# The Number 9 to Nowhere **[Intro]** [Station clock. Distant steam. Four metallic rail clicks settle into the beat.] *(Station voices, distant)* Nine... Number Nine... Nine... [Drums and bass enter like wheels beginning to turn.] **[Verse 1]** Quarter to nine by the station clock A ribbon of red on his gabardine The platform shuddered, the buffers knocked The last little colour the town had seen Behind him somewhere, a stair held still *(come back...)* Ahead of him waited the whistle's shrill *(come back...)* **[Pre-Chorus]** "All aboard!" — and the signal fell A whistle answered the station bell No destination on the sign — Just **NOWHERE** underneath the **NINE** **[Chorus]** Nobody knows where Number Nine goes *(where does it go?)* Nobody knows where it ends Nobody knows what Number Nine knows When the straight iron railway bends Ride, ride — don't look behind *(ride, ride...)* Ride, ride — leave grey behind Nobody knows where Number Nine goes Nine to nowhere... nine to nowhere... **[Instrumental]** [12-string riff over accelerating wheel rhythm; tack piano answers in short ascending figures.] **[Verse 2]** Chimneys went backward, shop windows ran The town folded flat like a map in his hand He saw his own window go small in the glass And heard from the wheels: *(Backing, rhythmic)* Let it pass — let it pass — Let it pass — let it pass — The square became rooftops, the rooftops a line The line disappeared underneath Number Nine **[Chorus]** Nobody knows where Number Nine goes *(where does it go?)* Nobody knows where it ends Nobody knows what Number Nine knows When the straight iron railway bends Ride, ride — don't look behind *(come back down...)* Ride, ride — leave grey behind *(come back down...)* Nobody knows where Number Nine goes Nine to nowhere... nine to nowhere... **[Instrumental Break]** [Rail clatter loops and phases; bass and drums tighten. The sound of the wheels gradually resembles voices.] *(Wheels / backing)* Not yet... not yet... Not yet... not yet... **[Bridge]** *(Percival)* Not yet, not yet — I've only seen One ribbon through the grey Not yet, not yet — let Number Nine Carry me away *(Shadow, very distant)* Come back down... *(Percival)* Not yet. *(Wheels)* Not yet... not yet... not yet... [Reverse cymbal. Train whistle. Full band crashes back in.] **[Verse 3]** The houses were gone and the signals were few The sky had forgotten if grey could be blue Then one little drop touched the carriage pane — *(tap...)* No more than a teaspoon, A teaspoon of rain *(rain... rain...)* **[Final Chorus: fuller harmonies, brass and Mellotron]** Nobody knows where Number Nine goes *(where does it go?)* Nobody knows where it ends Nobody knows **what waits past the window** When the straight iron railway bends Ride, ride — don't look behind *(ride, ride...)* Ride, ride — leave grey behind *(rain on the line...)* Nobody knows where Number Nine goes Nine to nowhere... nine to nowhere... **[Post-Chorus: train rhythm continues, vocals layered]** Nine to nowhere *(nowhere...)* Nine to nowhere *(not yet...)* Nine to nowhere *(come back...)* Nine... **[Outro]** [The band gradually drops away until only rail rhythm, carriage ambience and Mellotron remain.] *(Percival, distant)* Not yet... *(Shadow, almost inaudible)* Come back... *(tap...)* *(tap... tap...)* A teaspoon of rain... [Train disappears into tape hiss. Rain remains.]
