9 by Willow Lyrics Meaning – The Submerged Emotions in Willow’s Oceanic Ballad
Lyrics
I can see sky from here
Please, remember, all you’ve taught her
I can see God from here
If only I could stay, if only I could stay for you
I would, try
If only I could wait, if only I could wait for you
I would, fly
If only I could stay, if only I could pray
If only I could wait, if only you could stay
Up, up in your zone, yes, you’re all alone
Yes, I’m all alone
Not negative, just different
You wanna have lunch, and I wanna have a picnic
You wanna go up
I wanna just fly all night
‘Cause baby, you
Got me tied up in this love thing, it’s tough ’cause I
Want to love you but you, keep being so afraid, afraid
If only I could stay, if only you could stay
Up, up in your zone, yes you’re all alone, yes, I’m all alone
Getting in the car, we cruisin’
Going down the PCH, I’m gonna to get a smoothie
Never had a problem, but I know that you gon’ do this
‘Cause you the smoothest
Blue is the emotion, that I’m feeling
Apology’s an option, let me hear it
What took you so long to finish your storm, son?
Not negative, just different
You wanna go out, I wanna finish living
You wanna get up (up, up)
When I could just lay all day, with you
I could just stay all day, with you
Hey baby, you’re sack of potatoes
We could grow eyes for later, moments to savor
We made
We made, we made art, art
I can’t stop, stop
You’ve blown away, away, away
I don’t play wanna no more
I’m not a kid no more
I’ve did some things, that you can see
That I’ve been gone away
That I have room to be whom I want to be
And you don’t even talk to me
It’s three, it’s three, it’s me
It’s Moi, it’s Jay, it’s all these days
My days are numbered
You can come through
In a world where the superficial often takes precedence, Willow Smith, known mononymously as Willow, plunges into the depths with ‘9’, a track that resonates with the raw and the real. The song, stripped of pretense, invites listeners to dive into an introspective journey, exploring themes of love, identity, and existential musings.
Willow’s ethereal vocals blend with the song’s minimalist production to create a soundscape that is as haunting as it is beautiful. Each lyric is infused with meaning, their weight heavier beneath the surface simplicity of the words. The song, a part of Willow’s discography, continues to showcase her evolution as an artist unafraid to tackle the complexities of her inner world.
Underwater Breathing: The Liberation in Letting Go
The opening lines of ‘9’ create a juxtaposition that is as striking as it is serene – ‘Breathing is easier under water / I can see sky from here.’ Here lies an allegory for diving deep into one’s emotions, a place where clarity is found not in the air but submerged in water. It suggests an inner peace that can only be achieved by embracing what is below the surface, symbolizing a profound connection with the self that’s often elusive.
Moreover, the ability to ‘see God’ denotes a moment of epiphany, transcendent and pure. The song suggests that in the depths, far from the noise and distraction of the surface, lies the purest form of enlightenment, personal and untouched by external influence.
The Push and Pull of Love’s Gravity
‘If only I could stay, if only I could stay for you / I would, try.’ The motif of desire against the current of circumstance weaves through ‘9’ with the elegance of a ballet dancer. It’s a tension between what the heart yearns for and what reality demands, a universal struggle that listeners can’t help but resonate with.
The repeated ‘if only’ is a phrase laden with regret and longing, a wish to be somewhere else, with someone else, under different conditions. It speaks to the sacrifices we consider and the internal tug-of-war love incites.
A Cosmic Loneliness: The Song’s Hidden Meaning
‘9’ carries a cryptic title that on the surface might elude even the most astute listener, but as one deciphers the song’s lyrical fabric, it could represent the completeness one shy of a perfect ten, a sense of near-completion in life’s cycle or personal relationships. Willow sings of isolation even when connected with someone, an introspective revelation that we all exist in our spheres.
The mention of being ‘up in your zone’ and simultaneously ‘all alone’ captures the paradox of human relationships: the possibility of feeling isolated even in the closest of proximities. Here, ‘9’ is not just a number but a representation of a personal state of being.
Memorable Lines: Potatoes, Eyes, and Art
‘Hey baby, you’re a sack of potatoes / We could grow eyes for later, moments to savor.’ In this unexpected and almost surreal line, Willow crafts a metaphor that is whimsical yet poignant. Potatoes, mundane and earthy, with the potential to grow ‘eyes’ over time symbolize the growth and experiences gathered in a relationship, these moments that transform into memories worth savoring.
There is a beauty in the simplicity and grounded nature of the imagery, suggestive of Willow’s desire for an organic and evolving love. It reflects a longing for connection that is as real and enduring as the earth itself.
Flight from Youth: An Inevitable Parting
The final verse of ‘9’ brings with it the bittersweet acceptance of change: ‘I don’t play wanna no more / I’m not a kid no more.’ It’s an acknowledgment of the passage of time and the growth that inevitably accompanies it. Adulthood brings with it a different set of freedoms and constraints, and the song captures this transition with aching accuracy.
When Willow states ‘That I’ve been gone away / That I have room to be whom I want to be,’ she captures the essence of personal evolution, a hard-fought emancipation from the chains of former selves or perceptions. It is a call to listeners to reckon with their paths and embrace the transformative journey of self.
