If 6 Was 9 – English Lyrics

• By: The Jimi Hendrix Experience

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the spirit of individuality with Jimi Hendrix's iconic song, 'If 6 Was 9'. Delve into the counterculture anthem, learn about its creation, and discover how it encourages listeners to embrace their true selves. Discover the meaning behind the lyrics and innovative studio techniques, and unlock the language of freedom and self-expression.

[English]

Yeah, sing a song for us

If the sun refused to shine

I don't mind, I don't mind (yeah)

If the mountains fell in the sea

Let it be, it ain't me (well alright)

I got my own world to look through, and ah

And I ain't gonna copy you

Yeah (it's alright)

Now, if a six turned out to be nine

I don't mind, oh, I don't mind (well alright)

If all the hippies cut off all their hair

I don't care, I don't care

Dig, 'cause I got my own world to live through, and ah

And I ain't gonna copy you

White-collar conservative flashing down the streets

Pointing their plastic finger at me

They're hoping soon my kind'll drop and die

But I'm, I'm gonna wave my freak flag high, high, wow!

...

Wave on, wave on

...

Fall mountains, just don't fall on me

Go 'head on Mr. Businessman

You can't dress like me, yeah

...

Don't nobody know what I'm talking about

I've got my own life to live

I'm the one that's gonna have to die

When it's time for me to die

So let me live my life

The way I want to, yeah

Sing on brother

Play on drummer

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
shine /ʃaɪn/ A1	verb - to emit light
mountain /ˈmaʊntən/ A1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
fall /fɔːl/ A1	verb - to drop or come down
copy /ˈkɒpi/ A2	verb - to imitate or reproduce
turn /tɜːrn/ A1	verb - to change direction or position
care /keər/ A1	verb - to feel concern or interest
conservative /kənˈsɜːrvətɪv/ B1	adjective - resistant to changes or new ideas
flash /flæʃ/ A2	verb - to shine suddenly and briefly
plastic /ˈplæstɪk/ A2	adjective - made of a synthetic material
hope /həʊp/ A1	verb - to want something to happen
wave /weɪv/ A1	verb - to move one's hand to greet or say goodbye
freak /friːk/ B1	noun - a person who is unusual or bizarre
dress /dres/ A1	verb - to put on clothes
live /lɪv/ A1	verb - to have life
die /daɪ/ A1	verb - to stop living

Key Grammar Structures

• I don't mind, I don't mind (yeah)

  ➔ present simple (negative)

  ➔ The word "don't" is the contracted form of "do not", used for the negative present simple.

• Let it be, it ain't me (well alright)

  ➔ imperative + colloquial contraction "ain't"

  ➔ The word "Let" introduces an imperative clause; "ain't" is a non‑standard contraction for "is not".

• I got my own world to look through, and ah

  ➔ present perfect / possession + infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The phrase "got" (short for "have got") shows possession; "to look" is an infinitive expressing purpose.

• Now, if a six turned out to be nine

  ➔ second conditional (past simple in if‑clause)

  ➔ The verb "turned" is in the past simple to express an unreal present or future condition.

• White‑collar conservative flashing down the streets

  ➔ present participle used as adjective

  ➔ The word "flashing" modifies "conservative" and describes an ongoing action.

• They're hoping soon my kind'll drop and die

  ➔ present continuous + future with "will" (contraction "'ll")

  ➔ "They're hoping" uses the present continuous to show an ongoing expectation; "kind'll" is the contraction of "kind will".

• I'm gonna wave my freak flag high, high, wow!

  ➔ "going to" future construction (informal "gonna")

  ➔ "gonna" is the informal contraction of "going to", used to talk about a planned action.

• Fall mountains, just don't fall on me

  ➔ imperative + negative imperative

  ➔ "Fall" is a direct command; "don't fall" uses "don't" to prohibit the action.

• You can't dress like me, yeah

  ➔ modal verb "can" in negative form + bare infinitive

  ➔ "can't" is the contraction of "cannot", followed by the bare infinitive "dress".