Cloud Nine
The Temptations Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh ho, ho ho ho, ooh, hoo
Childhood part of my life, it wasn't very pretty
You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city
It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me
We hardly had enough food or room to sleep
It was hard times
Needed something to ease my troubled mind
Listen, my father didn't know the meaning of work
He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt
I left home, seekin' a job that I never did find
Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine
I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine
Listen one more time I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine
Folks down there tell me
They say, give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by
But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive
It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie
Listen, it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night
I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine
Let me tell you about cloud nine

Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
(Cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility
And every man, every man is free
(Cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality
I wanna say I love the life I live
And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine
I, I, I, I, I, I I'm riding high
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
(Cloud nine) there's no difference between day and night
(Cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
(Cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality

Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
Cloud nine you ain't got no responsibility
Cloud nine, and every man in this world is free




(Cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality
(Cloud nine) you can be what you wanna be

Overall Meaning

The Temptations's song Cloud Nine is a song that tells a story of poverty, oppression, and injustice. The song starts with the singer reflecting on his childhood and how it was difficult growing up in the slums of the city. He describes the cramped one-room shack that he shared with ten other siblings and how they hardly had enough food to eat. The father was an abusive character, disrespectful of the mother and neglectful of his children. The singer then narrates how he had to leave home in search of a job that he never found. Eventually, he found solace on cloud nine, a place where he could be free of responsibilities and struggles.


The lyrics suggest that cloud nine is a metaphorical place of escape from reality, where people can be whoever they want to be and not be weighed down by their struggles or responsibilities. The song also highlights the dog-eat-dog nature of the world and how only the strongest survive. The message of the song is that life can be challenging, and people need an escape from reality to cope with their struggles.


Line by Line Meaning

Childhood part of my life, it wasn't very pretty
My childhood was difficult and unpleasant.


You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city
I grew up in a poor and dangerous area of the city.


It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me
My living conditions were cramped and uncomfortable.


We hardly had enough food or room to sleep
We struggled to find enough food and space to get by.


It was hard times
Those were difficult times for me and my family.


Needed something to ease my troubled mind
I was looking for relief from my problems.


Listen, my father didn't know the meaning of work
My father was lazy and didn't want to work.


He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt
He treated my mother and us children very poorly.


I left home, seekin' a job that I never did find
I left home looking for work, but I was unsuccessful.


Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine
Feeling sad and hopeless, I turned to a fantasy world.


I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine
In my fantasy world, I feel great.


Folks down there tell me
People in the real world try to bring me back to reality.


They say, give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by
They encourage me to keep trying in the real world.


But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive
The real world is tough and competitive.


It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie
The real world is merciless and ruthless.


Listen, it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night
The real world is becoming increasingly dangerous.


Let me tell you about cloud nine
I want to describe my fantasy world to you.


Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
In my fantasy world, anything is possible.


(Cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility
In my fantasy world, there are no obligations or duties.


And every man, every man is free
In my fantasy world, everyone is free to do as they please.


(Cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality
My fantasy world is far removed from the harsh reality of the real world.


I wanna say I love the life I live
I enjoy the fantasy world that I have created for myself.


And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine
I plan to continue living in my fantasy world, even though it isn't real.


I, I, I, I, I, I I'm riding high
I feel great in my fantasy world.


On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
In my fantasy world, I feel a sense of freedom and liberation.


(Cloud nine) there's no difference between day and night
The passage of time doesn't matter in my fantasy world.


(Cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
My fantasy world is a peaceful and loving place.


(Cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality
Once again, my fantasy world is far removed from the harsh realities of the real world.


Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
One final reminder that in my fantasy world, anything is possible.




Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@denisefields7233

On cloud 9 you have no responsibility because you are up up and away ๐ŸŽˆ๐ŸŽˆ๐ŸŽˆyou can be what you want to be๐Ÿฅ€ May our deepest condolences go out to all of The Temptations โค๏ธ your beauty your style and your grace will never ever be forgotten along with your beautiful voices ๐Ÿฅ€ again we thank you so very much for everything that you have given to us and left behind as a legacy โค๏ธ๐Ÿฅ€๐ŸŽˆ๐Ÿฅ€โค๏ธ๐Ÿฅ€๐ŸŽˆ๐Ÿฅ€โค๏ธ๐Ÿฅ€๐ŸŽˆ๐Ÿฅ€

@dgray9020

Rest In Peace Mr Barrett Strong and Mr Norman Whitfield (Songwriters)

@ncast54

For those who of us who lived a rough childhood, my dad being a alcoholic Cloud 9 was my imagination , my escape to a world of having a normal family, a normal relationship.

@me-jh3fg

Poor children

@atlvirgo8456

That's so sad

@patriciajohnson6653

Amen Fam

@davidslindsayjr.9243

I sympathize with you my mother was the same way

@lucan4042

There is no Normal life. There's just life.

5 More Replies...

@terranesha5784

Paul's voice just knocked me out!!

@paul_williams_fans

Paul is a damn legend! He could sing anything, dance anything and he was pretty sexy haha

More Comments

More Versions