The band released its first LP, 'Wonderworld of Colourful', in 1998. It was followed later that year by a four-song EP. Several songs found frequent airplay in U.S. and Canadian college rock stations. A retooled lineup of the Nines released 'Properties of Sound' in 2001. Its latest work is 'Calling Distance Stations', released in 2006.
It Hurts You
The Nines Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, my nigga we greater than friends
All we know is the beginning, nobody controls the way that it ends
I got, the weight of the world on my shoulders
And one phone call can change it, make it fall 'til I'm all caved in
My homie got shot and it's not looking good for him
No, this is not happening, knock on wood for him
Speeding to the hospital crying, asking God, "Why?"
This is not happening to me
My homie will not, and I repeat will NOT flat line on me
How can I explain this vividly to your moms
That this is behind entertainment? She won't get it
All she understands is the boy that she raised just might
Die in a hospital bed fighting for his life
I'm praying, standing over you
Looking at you hooked up to a machine, holding your hand, saying
[Chorus: Ingrid Smalls (Royce)]
Don't you go nowhere, stay here with me
Cause if you leave me, it hurts so bad
(Death is certainly goin' catch you)
They can take me
(Whoever especially you will be left hurt)
I'll take yo' place
(This is the cold, harshness of life)
(Just when it unfolds you lucky to grow old, life!)
Cause it hurts so bad
[Royce Da 5'9"]
You tearing our team apart
Though time heals all of our wounds it's still leaving a mark
I took it too far; the feeling
That's hidden deep in my heart, comes out, when I look at the scar
And I can't kill, nobody to get you back
Nigga that's something that time can't heal
While I'm saying my grace
I'll be looking up at the sky, and telling God that he's making a mistake
You can't take away one brother and leave the rest of the clique
Lord please, double check yo' list
And if you get to his name and it's a check beside it
Death comes in three's, take me next
But don't make me sweat, please
I won't make it, I get restless speculating
Sons should bury mothers
Every mother don't wanna bury her son, they saying
[Chorus]
[Interlude: Royce + Cha Cha]
Death is certainly gon' catch you
Whoever especially you will be left hurt
This is the cold, harshness of life
Just when it unfolds you lucky to grow old, life!
[Royce Da 5'9"]
(And) Death is not no option
I'm pulling money outta my pocket tryin to con the doctor
Please, treat this thug the way you would treat yo' baby
The way that you would treat yo' blood, I'll pay!
As heavyweight as we are, I know how you medics are
Cause I be checking ER everyday
I know we are a hairful, but doc
This ain't one of them that came through shot that should of been careful
Cause no dude could bleed, the way his heart pumps
More than any patient that rode through that you seen
The reason that he's my man
Cause I tell him if he can hear me to squeeze my hand and he squeezes
So I tell him some things
Don't let them machines help you breathe, don't leave from receiving
'Round quarter to eight, his moms is sleeping
His grip weakens, his squiggly lines go straight (go straight)
Call the doctor, "Give him all you got!
Shock him!" He goin' tell you it's too late
Call the doctor, "Give him all you got!
Shock him!" It's too late
[Chorus]
And death!
The lyrics to The Nines's song "It Hurts You" delve into the emotional turmoil experienced by the singer after his friend is shot and hospitalized. The first verse depicts the weight on the singer's shoulders as he realizes the gravity of the situation. He expresses his disbelief and fear, questioning why such a tragedy has occurred. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and desperation as he rushes to the hospital, barely comprehending the reality of the situation. He grapples with the thought that his friend may not survive, and his pain is intensified by the difficulty of explaining the situation to his friend's mother.
The chorus, sung by Ingrid Smalls, delivers a poignant plea for the friend not to leave, as their departure would cause immense pain. The lyrics suggest that death may be imminent, further emphasizing the singer's desperation to keep his friend alive. He offers to take his friend's place if necessary, highlighting the deep bond between them. The verse continues with the singer acknowledging the impact this tragedy has on their friendship, with the scars left both physically and emotionally. He realizes that time cannot heal all wounds and expresses his frustration at not being able to avenge his friend's situation. The singer pleads with a higher power, suggesting that if anyone must be taken, it should be him rather than his friend.
In the interlude, the lyrics reinforce the harshness of life and the inevitability of death. The singer contemplates the fragility of life and expresses gratitude for growing old, knowing that death will eventually catch up to them all. The final verse reveals the singer's desperation to save his friend, even attempting to bribe the doctor. He pleads for his friend to be treated with the utmost care, comparing their bond to that of family. The lyrics highlight the singer's knowledge of the healthcare system, indicating his constant presence in the emergency room. The singer points out the uniqueness of his friend's resilience, emphasizing that his heart pumps stronger than any other patient. However, despite the singer's efforts and communication with his friend, the lyrics ultimately convey a sense of hopelessness as the situation takes a turn for the worse. The repetitive call to shock the patient indicates the final attempt to save his life, but it is too late.
The lyrics of "It Hurts You" capture the singer's anguish and desperation as he grapples with the impending loss of his friend. The song explores themes of friendship, grief, and the fragility of life, eliciting deep emotions in the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, my nigga we greater than friends
Our bond is stronger than just friendship
All we know is the beginning, nobody controls the way that it ends
We can't predict or control how our relationship will end
I got, the weight of the world on my shoulders
I feel immense pressure and responsibility
And one phone call can change it, make it fall 'til I'm all caved in
A single phone call can completely devastate me
My homie got shot and it's not looking good for him
My friend has been shot and his condition is critical
No, this is not happening, knock on wood for him
I refuse to believe this is real, hoping for the best
Speeding to the hospital crying, asking God, "Why?"
Frantically rushing to the hospital, in tears, questioning God
I'm mashing, my car moving as fast as my mind
Driving as fast as my thoughts and emotions
This is not happening to me
I can't accept that this tragedy is affecting me
My homie will not, and I repeat will NOT flat line on me
I refuse to accept the possibility of my friend dying
How can I explain this vividly to your moms
How do I convey the gravity of this situation to your mother
That this is behind entertainment? She won't get it
She won't understand that this is the reality beyond entertainment
All she understands is the boy that she raised just might
She only comprehends that her son is in danger
Die in a hospital bed fighting for his life
He might lose his life while battling in a hospital bed
I'm praying, standing over you
I'm praying while standing by your side
Looking at you hooked up to a machine, holding your hand, saying
Observing you connected to medical devices, gripping your hand, expressing
Don't you go nowhere, stay here with me
Please don't leave, stay with me
Cause if you leave me, it hurts so bad
The pain will be unbearable if you depart
(Death is certainly goin' catch you)
(Death is bound to reach you)
(Whoever especially you will be left hurt)
(You, in particular, will leave behind grieving hearts)
(This is the cold, harshness of life)
(This represents the brutal reality of existence)
(Just when it unfolds you lucky to grow old, life!)
(Only when it unfolds do you consider yourself fortunate to grow old, life!)
You tearing our team apart
Your absence is causing our group to disintegrate
Though time heals all of our wounds it's still leaving a mark
Even though time may heal, the scars will remain
I took it too far; the feeling
I went too far with my emotions
That's hidden deep in my heart, comes out, when I look at the scar
The suppressed pain in my heart resurges when I see the scar
And I can't kill, nobody to get you back
I can't harm anyone to bring you back
Nigga that's something that time can't heal
That's something that even time can't fix
While I'm saying my grace
While I'm praying for forgiveness
I'll be looking up at the sky, and telling God that he's making a mistake
I'll gaze at the sky and plea to God, convinced he's mistaken
You can't take away one brother and leave the rest of the clique
You can't snatch one of us and leave the others behind
Lord please, double check yo' list
Dear God, please reconsider
And if you get to his name and it's a check beside it
And if you reach his name with a mark beside it
Death comes in three's, take me next
Traditionally there's a pattern of three deaths, so take me as the next one
But don't make me sweat, please
But please don't make me endure anxiety
I won't make it, I get restless speculating
I won't be able to handle it, I'm anxious just thinking
Sons should bury mothers
Children should outlive their parents
Every mother don't wanna bury her son, they saying
Mothers never desire to bury their sons, that's what people say
Death is certainly gon' catch you
Death will inevitably catch up to you
Whoever especially you will be left hurt
Particularly you, the pain of loss will be overwhelming
This is the cold, harshness of life
This represents the brutal reality of existence
Just when it unfolds you lucky to grow old, life!
Only when life unfolds do you consider growing old a stroke of luck
(And) Death is not no option
(And) Death is not an option
I'm pulling money outta my pocket tryin to con the doctor
I'm desperately trying to bribe the doctor with money
Please, treat this thug the way you would treat yo' baby
Please show the same care to me as you would to your own child
The way that you would treat yo' blood, I'll pay!
I'll pay any amount to receive the same treatment as your own family
As heavyweight as we are, I know how you medics are
Despite our influence, I know the reality of how doctors operate
Cause I be checking ER everyday
Because I visit the emergency room regularly
I know we are a handful, but doc
I understand we can be difficult, but doctor
This ain't one of them that came through shot that should of been careful
This situation isn't like previous gunshot victims who may have been reckless
Cause no dude could bleed, the way his heart pumps
Because no one else could bleed as intensely as his heart beats
More than any patient that rode through that you seen
More than any other patient you've encountered
The reason that he's my man
He is my close friend and that's why
Cause I tell him if he can hear me to squeeze my hand and he squeezes
Whenever I ask him to, he squeezes my hand as a sign of acknowledgment
So I tell him some things
Therefore, I confide in him
Don't let them machines help you breathe, don't leave from receiving
Don't rely on the machines to assist your breathing, don't give up on seeking treatment
'Round quarter to eight, his moms is sleeping
Around 7:45, his mother is asleep
His grip weakens, his squiggly lines go straight (go straight)
His grip becomes weaker, and the irregular lines on the monitor become straight
Call the doctor, "Give him all you got! Shock him!" He goin' tell you it's too late
Inform the doctor, "Do everything possible! Shock him!" But the doctor will proclaim it's too late
Call the doctor, "Give him all you got! Shock him!" It's too late
Contact the doctor, "Do everything possible! Shock him!" But it's already too late
And death!
And death!
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CARLOS BROADY, RYAN MONTGOMERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@RidwanAhmedArnob
This song cures depression and sends you in it at the same time.
@ChronicCheater
Agreed. Very fine line.
@flozza1943
Ridwan Ahmed You know this song is about depression right?
@kraeckelium
it makes you aware of your state, it doesn't cure it.
@bothi00
This song's about heroin addiction...
@headofvengarl8893
Tobo: well, it's about a lot of things I guess. It could be about the main character from The Downward Spiral looking back after suicide, but it could be about depression, but it could be about drug addiction.
@overtrist
It's crazy to me how every single version of this song seems to have its own meaning. The album version is downright depressing, the older live versions are filled with far more cynicism, while this one has a slight feeling of hope to it, warmth even I'd say. On top of that we have the Johnny Cash cover which also stands on its own. It takes one hell of a talented songwriter and performer to create something like this.
@peterplaysbass
a few major piano notes starting near 2:18 help give this version a feeling of hope
@jacek-jan
Core of this song is like soup base. By changing receipe a little, you could get quite different taste. From creepy warning by warm chicken soup to your soul to great farewell from great man.
@pudlmaker
I have yet to find the version that is on the CD that I own.