They recorded a demo (which now circulates as 'The Original Demos') and eventually an album, 'The Fatherless and the Widow' for R.E.X. Records in 1993. The record featured Chris Dodds (of Slocum's band Love Coma) on drums. Shortly after the release of the album, Slocum left Love Coma to pursue Sixpence full time. The band added Tess Wiley (guitar), J.J. Plasencio (bass) and Dale Baker (drums) for 1995's 'This Beautiful Mess'. Both albums, with featured the group's early explicit Christian contemporary music sound, were produced by Armand John Petri.
In 1997, the group signed to Steve Taylor's Squint Entertainment and prepared for the release of a self-titled album, with their work slowly began garnering attention from a wider audience. In 1999, "Kiss Me" was released as a single, propelling Sixpence into the national pop spotlight. This song was also notably used in the romantic comedy film 'She's All That'. The next year, the band recorded a cover of Britpop originators The La's "There She Goes", which became their second hit single. This recording was added to Sixpence's self-titled album, an album that received several releases, as a 13th track.
'Sixpence None the Richer', featuring a confessional, melodic sound reminiscent of contemporary power pop bands as well as the softer side of earlier classic rock groups, provided both a critical and commercial breakthrough for the band. The group, made up then of Leigh Nash with Dale Baker, Matt Slocum, Sean Kelly, and Justin Cary, had both "Kiss Me" and "There She Goes" as top 40 hits receiving lasting airplay, and the parent album took the #1 slot on Billboard's 'Top Contemporary Christian' chart. In terms of the group's religiously inspired melodies and lyrics, they had evolved to even more of a subtle, emotionally minded focus based on personal storytelling rather than proselytizing.
The band had a follow up album ready to release, but Squint Entertainment started to fall apart. Though leaving the band in limbo for several years, they still toured to an enthusiastic fan-base. Finally, Squint Entertainment was taken over by Word Records, allowing Sixpence None the Richer to record the album 'Divine Discontent', which was released in October of 2002. It differed significantly from the first pre-release version of the album that had circulated, with five songs removed and six added, but still received some positive critical reviews.
On February 26, 2004, Matt Slocum announced via a letter to CCM Magazine that the group had disbanded. That same year, Best of was released, which also collected some of the Divine Discontent outtakes, and tracks from compilations.
Matt Slocum has started a new band, the Astronaut Pushers which released their debut EP in 2005. He has also recorded and performed with the seminal ambient rock group Hammock. Leigh Nash released her debut Solo Album Blue on Blue on 15 August 2006 on her personal label, One Son Records. The first single, My Idea of Heaven, was released to USA radio the week of 14 July 2006.
In November 2007, Sixpence None the Richer reunited. The band has released a new EP, entitled My Dear Machine, with tour dates planned throughout 2008 in the States and Europe. In October 2008, they released their first Christmas album entitled, The Dawn of Grace.
Website: http://www.sixpencehq.com/
Angels We Have Heard On High
Sixpence None the Richer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Singing sweetly through the night,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their brave delight.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What great brightness did you see?
(*Refrain)
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.
*Refrain
See him in a manger laid
Whom the angels praise above;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While we raise our hearts in love.
*Refrain
The song "Angels We Have Heard On High" tells of the story of the angels appearing to the shepherds on the night of Jesus' birth. The first verse speaks of the angels singing sweetly through the night, and the mountains replying with their echo. The second verse poses a set of questions to the shepherds, asking why there is such jubilee and happy singing, and what great event has occurred. The refrain answers these questions with the Latin phrase "Gloria in excelsis Deo," which translates to "Glory to God in the highest." This is a traditional hymn that is often sung during the Christmas season, and the reference to the angels echoes the Biblical story of the Nativity, where the angels announced the birth of Jesus to the shepherds.
The next verse urges the listener to come to Bethlehem and witness the birth of the newborn King, who is the object of the angels' song. Finally, in the last verse, the angels' joyous song is echoed by the people on earth, who raise their hearts in love along with Mary and Joseph as they look upon the infant Jesus in the manger. The song ends with the refrain once again, emphasizing the glory and praise that should be given to God.
Line by Line Meaning
Angels we have heard on high,
We have heard the angels singing loudly and joyfully in the sky.
Singing sweetly through the night,
Their songs were pleasant and harmonious and filled the entire night with happiness and joy.
And the mountains in reply
The mountains echoed their delight and responded to their joy by emanating a soothing echo.
Echoing their brave delight.
The mountains were reflecting the angels' bold and joyful celebration.
Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why are you as shepherds so particularly happy and loud with your songs?
Why these songs of happy cheer?
What is inspiring you to sing joyous songs full of positive charm?
What great brightness did you see?
What made you observe or envisage the source of amazing brightness?
What glad tiding did you hear?
What message did you hear that filled you with happiness?
*Refrain
The song refrain repeats the joyful news of Christ's birth and celebrates it.
Gloria in excelsis Deo
Praises to God in the Highest Heaven or Glory to God in the highest.
Come to Bethlehem and see
Come and witness the birthplace in Bethlehem.
Him whose birth the angels sing;
See the one whose arrival on earth the angels are celebrating and singing for joy.
Come, adore on bended knee
Come in worshipful adoration with bent knees.
Christ, the Lord, the new-born King.
The newborn King is Christ, the Lord.
*Refrain
The song refrain repeats the joyful news of Christ's birth and celebrates it
See him in a manger laid
Observe him lying in a manger.
Whom the angels praise above;
He is the one who is exalted above all others and deserves the angel's glorification.
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
Mary and Joseph are requested to assist with the celebration.
While we raise our hearts in love.
As we rejoice, our hearts are filled with gratitude and love.
*Refrain
The song refrain repeats the joyful news of Christ's birth and celebrates it.
Contributed by Jacob E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Manuela Moraes
todo ano eu escuto esta música e assisto a este clipe. sempre me traz uma paz imensa! :)
Ciera52
She is an awesome vocalist. What a beautiful voice.
carlotta1924
i love how leigh nash sings this song so sweetly, like a lullaby. the video is also just as sweet =)
Marlonn Funtanilla
Glory to God in the highest!
Wobdifurousness
This is Leigh Nash, the lead singer, and the band is Sixpence None The Richer. Its a track from their Christmas album 'The Dawn of Grace'. Absolutely beautiful: may kind angels bless and preserve them. I would very much like to know who did the animation, which references typical nativity scenes in Christmas cards but also in Italian renaissance paintings (the hill city looks rather Tuscan). Its a very evocative and charming little cartoon: my compliments to the artist.
AHASOARES
Glória a Deus nas alturas!
rockhopper
i played this song in the school Christmas show on my recorder and it was GREAT EVERYONE CLAPPED! we were all so happy it was Christmas Christ born to save us then we did silent night on them we started to cry cuz everyone was really happy and ALIVE so there is only one word i could express my feelings and that is GLORIOUS
Wobdifurousness
Leigh Nash has a rather angelic voice herself and would be musically qualified to join any choir of angels. I hope she lives long and prospers, but whenever her time does come, I hope the angels will recruit her to add her sweet, true voice to the music of heaven.
picnicMode
One of my favourite versions because of her very lovely voice.....
Eva Haha14
Me when I was kindergarten my teacher recommended this song to us and this one is my favorite songs , and now that I'm in fifth grade I still remembered my childhood memories and how happy am I at that year , but now it's all problem and no fun like the old days , I won't forget that moment and especially this song , I love this song even the Earth is almost gone I still love this and especially GOD my one and only Saviour.😥😥😥😢😢😭😭