Revolution 9
The Beats Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Bottle of claret for you if I'd realised.
Well, do next time.
I'd forgotten all about it, George, so I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?
Yes.
Cheeky bitch.

Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,
Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,
Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number

Then there's this Welsh Rarebit wearing some brown underpants
About the shortage of grain in Hertfordshire
Every one of them knew that as time went by
They'd get a little bit older and a little bit slower but
It's all the same thing, in this case manufactured by someone who's always
Umpteen times
Your fibres giving it diddly-i-dee
District was leaving, intended to pay for

Number 9, number 9

Who's to know?
Who was to know?

Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,
Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,
Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9

I sustained nothing worse than
Also spoken for
Whatever you're doing
A business deal falls through
I informed him on the third night
When fortune gives

Number 9, number 9, number 9

Right, right
Right, right, right, right
Right, right

9, number 9, number 9, number 9

I've missed all of that
It makes me a few days late
Compared with, like, wow!
And weird stuff like that
Taking our sides sometimes
Floral bark
Rouge doctors have brought this specimen

I have nobody's short-cuts, aha…

9, number 9

With the situation

They are standing still

The plan, the telegram

Ooh ooh

Number 9, number

Ooh

A man without terrors from beard to false
As the headmaster reported to me
My son he really can try as they do to find function
Who could tell what he was saying, and his voice was low and his hive was high
And his eyes were low

All right!

Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,
Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,
Number 9, number 9, number 9

So the wife called, and we'd better go to see a surgeon
Or whatever to price it
Right!
Yellow underclothes
So, any road, we went to see the dentist instead
Who gave her a pair of teeth which wasn't any good at all
So I said I'd marry, join the bloody Navy and went to sea

In my broken chair, my wings are broken and so is my hair
I am not in the mood for wearing

Um da
Aaah

How?
The dogs were dogging, the cats were catting
The birds were birding, and the fish were fishing
The men were themming, and the when were whimming

Only to find the night-watchman
Unaware of his presence in the building

Onion soup

Number 9, number 9, number 9,
Number 9, number 9, number 9

Industrial output
Financial imbalance

Thrusting it between his shoulder blades

The Watusi
The Twist

El Dorado

Take this, brother, may it serve you well

Maybe it's nothing
Aaah
Maybe it's not that; it's
What? What? Oh

Maybe even then
Exposures in London
It's a difficulty being
By exposure
Because it's almost like being naked

If you become naked

That line
Hold that line
Hold that line
Hold that line
Hold that line

Block that kick
Block that kick
Block that kick
Block that kick
Block that kick
Block that kick
Block that kick




Block that kick
Block that kick

Overall Meaning

The Beatles' Revolution 9 is a strange and unconventional song from their White Album. The lyrics are made up of repetitious phrases of "number 9," disjointed words, and seemingly random phrases. The song opens with a conversation between two people, discussing a bottle of claret that was forgotten and apologizing for it. The phrase "Cheeky Bitch" is thrown in at the end, but it's unclear who or what it's referring to.


The song then continues with loops of repeating phrases, seemingly unrelated to each other. There are mentions of Welsh Rarebit, a grain shortage in Hertfordshire, and medical procedures gone awry. The song also includes snippets of random phrases and sounds, such as "The Twist," "El Dorado," and "Onion Soup." The lyrics overall create a sense of confusion, randomness, and chaos. The title of the song likely refers to the repeated use of the phrase "number 9," which is thought to have been a reference to the opening of the BBC's Radiophonic Workshop.


Line by Line Meaning

Bottle of claret for you if I'd realised.
If I had known earlier, I would have gotten a bottle of claret for you as a congratulatory gift.


Well, do next time.
If there's a next time, I'll remember to get you a bottle of claret.


I'd forgotten all about it, George, so I'm sorry. Will you forgive me?
I forgot about the bottle of claret, George. I'm sorry, will you forgive me?


Yes.
Yes, I forgive you.


Cheeky bitch.
You're pretty bold for reminding me about the bottle of claret.


Number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9, number 9,
A repetitive chant of 'number 9,' hinting at the recurring theme of the song.


Then there's this Welsh Rarebit wearing some brown underpants
A seemingly random descriptor of something specific, similar to how the song presents an array of fragmented, random ideas.


About the shortage of grain in Hertfordshire
A mention of a real-world situation at the time, contributing to the stream-of-consciousness style of the song.


Every one of them knew that as time went by
All involved parties were aware that time will change things.


They'd get a little bit older and a little bit slower but
A continuation of the previous line, elaborating that the change will involve getting older and slower.


It's all the same thing, in this case manufactured by someone who's always
Implying that repetition and monotony are inevitable, no matter who's responsible for it.


Umpteen times
An unspecified but high number, further emphasizing the idea of repetition.


Your fibres giving it diddly-i-dee
A nonsensical phrase with no clear meaning or context.


District was leaving, intended to pay for
Another fragment that doesn't seem to have a clear connection to anything else in the song.


Who's to know?
A rhetorical question suggesting that there is no answer.


Who was to know?
Another variant of the previous line, further emphasizing the idea of uncertainty and questioning.


I sustained nothing worse than
An introduction to a statement about avoiding something negative.


Also spoken for
A statement about already being claimed or taken by someone else.


Whatever you're doing
An unclear phrase with no context or connection to previous statements.


A business deal falls through
A statement about experiencing a failed business arrangement.


I informed him on the third night
A statement about communicating with someone on the third night.


When fortune gives
An incomplete thought, leaving the listener to interpret its meaning.


Right, right
A repeated phrase with no clear context or connection to previous statements.


9, number 9, number 9, number 9
Another repetition of 'number 9,' building on the recurring theme of the song.


I've missed all of that
A statement about someone having missed something important.


It makes me a few days late
A statement suggesting that whatever was missed has caused a delay.


Compared with, like, wow!
An exclamation expressing amazement at something.


And weird stuff like that
A continuation of the previous thought, suggesting that the amazement is over something strange or unusual.


Taking our sides sometimes
A statement that doesn't seem to have a clear context or connection to previous statements.


Floral bark
An unclear phrase with no apparent meaning or context.


Rouge doctors have brought this specimen
An incomplete thought with no apparent meaning or context.


I have nobody's short-cuts, aha…
A statement suggesting that the artist doesn't have an easy way out of something.


With the situation
A short phrase that doesn't seem to have a clear meaning or reference.


They are standing still
A statement that could reference any number of things without additional context.


The plan, the telegram
A mention of two unrelated things, contributing to the song's fragmented style.


Ooh ooh
An unclear phrase with no context or connection to previous statements.


A man without terrors from beard to false
An unclear phrase with no apparent meaning or context.


As the headmaster reported to me
A statement referencing a headmaster reporting something to the singer.


My son he really can try as they do to find function
A statement about the singer's son attempting to find meaning or purpose in something.


Who could tell what he was saying, and his voice was low and his hive was high
A statement that doesn't seem to have a clear reference or meaning.


And his eyes were low
A statement about someone's physical appearance or condition that doesn't seem to have a clear context or reference.


All right!
An exclamation expressing excitement or agreement with something.


So the wife called, and we'd better go to see a surgeon
A statement about the wife calling and a suggestion that someone needs to see a surgeon.


Or whatever to price it
A statement with unclear context or reference.


Right!
An exclamation expressing agreement or affirmation.


Yellow underclothes
A nonsensical phrase with no clear meaning or context.


So, any road, we went to see the dentist instead
A statement that doesn't seem to have a clear relevance or connection to previous statements.


Who gave her a pair of teeth which wasn't any good at all
A statement about receiving dental treatment that didn't have the desired outcome.


So I said I'd marry, join the bloody Navy and went to sea
A statement suggesting the singer's reaction to the previous statement was to join the Navy and leave.


In my broken chair, my wings are broken and so is my hair
A statement referencing physical damage or impairment to the singer's chair, wings, and hair.


I am not in the mood for wearing
An incomplete thought that leaves the listener to interpret its meaning.


Um da
A nonsensical vocalization with no clear meaning or context.


Aaah
An exhalation expressing relief, surprise or pain.


The dogs were dogging, the cats were catting
A statement about domesticated animals performing their normal tasks or behaviors.


The birds were birding, and the fish were fishing
A continuation of the previous thought, referencing more animals in their normal activities.


The men were themming, and the when were whimming
A statement that doesn't seem to have a specific reference or meaning.


Only to find the night-watchman
A statement that suggests someone discovered the night-watchman.


Unaware of his presence in the building
A statement about the night-watchman not realizing someone was there.


Onion soup
A phrase that doesn't seem to have clear meaning or connection to previous statements.


Industrial output
An observation about industrial production or activity.


Financial imbalance
A statement about an uneven distribution of financial resources.


Thrusting it between his shoulder blades
A statement about an unspecified action involving someone's shoulder blades.


The Watusi
A dance style popular in the early 1960s.


The Twist
Another dance style popular in the early 1960s.


El Dorado
A legendary city or location often associated with gold and riches.


Take this, brother, may it serve you well
A statement offering something to someone to help them.


Maybe it's nothing
An uncertain statement that leaves the listener to guess its meaning.


Aaah
Another vocalization that could express various emotions or sensations depending on context.


Maybe it's not that; it's
A continuation of the previous thought, introducing the possibility of an alternative explanation or situation.


What? What? Oh
An expression of confusion or surprise.


Maybe even then
A statement suggesting an unresolved possibility that may someday be explained or realized.


Exposures in London
A statement that doesn't seem to have a clear meaning or context.


It's a difficulty being
An incomplete thought that leaves the listener to interpret its meaning.


By exposure
A statement that doesn't seem to have a clear meaning or context.


Because it's almost like being naked
An observation about a state of vulnerability or exposure.


If you become naked
A statement referencing the previous thought about vulnerability or exposure.


That line
A statement that doesn't seem to have a clear reference or context.


Hold that line
An instruction or suggestion to maintain a certain action or behavior.


Block that kick
An exclamation or instruction to stop an upcoming action or event.




Contributed by Callie G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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