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/
The Garden
Sixpence None the Richer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wedding gown
She walked into the garden
What has she found
Oh sorrow
Untold sorrow
There would be no groom
She left him as she
Found him
Empty inside
But this time it was
Much too late
Nothing to hide
Oh her soul
Never left the garden
Black ribbon
Long black gown
She's walking through
Her memory
She's so alone
The lyrics of Sixpence None the Richer's "The Garden" tell the story of a woman who entered the garden in a white wedding gown, only to find out that the groom would not show up. The lyrics convey a feeling of sorrow that is difficult to describe. It is not just because the wedding did not happen, but because the groom has become an empty shell of a person. She is separated from him, both physically and in spirit.
As the story progresses, it is revealed that the woman has been haunted by memories of her lost love. The black ribbon and long black gown represent her mourning attire as she walks through her memories, long after he has gone. Such memories have taken her repeatedly back to the garden, where she still feels his presence - in the flowers, the trees, and every corner of the garden. The woman is truly alone, haunted by her own memories.
Overall, "The Garden" is a poignant and melancholic song that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the persistence of memory. It shows us how memories can help us find comfort in our time of need, but also how they can keep us trapped in a cycle of sadness.
Line by Line Meaning
White ribbon
A symbol of purity and innocence.
Wedding gown
A dress worn by a bride on her wedding day.
She walked into the garden
She entered the place where she expected to be filled with love and happiness.
What has she found
She realizes that things are not as beautiful as she thought they would be.
Oh sorrow
She feels a deep pain and regret for what has happened.
Untold sorrow
Her sadness goes beyond what she is able to express.
There would be no groom
She discovers that the one she was waiting for is not there.
She left him as she
She ended the relationship with him as soon as she realized she was not happy.
Found him
She saw him clearly.
Empty inside
He had nothing to offer emotionally.
But this time it was
This was the final time this would happen to her.
Much too late
She had wasted too much time already.
Nothing to hide
All was clear and obvious; she was no longer in denial.
Oh her soul
The deepest part of her being which cannot be seen.
Never left the garden
She never moved out of the garden in the spiritual sense; she remained trapped in her own mind and emotions.
Black ribbon
A symbol of mourning and loss.
Long black gown
A dress of bereavement.
She's walking through
She is strolling through the painful memory.
Her memory
Her recollection of the time when she thought that love was more than just a feeling.
She's so alone
She is stripped of everything she thought was important in her life.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DALE BAKER, JAMES ARHELGER, LEIGH NASH, MATTHEW PRESTON SLOCUM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind