The group has released three original studio albums: First and Last and Always (1985), Floodland (1987), and Vision Thing (1990). Each album was recorded by a different line-up; singer-songwriter Andrew Eldritch and the drum machine called Doktor Avalanche are the only points of continuity throughout. Eldritch and Avalanche were also involved in The Sisterhood, a side-project connected with Eldritch's dispute with former members.
The Sisters of Mercy ceased recording activity in the early 1990s, when they went on strike against East West Records, whom they accused of incompetence and withholding royalties, and had pressured the group to release at least two more studio albums; instead, the label released the album Go Figure under the moniker SSV in 1997. Although the Sisters of Mercy were eventually released from their contract with East West, they have never been signed to another label nor released any new material, despite showcasing numerous new songs in their live sets.
Former members of the group established the bands Ghost Dance and The Mission.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sisters_of_Mercy
Discography
First and Last and Always (1985)
Floodland (1987)
Vision Thing (1990)
Some Girls Wander by Mistake (compilation, 1992)
A Slight Case of Overbombing (compilation, 1993)
Nine While Nine
The Sisters of Mercy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm waiting for the train
Caught up on this line again
And it's passing slowly
Killing time but it's better
Than living in what will come
And I've still got some
And I thought sometimes
Or I read too much and I think you know
Let's drink to the dead lying under the water
And the cost of the blood on the driven snow
And the lipstick on my cigarettes
Frost upon the window pane
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
She said, "Do you remember a time when angels?
Do you remember a time when fear
In the days when I was stronger
In the days when you were here"
She said, "When days had no beginning
While days had no end when shadows grew no longer
I knew no other friend but you were wild"
You were wild
Frost upon these cigarettes
Lipstick on the window pane
And I've lost all sense of the world outside
But I can't forget so I call your name
And I'm looking for a life for me
And I'm looking for a life for you
And I'm talking to myself again
And it's so damn cold it's just not true
And I'm walking through the rain
Trying to hold on waiting for the train
And I'm only looking for what you want
But it's lonely here and I think you knew
And I'm, and I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
I'm waiting for the train
The Sisters of Mercy's song Nine While Nine is a melancholic introspective work about the struggle of the singer to cope with his or her own thoughts while enduring the dull, repetitive routine of day-to-day life. The lyrics convey a sense of despair and isolation, as the singer is lost in nostalgic memories of a time that has gone by ("Do you remember a time when angels? / Do you remember a time when fear..."), and ponders the fate of those who have left this world ("Let's drink to the dead lying under the water / And the cost of blood on the driven snow"). The repetition of "Nine while nine" creates the feeling of being trapped in time, waiting for something that may never come, yet hanging on to a faint hope of a better future. The singer's longing for a life for him or herself and for the other person in the song underscores the sense of loss and the search for meaning.
The song's lyrics are open to interpretation, with some people speculating that the "you" in the song refers to a former lover or a deceased person, and that the train symbolizes a sense of escape or a journey to the afterlife. The repeated references to smoking ("lipstick on my cigarettes", "frost upon these cigarettes") could suggest the harmful effects of this habit on the body and possibly on the psyche. The song's mood is enhanced by the atmospheric music, featuring guitar riffs, synth melodies, and a haunting vocal performance by Andrew Eldritch.
Line by Line Meaning
When it's passing strange
When life is unpredictable and confusing
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm stuck in a situation beyond my control
Caught up on this line again
Trapped in a repetitive cycle
And it's passing slowly
And time seems to drag on
Killing time but it's better
Doing something unproductive but preferable to facing reality
Than living in what will come
Than facing a future that is uncertain and possibly negative
And I've still got some
And I hold onto memories of you
Of your letters with me
Of the tangible reminders of our past
And I thought sometimes
And sometimes I wonder
Or I read too much and I think you know
Or maybe I am overthinking and you understand
Let's drink to the dead lying under the water
Let's honor those who have passed away
And the cost of the blood on the driven snow
And let's acknowledge the sacrifices and suffering endured
And the lipstick on my cigarettes
And the traces of you that I still hold onto
Frost upon the window pane
The coldness that surrounds me
Nine while nine
Late at night, waiting for the train at 9:09 pm
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm still stuck in this unchanging, mundane routine
She said, "Do you remember a time when angels?
She reminisced about a mystical, idyllic past
Do you remember a time when fear
Where we were not plagued by anxieties and doubts
In the days when I was stronger
When I was more confident in myself
In the days when you were here"
When we were together
She said, "When days had no beginning
She recalled a time when everything felt endless
While days had no end when shadows grew no longer
When darkness was not as pervasive
I knew no other friend but you were wild"
When I only had you as my companion, and you were free-spirited
Frost upon these cigarettes
The chill that permeates everything
Lipstick on the window pane
The marks that you left behind
And I've lost all sense of the world outside
I've become detached from reality
But I can't forget so I call your name
But I still cling to memories of you and call out for you
And I'm looking for a life for me
And I'm searching for a more meaningful existence
And I'm looking for a life for you
And I'm hoping to find a better future for you too
And I'm talking to myself again
And I'm grappling with my own thoughts and emotions
And it's so damn cold it's just not true
And the starkness of reality is difficult to bear
And I'm walking through the rain
And I'm enduring the struggles and hardships of life
Trying to hold on waiting for the train
Struggling to persevere and hoping for a way out
And I'm only looking for what you want
And I'm trying to fulfill your wishes and dreams
But it's lonely here and I think you knew
But I still feel isolated and I believe you understood
And I'm, and I'm waiting
And I'm still waiting
And I wait in vain
But I fear that my efforts are futile
Nine while nine
Late at night, waiting for the train at 9:09 pm
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm still stuck in this unchanging, mundane routine
And I'm waiting
And I continue to wait
And I wait in vain
And I fear that my efforts will be for naught
Nine while nine
Late at night, waiting for the train at 9:09 pm
I'm waiting for the train
I'm still stuck in this unchanging, mundane routine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDREW ELDRITCH, GARY MARX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ines_dsf88
When it's passing strange
And I'm waiting for the train
Caught up on this line again
And it's passing slowly
Killing time but it's better
Than living in what will come
And I've still got some
Of your letters with me
And I thought sometimes
Or I read too much and I think you know
Let's drink to the dead lying under the water
And the cost of the blood on the driven snow
And the lipstick on my cigarettes
Frost upon the window pane
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
She said, "Do you remember a time when angels?
Do you remember a time when fear
In the days when I was stronger
In the days when you were here"
She said, "When days had no beginning
While days had no end when shadows grew no longer
I knew no other friend but you were wild"
You were wild
Frost upon these cigarettes
Lipstick on the window pane
And I've lost all sense of the world outside
But I can't forget so I call your name
And I'm looking for a life for me
And I'm looking for a life for you
And I'm talking to myself again
And it's so damn cold it's just not true
And I'm walking through the rain
Trying to hold on waiting for the train
And I'm only looking for what you want
But it's lonely here and I think you knew
And I'm, and I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
I'm waiting for the train
@russdadog
When it's passing strange
And I'm waiting for the train
Caught up on this line again
And it's passing slowly
Killing time but it's better
Than living in what will come
And I've still got some
Of your letters with me
And I thought sometimes
Or I read too much and I think you know
Let's drink to the dead lying under the water
And the cost of the blood on the driven snow
And the lipstick on my cigarettes
Frost upon the window pane
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
She said, "Do you remember a time when angels?
Do you remember a time when fear
In the days when I was stronger
In the days when you were here"
She said, "When days had no beginning
While days had no end when shadows grew no longer
I knew no other friend but you were wild"
You were wild
Frost upon these cigarettes
Lipstick on the window pane
And I've lost all sense of the world outside
But I can't forget so I call your name
And I'm looking for a life for me
And I'm looking for a life for you
And I'm talking to myself again
And it's so damn cold it's just not true
And I'm walking through the rain
Trying to hold on waiting for the train
And I'm only looking for what you want
But it's lonely here and I think you knew
And I'm, and I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
I'm waiting for the train
@rchester
Possibly the best song on an album that has all amazing songs
@edsa1318
totally agree Robert
@punkoid76
Easily one of their best songs.
@universalflamethrower6342
@@punkoid76 fact
@moretinga
I have been listening to this masterpiece since 1986, and this is my favorite song.
@WTD-gh7bc
I agree. My favorite!
@cynzia_d
This song is my favourite song of them. It reminds me of an episode of my life when I fell in love with a man who didn't understand my feelings on him. The station is the background, because we met the last time at that fucking railway station. It was 22 years ago. I have never forgotten about him and it was the wrong moment to have a relationship for both of us. Never seen him after that day. Eldtrich literally wrote this song for me 😭😂 ok life went on, I got married with another man, but... It seems first love never can be forgotten.
@peaceverywhe
I'm so in love with this song...
@eLiFILMSinc
Correct
@eLiFILMSinc
Haha I was gonna comment, turns out I was already here.... well done, me!!!!