bobby's attempts to do the right thing and save his daughter's life ultimately led to his own death.
Overall, the song is a gripping and intense narrative of a father's love for his daughter and the harsh consequences that often come with trying to do what is right in a world full of danger and uncertainty.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, his name was agent Bobby
The song begins with a description of Agent Bobby who is the singer of the story
Found his body in the bay
Bobby has been killed and his body was found in the bay
He was thrown in undercover
Bobby was an undercover agent
Put a hundred thieves away
Bobby was able to put away one hundred criminals
But with the fall of old town bosses
The elder bosses have been arrested, and this marks the beginning of a new era
Old traditions starts to fade
The old traditions of the criminal empire start to fade away
What should have been the end of the story
Bobby's death should have been the end of the story
Would mark the end of Bobby's day
Unfortunately, Bobby's death also marks the end of his life
Some trigger happy punk with a nose full of blow
There is a punk on drugs with a contract to kill Bobby
's got a contract out on agent Bobby Roe
The punk has a contract to kill Bobby
So he'd get that little fucker if it's the last thing I do
Bobby's killer will not get away with his crime
Still he might not make it past Fifth Avenue
Risks are involved in trying to catch Bobby's killer
Bobby's daughter Jane was single
Bobby had a single daughter named Jane
Early twenties, like to date
Jane is in her early twenties and enjoys dating
When with this guy at work from Boston
Jane is seeing a guy from Boston whom she works with
He tied her up and left a steak
Jane's boyfriend tied her up and abandoned her with food
They headed back to Massachusetts
Jane and her kidnapper have left the state of Bobby's jurisdiction
To warehouse by the bay
Jane and her kidnapper are in a warehouse near the bay
On Bobby's desk a letter urged him:
Bobby finds a letter on his desk urging him to come alone
"Come alone or it's bye, bye Jane"
Bobby is warned that if he brings anyone, Jane will be killed
So Bobby strapped on his gun, hopped on route 95
Bobby prepares to rescue his daughter and drives down Route 95
For a three hour drive, take a normal man five
It takes Bobby 3 hours to traverse a route that normally takes 5
What comes up ahead, didn't know, didn't wait
Bobby doesn't wait to assess the situation ahead
Did a hundred flyin' up the interstate
Bobby drives at a speed of 100 miles an hour
Well he got to the door with a cautious hand
Bobby approaches the warehouse cautiously
Six shots rang out, Bobby falls dead man
Six shots are fired at Bobby and he dies instantly
Soaked his feet in cement on a boat, on their way
The kidnapper has got rid of Bobby's body by sinking it into the bay with cement blocks on his feet
Had a beer as they watch Bobby sink into the bay
The kidnapper celebrates Bobby's death as they watch him sink into the bay
If we could make it to the boat then there might be a chance
Despite Bobby's death, there's still a chance of rescuing Jane
We could save Bobby's life and his wife named Blanche
Bobby has a wife named Blanche whom they could save
But his friend Jimmy Bullet's got his own kinda plan
Bobby's friend Jimmy Bullet has his own plan to save Jane
Gonna save Bobby's life with the whole damn plan
Jimmy Bullet's plan will save Bobby's daughter and bring his killers to justice
It was a cold and dark frost morning
The day of Bobby's murder was cold and dark
Certain sounds that set the mood
The song sets a somber and ominous mood
Jane was history before he even got there
Unfortunately, Bobby's daughter Jane had been killed before he could get to her
Hear the talkback on the radio
News of Bobby's death is broadcast on the radio
Six gun-shot wounds on top of water logged balloon type features
Bobby's body has six gunshot wounds and is bloated from being in the water
One zip and he was on his way home
Bobby's death is being processed and his remains will be sent home
They stopped to notify his wife, knocked on the door but no one answers
Bobby's colleagues have gone to notify his wife but she doesn't answer the door
Contributed by Jake N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ja Bum
Thank you for posting this, its such an awesome song.
Quest for Speed
There are no tabs on the internet for this song... gotta learn it by ear... damn
Found all their CDs in my Dad's collection all dusty and shit. These guys were actually family friends from my dads work (He worked as a music tech for a recording studio Nine Days recorded some songs at.) Wish we still had contact with the band.
Christopher Biondi
Face book. Brian Desveaux
Flavia Machado
Oh my God what an amazing story! I'd love to meet them! I'm from Brazil and I think I'm their biggest fan in the whole world hahahaha they are fantastic!
Andy Smith
This shiz is so overlooked. Amazing song.
Ángela Curzi
np! it's great :)