Cloud Nine
Rising Above Adversity: Marvin Gaye's Cloud Nine Journey
Lyrics
Childhood part of my life, it wasn't very pretty
Describes a difficult childhood, not aesthetically pleasing.
You see, I was born and raised in the slums of the city
Explains being born and raised in impoverished urban conditions.
It was a one room shack that slept ten other children besides me
Details living in a crowded one-room shack with many siblings.
We hardly had enough food or room to sleep
Highlights scarcity of food and cramped living conditions.
It was hard times
Expresses the difficulty of those times.
Needed something to ease my troubled mind
Expresses the need for something to ease mental distress.
Listen! my father didn't know the meaning of work
Portrays the father as lacking a work ethic and mistreating the family.
He disrespected mama, and treated us like dirt
Depicts disrespect towards the mother and harsh treatment of the family.
I left home, seekin' a job that I never did find
Narrates leaving home in search of employment without success.
Depressed and downhearted I took to cloud nine
States feeling depressed, leading to seeking solace in "cloud nine."
I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine
Affirms feeling content and elevated on cloud nine.
Listen one more time I'm doin' fine, up here on cloud nine
Reiterates the positive state on cloud nine.
Folks down there tell me
Refers to advice from people below encouraging self-discovery.
They say, "give yourself a chance son, don't let life pass you by"
Shares advice to give life a chance and not let it pass by.
But the world of reality is a rat race where only the strongest survive
Describes the harsh reality as a competitive environment.
It's a dog eat dog world, and that ain't no lie
Uses "dog eat dog world" metaphor for a competitive and harsh world.
Listen, it ain't even safe no more to walk the streets at night
Expresses the lack of safety walking the streets at night.
I'm doin' fine, on cloud nine
Reiterates the positive state on cloud nine.
Let me tell you about cloud nine
Introduces the theme of "cloud nine" and its positive aspects.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
Describes the freedom on cloud nine to be what one wants to be.
(Cloud nine) You ain't got no responsibility
Highlights the absence of responsibilities on cloud nine.
And every man, every man is free
Emphasizes the universal freedom experienced on cloud nine.
(Cloud nine) And you're a million miles from reality
Underlines the distance from harsh reality on cloud nine.
I wanna say I love the life I live
Expresses love for the current life on cloud nine.
And I'm gonna live the life I love up here on cloud nine
Declares the intention to live the preferred life on cloud nine.
I'm riding high
Expresses a feeling of euphoria and being on a high.
On cloud nine, you're as free as a bird in flight
Compares the freedom on cloud nine to a bird in flight.
(cloud nine) There's no difference between day and night
Reiterates the lack of distinction between day and night on cloud nine.
(cloud nine) It's a world of love and harmony
Describes cloud nine as a world of love and harmony.
(cloud nine) You're a million miles from reality
Emphasizes the distance from harsh reality on cloud nine.
Cloud nine, you can be what you wanna be
Reiterates the freedom to be what one wants to be on cloud nine.
Cloud nine) You ain't got no responsibility
Restates the absence of responsibilities on cloud nine.
And every man, every man is free
Emphasizes universal freedom experienced on cloud nine.
(cloud nine) And you're a million miles from reality
Underlines the distance from harsh reality on cloud nine.
(cloud nine) (cloud nine) (cloud nine)
Repeats the mention of cloud nine, reinforcing the theme.
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