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/

Soul
Sixpence None the Richer Lyrics

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Tell me father are you riding on
The fictional bus up to heaven above?

Do you listen to the angels on the outskirts
Have they persuaded you?
Oh tell me father
Perhaps you have been persuaded before
I just want to know where your body and soul

Roam tonight

But I know I'll never know
Until I pass away to the next life
I know I'll never know
Where your soul roams tonight
Until I reach the afterlife

Kneeling in this church of stone
On this pew reading my prayer book
"We commend to your Lord
All the souls who have died."
As you walk in the garden
Is the grass broken glass on your feet?
I want to believe when I think how I wasted my chance

And mother I pray
That it would happen someday

we would find you
Where we're going

Overall Meaning

The song "Soul" by Sixpence None the Richer is a poignant and poetic exploration of grief and faith, specifically in the context of losing a loved one. The lyrics address the singer's father directly, asking him whether he is on the bus to heaven and listening to the angels on the outskirts who may have already persuaded him. The singer is searching for answers about where her father's body and soul are, and wonders if he is walking in the garden with broken glass on his feet. The song also addresses the longing to see loved ones again, as the singer prays that someday they will be reunited with their mother in the afterlife.

The lyrics are rich with religious imagery and allusions, painting a vivid picture of the singer's spiritual journey. The church of stone represents both the physical space of worship and the solidity of religious belief, while the broken glass on the garden path is a symbol of the shattered illusions and hopes that come with loss. The prayer book is a tangible representation of the singer's faith, but also a reminder of the impossibility of truly knowing where a soul goes after death.

Despite its themes of sadness and uncertainty, the song ultimately ends on a note of hope and faith. The singer believes that someday they will be reunited with their loved ones, and that God will guide them on their journey.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me father are you riding on
Are you on a journey to heaven, father?

The fictional bus up to heaven above?
Do you believe in the concept of heaven, father?

Do you listen to the angels on the outskirts
Do you pay attention to the spiritual beings outside of mainstream religion?

Have they persuaded you? Oh tell me father
Have they influenced your beliefs, father?

Perhaps you have been persuaded before
Maybe you have been convinced of something in the past?

I just want to know where your body and soul
I'm curious about where your physical and spiritual selves exist

Roam tonight
This very evening

But I know I'll never know
I'm fully aware that I'll never have clarity about

Until I pass away to the next life
Until after I die

Where your soul roams tonight
The location of your spirit this evening

Until I reach the afterlife
When I arrive in the next realm