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/

We Have Forgotten
Sixpence None the Richer Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Angels we have heard on high
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?

What glad tiding did you hear?

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 newborn King

Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Gloria in Excelsis Deo

See Him in a manger laid
Who the angels praise above
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid
While we raise our hearts in love

Gloria in Excelsis Deo
Gloria in Excelsis Deo
In Excelsis Deo

In Excelsis Deo
In Excelsis Deo

Overall Meaning

"We Have Forgotten" by Sixpence None the Richer is a song that explores the theme of forgetting the true meaning of Christmas. The lyrics cite the story of the angels singing over Bethlehem during Jesus' birth and the shepherds' astonishment. The song uses biblical references, such as 'Gloria in Excelsis Deo', which translates from Latin to 'Glory to God in the highest', a phrase that the angels reportedly sang to the shepherds in the Bible.

The opening verse of the song states that 'angels we have heard on high, singing sweetly through the night'. The choice of words conveys a sense of awe at the angels and the scene of Jesus' birth. The next verse asks the shepherds why they are celebrating, with the lyrics asking what great brightness they saw and what glad tidings they heard. The answer, of course, is Christ's birth, but the song suggests that we have forgotten the true meaning of this celebration.

In the final verse, the song emphasizes the importance of remembering the true message of Christmas. Christ is referred to as the 'newborn King', and the song implores listeners to 'come adore on bended knee'. The lyrics remind us to see Jesus in the manger, where he was laid by Mary and praised by the angels, and to raise our hearts in love.

Line by Line Meaning

Angels we have heard on high
We have heard angels singing sweetly through the night.

Singing sweetly through the night
The angels were singing with sweetness during the night.

And the mountains in reply
The mountains were echoing bravely with delight.

Echoing their brave delight
The mountains were bravely echoing the delight of the angels.

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
The shepherds were asked why they were so joyful and jubilant.

Why these songs of happy cheer?
Those songs were happy and cheerful, but the reason was not clear.

What great brightness did you see?
What was the reason for this brightness that they could see?

What glad tiding did you hear?
What was the good news that they heard?

Gloria in Excelsis Deo
The angels glorified God in the highest.

Come to Bethlehem and see
They were asked to go to Bethlehem and see the newborn Christ, whose birth the angels were singing about.

Him Whose birth the angels sing
They were singing about the birth of Christ.