Sixpence None the Richer, often known as just "Sixpence", is a pop/rock ban… Read Full Bio ↴Sixpence None the Richer, often known as just "Sixpence", is a pop/rock band with roots in New Braunfels, Texas, United States, eventually settling in Nashville, Tennessee. Named after a passage in C. S. Lewis' theological book Mere Christianity, the group is best known for their critically acclaimed 1997 self-titled album, with 'Sixpence None the Richer' showing their strong influence from both melodic Christian rock and 60s British invasion music. Key members Matt Slocum, a guitarist and songwriter, first met Leigh Nash, a budding vocalist, at a church retreat in the early 90s.

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/

Love Letters In The Sand
Sixpence None the Richer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How you'd laugh when I cried
Each time I saw the tide
Take our love letters
From the sand

You made a vow
That you
Would always be true

But somehow that vow
Meant nothing to you

Now my broken heart aches
With every wave that breaks
Over love letters in the sand

All the days like today

We pass the time away
Writing love letters in the sand

Overall Meaning

"Love Letters in the Sand" is a song written by J. Fred Coots, Nick Kenny, and Charles Kenny. The song tells a story of someone who has lost their lover's affection and is saddened by the realization that their previous love letters are now being erased by the waves of the sea. The lyrics also express the bitterness felt by the singer towards their former love who made a promise to always be true, but didn't follow through.

The first two lines of the chorus "How you'd laugh when I cried, each time I saw the tide take our love letters from the sand" highlight the pain and misery felt by the singer. They were emotionally invested in the relationship, and their lover was taking it all so lightly, even finding a twisted sense of amusement in their misery. The third line of the chorus, "You made a vow that you would always be true, but somehow that vow meant nothing to you," showcases how promises can be broken so easily and how love can turn into an illusion.

The verses talk about reminiscing on past days, where the couple wrote love letters in the sand, and the feeling of nostalgia comes with every wave that breaks the sand. The last verse "All the days like today we pass the time away writing love letters in the sand" shows how the couple spent their idle days in the past writing love letters in the sand. But now, they'll never be able to experience that same joy again, as their love has faded away and been replaced by heartache and sadness.

Line by Line Meaning

How you'd laugh when I cried
You used to find humor in my sadness and tears.

Each time I saw the tide
Whenever I looked towards the ocean.

Take our love letters
Carry away the letters we wrote to each other.

From the sand
From the beach where we often wrote to each other.

You made a vow
You promise solemnly.

That you
That you'll always stay.

Would always be true
Would always be honest and faithful in our relationship.

But somehow that vow
But for some reason, that promise.

Meant nothing to you
Was disregarded and unimportant to you.

Now my broken heart aches
My heart is shattered and painful.

With every wave that breaks
With each roiling wave that crashes to shore.