Cloud Nine
The Temptations Review Lyrics


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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 ev'ry man, ev'ry 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'm riding high
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
(cloud nine) there's no diff'rence 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,
And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free




(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)

Overall Meaning

The Temptations Review's song "Cloud Nine" tells the story of a man who grew up in poverty and struggled to find his place in the world. He paints a vivid picture of his childhood, describing the one room shack he shared with ten other children and the constant struggle for food and space. His father was absent and abusive, which only added to his troubles. As he grows older, he sets out to find work but is met with disappointment and depression. It is only when he discovers "cloud nine" that he finally finds happiness and freedom.


"Cloud Nine" is a metaphor for a state of mind where one is free from the constraints of society and responsibilities. It represents a utopian escape from the harsh realities of life. The song speaks to the universal desire for freedom and the struggle to find one's place in the world. It also touches on themes of poverty, abuse, and the harshness of the world. Despite the serious subject matter, the song features an upbeat and catchy melody that creates a sense of joy and celebration.


Line by Line Meaning

Childhood part of my life, it wasn't very pretty.
I didn't have a pleasant childhood.


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


It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me.
My family lived in a small room with ten other children.


We hardly had enough food or room to sleep.
We didn't have much food or space to sleep.


It was hard times,
We were going through difficult times.


Needed something to ease my troubled mind.
I needed something to make me feel better.


Listen! my father didn't know the meaning of work,
My father didn't work.


He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt.
He was disrespectful to my mother and treated us badly.


I left home, seekin' a job that I never did find,
I left home to find a job, but I didn't find one.


Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine,
Feeling sad, I turned to an imaginary dream world called Cloud Nine.


I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine.
I feel good in my imaginary world.


Folks down there tell me,
People in the real world tell me,


They say, "give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by".
They tell me to give myself a chance and not give up on life.


But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive,
In the real world, it's a competition where only the strongest succeed.


It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie.
It's a cruel world where people will do anything to get ahead.


Listen! it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night,
It's not even safe to walk the streets at night anymore.


I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine.
But I'm still doing well in my imaginary world.


Let me tell you about cloud nine.
Let me explain what my dream world is like.


Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
In Cloud Nine, you can be whoever you want to be.


(cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
There are no responsibilities or obligations in Cloud Nine.


And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
Everyone in Cloud Nine is free from constraints and limitations.


(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
In Cloud Nine, you're far from the real world.


I wanna say I love the life I live,
I want to say that I love my life.


And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine.
And I'm going to continue living my dream life in Cloud Nine.


I'm riding high
I'm feeling great.


On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
In Cloud Nine, you're as free as a bird flying in the sky.


(cloud nine) there's no diff'rence between day and night
There's no distinction between day and night in Cloud Nine.


(cloud nine) it's a world of love and harmony
Cloud Nine is a world of love and peace.


(cloud nine) you're a million miles from reality.
In Cloud Nine, you're far from the real world.


Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
In Cloud Nine, you can be whoever you want to be.


(cloud nine) you ain't got no responsibility,
There are no responsibilities or obligations in Cloud Nine.


And ev'ry man, ev'ry man is free
Everyone in Cloud Nine is free from constraints and limitations.


(cloud nine) and you're a million miles from reality.
In Cloud Nine, you're far from the real world.


(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)
Repetition emphasizing the importance of Cloud Nine.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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