The 6ths is a band featuring various artists and notable guest singers crea… Read Full Bio ↴The 6ths is a band featuring various artists and notable guest singers created by Stephin Merritt, also the prime mover behind The Magnetic Fields, The Gothic Archies and Future Bible Heroes.

The two albums released to date are Wasps' Nests (1995) and Hyacinths and Thistles (1999). The names of both albums, and the name of the band, are deliberate tongue-twisters. The words are chosen for their abundance of s and th sounds. Sixths packs one th and three s sounds into one syllable.

One story has it that the band was conceived when Merritt, observing that there was no tribute album dedicated to him, decided to make one himself. The concept is that Merritt writes songs which are then played and sung by other artists, different ones on each track. It has so far produced two well-received albums and many bizarre collaborations.

The other story (and the more accurate one) is that Merritt wrote the songs, mailed the singers rough demos, their vocals and additional tracks were returned via mail back to Merritt who the results took to his studio and polished them up as finished items. This at least rings true on the debut record, with the singers and composers never meeting in person. A few years later, the Postal Service would use this same tactic and even use the method as their namesake.

The list of singers on Wasps' Nests reads like a veritable Who's Who of mid 90s indie rock starpower, including Miho Hatori, Barbara Manning, Mary Timony, Dean Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna), Lou Barlow, Robert Scott (The Bats, The Clean), Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) and Mark Robinson.

Some of the more notable artists appearing on Hyacinths and Thistles are Bob Mould, Sally Timms (The Mekons), Sarah Cracknell (Saint Etienne), Neil Hannon (The Divine Comedy), Gary Numan, Marc Almond, Momus, Clare Grogan (Altered Images), Melanie, Miss Lily Banquette (Combustible Edison) and the accomplished toy piano player Margaret Leng Tan.

As You Turn To Go
The 6ths Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Let the camera linger on your perfect skin
Your widows peak and your lucky grin
And the bluest eyes I know
As you turn to go
Let there be a record of your gorgeous voice
The turn of phrase that filled my days with joy
Something like Bing singing soft and low
As you turn to go

I know I'm not supposed to say I'm sorry
I know you've had more loves than Mata Hari
But you know you're the star of my life story
And I'm so sorry
Let the poets struggle to describe your heart
Your art of love and your love of art
Well, if you ever loved me

Tell me so
As you turn to go

Overall Meaning

The 6ths', "As You Turn To Go," is a song that is filled with raw emotions and heartfelt sentiments. The song essentially speaks about someone who is deeply in love with someone else, but they have to say goodbye. The singer is pleading to have one last memory of their beloved and sing about how they will remember their voice, smile, and everything that made them special. The camera mentioned in the first line represents the singer's willingness to capture a snapshot of the person that they love, and they want to hold onto it as a memory. The mention of the "widow's peak" and "lucky grin" suggests that the subject is unique and has distinctive features that make them exceptional.

The song is melancholic, and the use of Bing Crosby as a reference is apt. Bing Crosby is an icon in the music industry and was known for his soothing voice. The singer wants to remember their beloved's voice after the person had gone. The line "something like Bing singing soft and low" lays emphasis on the significance of the voice of the person to the singer. The final lines of the song also show that the singer knows the relationship cannot be salvaged, and they admit their mistakes by apologizing. They hope their love interest finds someone who loves them, and the poets will describe their love and heart.

Line by Line Meaning

Let the camera linger on your perfect skin
Take a visual memory of your flawless complexion

Your widows peak and your lucky grin
Your unique hairline and charming smile

And the bluest eyes I know
Your captivating blue eyes

As you turn to go
As you prepare to leave

Let there be a record of your gorgeous voice
Create an auditory keepsake of your beautiful voice

The turn of phrase that filled my days with joy
Your choice of words that brought me happiness

Something like Bing singing soft and low
Your voice reminiscent of Bing Crosby's soft, mellow singing

As you turn to go
As you depart from me

I know I'm not supposed to say I'm sorry
I understand I shouldn't apologize

I know you've had more loves than Mata Hari
I realize you've had numerous romantic experiences

But you know you're the star of my life story
You understand you play an important role in my life