Nine Horses brings together David Sylvian, his brother Steve Jansen (both e… Read Full Bio ↴Nine Horses brings together David Sylvian, his brother Steve Jansen (both ex-Japan), and machine- and rhythm scientist, Burnt Friedman (aka Flanger and owner of the Nonplace label).

Nine Horses recordings feature guest appearances by, among others, Stina Nordenstam, trumpeter Arve Henriksen (Rune Grammofon) and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

Serotonin
Nine Horses Lyrics

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I kick the sheets
Until they rise like mountain ranges at my feet

I'm in the dark
God only knows the torment writ large upon my heart

What wouldn't I?
What wouldn't I give?

It comes to this
I'm only sure of things I know now don't exist

There's no precision
I'm inside-outside-in I want subdivision

And all of this fills my aching head
I hate this space, the luxury hotel bed.
Oh dear, oh me-oh-my
Got to concentrate just to keep from trying
Oh dear, oh me-oh-my
Got to concentrate just to keep from trying
Don't lose it
Things move rapidly
Don't lose it
Try to maintain composure
Don't lose it
The dead are haunting me
Out with it
Let's get it over.

What wouldn't I?
What wouldn't I give?

I'm thoroughly wasted
My mind's hallucinating lucidity

It's over sensitized
And something's moving on the periphery

What wouldn't I?
What wouldn't I give?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Nine Horses's song Serotonin convey a sense of anxiety, restlessness and confusion in the midst of a breakdown. The opening lines "I kick the sheets, Until they rise like mountain ranges at my feet" create an image of someone who is agitated and uncomfortable, unable to find rest or solace. The following verse "I'm in the dark, God only knows the torment writ large upon my heart" underscores this unease, suggesting that the singer is struggling with some heavy emotional burden. The repetition of the phrase "What wouldn't I give?" highlights the intensity of their desperation, a willingness to do anything to escape their current state of distress.

The chorus of the song adds a layer of urgency to the narrative, emphasizing a need for control and composure. The reference to the dead haunting the singer suggests a past trauma or unresolved conflict that is contributing to their current state of distress. The line "Got to concentrate just to keep from trying" implies that the singer is fighting an inner battle, perhaps with their own impulses or desires. The final verse is a reflection of their current state of mind, suggesting that they are so far gone that even their perceptions of reality are distorted. The line "My mind's hallucinating lucidity" captures the paradoxical nature of their experience, a state of heightened awareness that is simultaneously disorienting.

Line by Line Meaning

I kick the sheets Until they rise like mountain ranges at my feet
I'm tossing and turning in bed, making the sheets look like towering peaks.

I'm in the dark God only knows the torment writ large upon my heart
I'm feeling lost and alone, and only God knows how much pain I'm going through.

What wouldn't I? What wouldn't I give?
I'm willing to do anything and give up everything to feel better.

It comes to this I'm only sure of things I know now don't exist
I'm starting to realize that the things I thought were true are actually illusions.

There's no precision I'm inside-outside-in I want subdivision
I'm feeling disoriented and confused, and I want to break everything down into smaller parts to understand it better.

And all of this fills my aching head I hate this space, the luxury hotel bed.
My thoughts are overwhelming me, and I hate being in this fancy hotel bed where I feel so alone.

Oh dear, oh me-oh-my Got to concentrate just to keep from trying Oh dear, oh me-oh-my Got to concentrate just to keep from trying
I'm trying to focus and keep my mind from spiraling out of control.

Don't lose it Things move rapidly Don't lose it Try to maintain composure Don't lose it The dead are haunting me Out with it Let's get it over.
I'm afraid of losing control, with my thoughts moving too fast and the ghosts of the past haunting me. I need to let it out and face it head-on.

I'm thoroughly wasted My mind's hallucinating lucidity
I'm completely exhausted and my mind is playing tricks on me, making things seem clearer than they actually are.

It's over sensitized And something's moving on the periphery
My senses are hyper-aware, and I feel like something is lurking just beyond my field of vision.

What wouldn't I? What wouldn't I give?
Once again, I'm willing to do anything and give up everything to feel better.

Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: BERND FRIEDMANN, DAVID SYLVIAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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