Cloud Nine
The Temptations
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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 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, 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 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 Cloud nine, and ev'ry 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
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Written by: Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Era & Genre"Cloud Nine," released in 1968, marked The Temptations' transition into a newer sound called psychedelic soul or funk, which was a fusion of soul, R&B and psychedelic rock.
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Award RecognitionThe song won The Temptations their first Grammy Award in 1969 for Best Rhythm & Blues Group Performance, Vocal or Instrumental.
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Chart Success"Cloud Nine" reached the number six position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and held the number two spot on the R&B chart.
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Line-up ChangeThis was the first single featuring Dennis Edwards, who replaced David Ruffin as the lead vocalist of The Temptations.
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Controversial ThemeThe song is often interpreted as a reflection of substance abuse, specifically referencing the use of drugs as a means of escaping life's problems. However, Otis Williams of The Temptations has stated that the song is about the poverty-stricken childhood he and many African Americans experienced.
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Ensemble Singing"Cloud Nine" abandoned the previous "one lead singer" trend of The Temptations, and instead, various members of the band take turns on lead vocals throughout the song. This set the pattern for the band's following singles as well.
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Pioneering HitThe song is often considered a precursor to the "psychedelic soul" genre, paving the way for future hits by the band in a similar style, such as "Psychedelic Shack" and "Ball of Confusion."
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Album Success"Cloud Nine" is also the title track of The Temptations' 1969 album, which reached number four on the Billboard Pop Albums chart.
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Influential ProducerThe song was produced by Norman Whitfield, who is usually credited for steering The Temptations' direction towards a more socially-conscious and mature sound.
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Long Lasting InfluenceThe groundbreaking sound of "Cloud Nine" influenced many other Motown artists and has often been sampled by hip-hop artists, testament to its continued relevance and influence in modern music.
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"Cloud Nine Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/2091510/The+Temptations/Cloud+Nine>.
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