Early in their recording and airwave career, Lovin' Spoonful members termed their approach "good-time music". Unlike many pop groups of the day, the Lovin' Spoonful played all the instruments on their records, and aside from a few covers, wrote all their own material.
His group The Lovin' Spoonful played a major role in the mid-'60s rock revolution, but what leader, singer and songwriter Sebastian had in mind was actually a counter-revolution. "We were grateful to the Beatles for reminding us our rock & roll roots," John explains, "but we wanted to cut out the English middlemen, so to speak, and get down to making this new music as an 'American' band."
This the Lovin' Spoonful did like nobody before or since, putting their first seven singles into the Top 10. This was unprecedented, and utterly unthinkable at the height of Beatlemania. At first they'd taken older material from blues, country, folk and jug band sources - what we now term "roots music" - and made it sound modern. Then, in a series of original songs composed and sung by John Sebastian, they did the reverse, creating thoroughly modern music that sounded like it contained the entire history of American music. Which it did.
He embarked on a moderately successful solo career after leaving the Lovin' Spoonful in 1968. Sebastian was popular among the rock festival circuits. He had a memorable, albeit unscheduled appearance at Woodstock, appearing after Country Joe McDonald's set, playing songs such as "I Had A Dream," "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" and "Younger Generation" which he dedicated to a newborn baby at the festival. Documentary remarks by festival organizers revealed that Sebastian was under the influence at the time, hence his spontaneity and casual, unplanned set. Sebastian also returned for Woodstock '94, playing harmonica for Crosby, Stills and Nash. Sebastian released his eponymous LP John B. Sebastian in 1970, which featured him accompanied by various L.A. musicians.
Sebastian played harmonica with The Doors on the song Roadhouse Blues under the pseudonym G. Puglese to avoid problems with his contract, which was featured on Morrison Hotel album, also played on "Little Red Rooster" on the live album Alive, She Cried and on seven songs on Live In Detroit. He is also credited with playing harmonica on Crosby Stills Nash & Young's "Déjà Vu" from the album of the same name.
He had been involved in music for films (most notably Francis Ford Coppola's "You're A Big Boy Now" and Woody Allen's "What's Up Tiger Lily") and Broadway, but when producers of a TV show called "Welcome Back Kotter" commissioned a theme song in 1976, Sebastian's "Welcome Back" became a chart-topping solo record.
Thankfully John's induction into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 hasn't slowed him down. Whether the stage is at Carnegie Hall or a folk festival in some far-flung locale, John is still out there spreading his gospel of American roots music. He is the subject of the current PBS special "Do You Believe In Magic: The Music of John Sebastian," and a new album of duets with David Grisman was released in 2007. He has also lent his music in support of social, environmental and animal rights causes. Recently he joined a delegation of songwriters (including Lamont Dozier, Allen and Marilyn Bergman, and Mike Stoller) in Washington, DC to campaign on behalf of the National Music Publisher's Association.
Perhaps because it has been the product of heart and soul and history, the oldest song in the Sebastian catalog is as fresh and vital as the song he's about to write tomorrow. That's why you still hear his music everywhere - in movies, on television, in cover versions and samples - and why it's always welcome. John is also a welcome media presence; his commentary, insights and anecdotes and stories are regularly featured in print, radio, TV and film documentary projects. John Sebastian is not only a master musician, writer and performer, he remains one of the best ambassadors American music has ever had.
Six O'Clock
John Sebastian Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the morning when it's still too early to knock
And the dusky light shines down on the block
And reflects up and down on the hands of the clock
Six o'clock, six o'clock
A few hours ago she was standing here
Just watching the stars in our eyes and the lights as the tights disappeared
That I could nudge her and call her my confidante
And now I'm back alone with just my shadow in front
At six o'clock, six o'clock
I went home and found that time to sleep was rare
Just watching my eyelids, knowing my brain bids the night not to care
I got up and got scufflin' around
But somehow it just wasn't the same happy town
And the bells didn't ring with the same happy sound
At six o'clock, six o'clock
If I go back where we parted
Could I ever feel like that again
Guess I'll just have to wait 'til tomorrow
But what can I do 'til then
Guess I'll go back home and just wait until dawn
Yes, I had to learn going back where we were wouldn't help at all
And I wish my head had been working right
We'd have gone for coffee and talked all night
And now I'm back alone, bein' twisted up tight
Six o'clock, six o'clock
Now I'm back alone
Yes, now I'm back alone
I'm back alone
John Sebastian's "Six O'Clock" is a reflective song about the feeling of nostalgia for a past moment, especially when one is alone. The lyrics describe how the early morning light reflects on the clock, and how that can bring back memories of a lost love. The song uses the time of day to evoke a sense of longing and introspection, as the singer contemplates past memories and imagines what could have been.
The song's first verse sets the scene by describing the early morning light and the passing of time. The second verse recalls a past moment when the singer was with a loved one, and how they felt they could say anything to each other. The third verse describes the singer's attempts to recapture that feeling of connection, but failing to do so. The final verse acknowledges that the past cannot be recaptured, and the singer is left alone with his memories.
Throughout the song, Sebastian's vocals are melancholy, conveying the sense of loss and regret that the lyrics express. The guitar accompaniment is gentle and understated, emphasizing the introspective feel of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
There's something special 'bout six o'clock
Six in the morning has a unique vibe
In the morning when it's still too early to knock
It's too early for visitors or disruptions
And the dusky light shines down on the block
The faint light gives the surroundings a soft glow
And reflects up and down on the hands of the clock
The light bounces between the clock's hands
Six o'clock, six o'clock
Reinforcement of the early hour
A few hours ago she was standing here
He was with someone else not too long ago
Just watching the stars in our eyes and the lights as the tights disappeared
They were admiring the night sky and watching the lights turn off
And I could feel I could say what I want
He felt he could speak his mind
That I could nudge her and call her my confidante
He felt close enough to her to confide in her
And now I'm back alone with just my shadow in front
He's alone with only his thoughts and regrets
At six o'clock, six o'clock
Reinforcement of the early hour
I went home and found that time to sleep was rare
He couldn't rest even though he was tired
Just watching my eyelids, knowing my brain bids the night not to care
He tried to sleep but his mind wouldn't let him
I got up and got scufflin' around
He got out of bed and started moving
But somehow it just wasn't the same happy town
The surroundings didn't have the same positive atmosphere
And the bells didn't ring with the same happy sound
Even the chiming of the bells sounded different
At six o'clock, six o'clock
Reinforcement of the early hour
If I go back where we parted
He's considering returning to the place they separated
Could I ever feel like that again
He wonders if he'll be able to recapture the same feelings
Guess I'll just have to wait 'til tomorrow
He'll have to wait until the next day to find out
But what can I do 'til then
He's at a loss for what to do in the meantime
Guess I'll go back home and just wait until dawn
He decides to return home and wait until daylight
Yes, I had to learn going back where we were wouldn't help at all
He realizes returning to the place they were together won't fix anything
And I wish my head had been working right
He wishes he had made better decisions
We'd have gone for coffee and talked all night
He wishes they could have spent more time together
And now I'm back alone, bein' twisted up tight
He's alone and anxious
Six o'clock, six o'clock
Reinforcement of the early hour
Now I'm back alone
He's alone again
Yes, now I'm back alone
Reinforcement of being alone
I'm back alone
Final reinforcement of being alone
Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN BENSON SEBASTIAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
city zen
There's something special 'bout six o'clock
In the morning when it's still too early to knock
And the dusky light shines down on the block
And reflects up and down on the hands of the clock
Six o'clock, six o'clock
A few hours ago she was standing here
Just watching the stars in our eyes and the lights as the tights
disappeared
And I could feel I could say what I want
That I could nudge her and call her my confidante
But now I'm all alone with just my shadow in front
At six o'clock, six o'clock
I went home and found that time to sleep was rare
Just watching my eyelids, knowing my brain bids the night not
to care
I got up and got scufflin' around
But somehow it just wasn't the same happy town
And the bells didn't ring with the same happy sound
At six o'clock, six o'clock
If I go back where we parted
Could I ever feel like that again
Guess I'll just have to wait 'til tomorrow
But what can I do 'til then
Guess I'll go back home and just wait until dawn
Yes, I had to learn going back where we were wouldn't help at all
And I wish my head had been working right
We'd have gone for coffee and talked all night
And now I'm back alone, bein' twisted up tight
Six o'clock, six o'clock
Now I'm back alone
Yes, now I'm back alone
I'm back alone
Songwriters: John Benson Sebastian
Scott Boydle
Brilliant song. I love when he sings "And the bells didn't ring with the same heavy sound!!" Gives me goose bumps :)
littlemikey1954
The song entered Billboard's Hot 100 on April 29, 1967, charting for 8 weeks, peaking at #18. I remember first hearing the song in early May 1967 and thinking how cool it was to hear another great song by this great band. I was excited about becoming a teenager in about two and a half months, but at the age of 12, I was already a "real teenager" in my heart!
Joe DeBaun
I was 12 in 1967.
Hercules Dutra de Campos Filho
I was 18 in 1967
PattyFan01
John B. Sebastian: What a writer! What a singer! What a great band was the Spoonful.
Peter Gerstenzang
As a kid, he was one of the first clever lyric writers I heard. Amazing rhymes and ideas. And cool music.
mc2 mc2
One of the greatest songwriters of that period. One of the few American pop writers who could equal the Stones, Beatles and Kinks IMO.
Golden Stars
Loved this song driving from my ship in Boston to Newport for fire fighting school. Damn has it really been 53 years ago.
byron thiel
Loving all these singles I first heard as a man in my twenties back in the 60s. This group were way ahead of their times and still sound good even now!
Jim Michaud
A gem from late spring '67 that rarely gets played on oldies radio.