Got a racecar grin and a calculation
And every gun for a secret agent
Defunct that timebomb at the space station
Hey, Secret Agent X-9, why don't you drop me a line?
And say, would it cost you your job
To say what was in that gold box?
So why did they give you that job?
And why can they give you that job?
You'd think this guy was on a permanent vacation
But no, he's not, he's a secret agent


Lyrics submitted by numb

Secret Agent X-9 song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

23 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment

    yeah. i was just reading cats cradle and i realized that they got this song from that book. One of the greatest books ever written, read it

    CockaColaon April 22, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Hey just dropping by to clarify things sort of.

    The comic book "Secret Agent X-9" predates the book "Cat's Cradle" by Vonnegut. One of the characters (James Hoenikker) in Cat's Cradle is nicknamed Secret Agent X-9 because, when is school, he was very secretive and was always going somewhere (seemingly like he was always on a "mission"). the lines "So why did they give you that job? And why can they give you that job?" refer to the job James gets because of his connections to the fictional father of the atomic bomb. the line "You'd think this guy was on a permanent vacation" refers to where his new job is located, the fictional tropical island of San Lorenzo. the "timebomb" line and the line "To say what was in that gold box?" refer to the doomsday that he and his siblings share. The song seems to have no connection to Isaac's father, its just a fun little song about a fictional Vonnegut character :)

    morroweon January 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song makes me want to dance... David sings like mr.Brock.

    WageWaron May 13, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    People aren't what you think..

    BeatJunkie08on March 17, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the title of this song is also the title of chapter 10 in kurt vonnegut's book 'cat's cradle'.. this name is given as a joke in reference to a kid who acts all secretive and anti-social and stuff.. the book is about the end of the world because of nukes and stuff.. i still don't understand this song completely, but yeah.. look into that chapter in vonnegut's book and see what you can make of it.. both the song and the book are great!

    reeshteron April 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    uhhh... cool, havn't heard the song... yet

    764-mouseron November 15, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah the book and song fucking rock, not sure about the meaning though

    jeffmunchowon July 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    quote uhhh... cool, havn't heard the song... yet

    you probably shouldnt post here then

    i truly love this song, now i guess i need to read 'the cat's cradle'

    cheesenuggetton April 08, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Uh, Secret Agent X-9 was a British comic strip. Vonnegut probably got the idea from that.

    ModusTheOperandion September 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    PREJUDICES. don't go and think you know everything about everyone. people around you hide a lot of things. and yeah, people arent exactly who you think they are.

    great song. Love you Isaac Brock

    ErikgoinCrazyon October 04, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.