The recording began as an extended ending to the album version of "Revolution", to which were added vocal and music sound clips, tape loops, and sound effects influenced by the musique concrète styles of Karlheinz Stockhausen, Edgard Varèse, Luigi Nono, and John Cage, further manipulated with editing and sound modification techniques (stereo panning and fading). At over eight minutes, it is the longest track on the album, as well as the longest Beatles track ever officially released.
Revolution 9
The Beatles Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The repetition of "number nine" throughout the song Revolution 9 by The Beatles is a haunting and mysterious motif that adds to the overall avant-garde and experimental tone of the track. While the full meaning behind the repetition is left up to interpretation, it is speculated that it could represent a number of things such as the number of lives a cat has, or a reference to the number nine being associated with endings and new beginnings. Additionally, the repetition of the phrase could be a nod to the idea of looping, which is a prevalent theme throughout the song.
The use of repetition and looping throughout Revolution 9 is a prime example of The Beatles' willingness to experiment with different sounds and techniques in their music. The song features a collection of sounds and samples, including spoken word recordings, animal noises, and distorted vocals, which all fuse together to create a disturbing and disjointed soundscape. The song is a departure from the band's earlier, more structured and pop-oriented tracks, and instead, showcases their artistic range and willingness to push boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Mother Nature's Son
A really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on The Night Before
A really splendid Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on P.S. I Love You
Now this is a really great Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on There's a Place
A seriously underrated Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Do You Want to Know a Secret
A fantastic song by The Beatles.
Philip Kassabian
on When I'm Sixty-Four
A very tuneful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds
An excellent Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on I'm Looking Through You
A beautiful Beatles song.
Philip Kassabian
on Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Honestly The Beatles can't stop producing good songs.
Philip Kassabian
on Michelle
A fantastic Beatles song and absolutely beautiful.