Three and Nine
Roxy Music Lyrics


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You might remember
How it used to be
3 and 9 could show you
Any fantasy
Parti-coloured pictures
Now and then 3D
No cheap nostalgia
Conjured up by me
Back to the old days
Close to home
Show me some new ways
I'll carry on

Whether making out or played out
Three and nine make twelve
I've a dozen reasons
Lying on the shelf
be feature back rows
Filed away
No point pretending
Change is here to stay

3 and 9 to 45
Decimal romance
If you've warmed to centigrade
You stand a sporting chance
I'm not so special
You're a misfit too

Why must they interfere
In everything we do?
Should we play safe now
Or go all the way?




Six and two threes now
More I cannot say

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roxy Music's "Three And Nine" reflect on how things have changed over time while still holding onto some of the same familiar elements. The song starts by acknowledging that the past might have been better than the present, but it then proceeds to explore how some things remain the same. The line "3 and 9 could show you any fantasy" refers to the appeal of numbers in creating an illusionary world that can be different from reality.


Throughout the song, there is a sense of nostalgia and a longing for the past, but at the same time an acceptance that change is inevitable. The line "No cheap nostalgia conjured up by me" highlights that the singer is not trying to romanticize the past in a superficial way, but rather trying to understand how that past has informed the present.


The song also touches on the idea of relationships and how they can be complicated. The line "Whether making out or played out, three and nine make twelve" refers to the ups and downs of a relationship and how it can sometimes feel like you are just adding up numbers. The final line "more I cannot say" suggests a sense of ambiguity, and that maybe the answer to the problems presented in the song is not clear or straightforward.


Line by Line Meaning

You might remember
The singer is prompting the listener to recall a past experience.


How it used to be
The singer is referring to a time period in the past.


3 and 9 could show you
The singer is about to describe how the numbers 3 and 9 were significant.


Any fantasy
The numbers had the power to bring any idea to life.


Parti-coloured pictures
The things 3 and 9 could create were bright and colorful.


Now and then 3D
The things 3 and 9 could create had depth, dimensionality.


No cheap nostalgia
The singer is indicating that the memories of the past are not simply a wistful longing for a simpler time, but have a real substance and importance.


Conjured up by me
The artist personally remembers and values the things he is describing.


Back to the old days
The artist is longing for a return to past times.


Close to home
The idea of returning to the past is comforting because it is familiar and known.


Show me some new ways
The singer is open to new and different experiences that might replace or expand on the past.


I'll carry on
The artist is committed to life and moving forward, despite nostalgia for the past.


Whether making out or played out
Regardless of whether something is new or old.


Three and nine make twelve
The combination of these numbers has a satisfying or significant connotation.


I've a dozen reasons
The singer has many reasons for their perspectives or opinions.


Lying on the shelf
These reasons are not currently being used or referenced.


be feature back rows
These reasons are probably not the most prominent or well-known ones, or are perhaps overlooked.


Filed away
The reasons are organized and stored for future reference.


No point pretending
It is not productive to deny or ignore important truths or facts.


Change is here to stay
The world is constantly changing, and this is a reality that we must accept and adapt to.


3 and 9 to 45
The combination of these numbers is significant or has a specific meaning.


Decimal romance
The way we describe numbers and mathematical concepts is often poetic or romanticized.


If you've warmed to centigrade
If you prefer the metric system to imperial units.


You stand a sporting chance
The artist is implying that having certain preferences or beliefs can lead to positive outcomes or success.


I'm not so special
The singer is acknowledging that they are not unique or exceptional.


You're a misfit too
The singer is addressing a listener who may also feel different or out of place in certain circumstances.


Why must they interfere
The singer is questioning the motives of others who would try to interfere with their way of life or beliefs.


In everything we do?
The artist is wondering why people feel the need to judge, control, or manipulate others.


Should we play safe now
The artist is considering whether it is better to be cautious and avoid risks.


Or go all the way?
The singer is questioning whether it is better to dive in and take on challenges.


Six and two threes now
Two options are equally viable or have equivalent value.


More I cannot say
The artist has reached the end of what they can express about this topic.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW MACKAY, ANDREW EDWIN MACKAY, BRYAN FERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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00:00 - The Thrill of It All
06:23 - Three and Nine
10:27 - All I Want Is You
13:20 - Out of the Blue
18:06 - If It Takes All Night
21:18 - Bitter-Sweet
26:08 - Triptych
29:17 - Casanova
32:42 - A Really Good Time
36:28 - Prairie Rose



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00:00 - The Thrill of It All
06:23 - Three and Nine
10:27 - All I Want Is You
13:20 - Out of the Blue
18:06 - If It Takes All Night
21:18 - Bitter-Sweet
26:08 - Triptych
29:17 - Casanova
32:42 - A Really Good Time
36:28 - Prairie Rose

@danielboone8748

I had forgotten how excellent this album is. Their best work, IMO.

@MichaelNoone

A brilliant track from RM. The thrill of it all takes some beating..

@Treviscoe

I think Prairie Rose (which I'm listening to now) is the best one.

@MichaelNoone

Out of the blue is a masterpiece of lyrics and composition.

@vg6335

Of course!

@jozefbalaz1891

Wonderful, excellent album

@paddymeboy

Shame the cover has been 'sensitivity edited'...fantastic album though, shamefully underrated.
I love that, at the height of RM's coolness and creativity, Bryan Ferry wrote a protest song about decimalisation (Three and Nine). Rock 'n' Roll!

@curly_wyn

Y’know what? I actually think the blank cover with just the title label is actually kind of cool. It gives the album some intrigue.

@paddymeboy

@@curly_wyn Or...it's just a bit of evergreen foliage in the dark. :) I have to admit it would save some bother like that, I feel I have to hide the cover from the kids.

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