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/
Eyes Wide Open
Sixpence None the Richer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just like a drug store in the city
Where she walks the streets at night
Time keeps ticking like the ocean through a siv
Ever on ever forward in a march
Hallelujah
And she's one for the money
Back to life back to dreams
Without tears
She's saving what she killed
She built herself a room
To spin around her womb
She's saying good bye bye
To the world now
She's saying good bye bye bye
To the world now
Life is heavy of
Mistakes have come to call her
Always close and dear never far behind
Floating just above the surface
Of their waves their nightmares wait
But come again when she wakes
Hallelujah
And she's one for the money
To for the show time to go
Back to life back to dreams
Without fears
She's saving what she killed
She built herself a room
To spin around her womb
She's saying good bye bye bye
To the world now
She's saying good bye bye bye
To the world now
She's saying good bye bye
To the world now
She's saying good bye bye bye
To the world now
She's saying good bye bye
To the world now
She's saying good bye bye bye
To the world now
Eyes wide open all the time
Just like a drug store in the city
Where she walks the streets at night
The lyrics of Sixpence None the Richer's song "Eyes Wide Open" depicts the story of a woman who is jaded by life and the cruel realities of the world. The phrase "Eyes wide open all the time" refers to her constant vigilance and awareness of her surroundings, as if she's in a drug store in the city where danger might lurk in every corner. The lyrics suggest that she walks the streets at night, possibly engaging in activities that are not socially acceptable but necessary for her to survive. The metaphor "Time keeps ticking like the ocean through a siv" emphasizes the never-ending and unstoppable flow of time and life, even in the midst of turmoil.
The chorus features the word "Hallelujah," which is usually associated with religious praise and thanksgiving. In the context of the song, it could be interpreted as either an expression of relief that she's finally letting go of a difficult life or a tribute to the resilience and strength of the human spirit. The lyrics "She built herself a room to spin around her womb" might refer to her creating a space for herself to retreat and nurture her inner self. The lines "Back to life back to dreams without tears, she's saving what she killed" suggest that she's finally moving on from a difficult past, but still carrying the burden of her experiences with her.
Line by Line Meaning
Eyes wide open all the time
She is always vigilant and aware of her surroundings.
Just like a drug store in the city
Her eyes are always open, just like how a drug store is always open in the city.
Where she walks the streets at night
She walks the streets at night, possibly as a way to escape from her problems.
Time keeps ticking like the ocean through a siv
Time never stops, just like how water never stops flowing through a siv.
Ever on ever forward in a march
Time keeps moving forward, and she is moving forward with it.
Hallelujah
An expression of praise, joy, or thanks.
And she's one for the money
She is focused on making money and achieving financial stability.
To for the show time to go
It's time to move on to the next opportunity or experience.
Back to life back to dreams
She is returning to her daily life and her aspirations.
Without tears
She is strong and resilient, and doesn't let her emotions get the best of her.
She's saving what she killed
She is holding onto something that she took away or destroyed.
She built herself a room
She created a safe and personal space for herself to retreat to.
To spin around her womb
She is taking control of her own life and desires.
She's saying good bye bye
She is saying goodbye to something or someone in her life.
To the world now
She is moving on from something in the world around her.
Life is heavy of
Life can be difficult and burdened with challenges and mistakes.
Mistakes have come to call her
She has made mistakes that are now causing consequences in her life.
Always close and dear never far behind
The mistakes she's made are always present, and they are significant to her.
Floating just above the surface
She is only just managing to stay afloat and cope with the difficulties she faces.
Of their waves their nightmares wait
Her fears and anxieties are constantly on the horizon, waiting for the opportunity to overwhelm her.
But come again when she wakes
Her fears are persistent, and they never truly go away.
To the world now
She is parting ways with something in her life that is connected to the outside world.
She's saying good bye bye bye
She is making an effort to say goodbye, perhaps to finally gain closure.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LEIGH NASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind