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.

Human
The 6ths Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm only human, of flesh and blood I'm made.
Ooh human, born to make mistakes.
If five boys in the house say it loud.
If five boys in the house check it out.
Come on baby dry your eyes, wipe your tears.
Never like to see you cry, please forgive me.
I wouldn't ever try to hurt you, I just needed
Someone to hold me, to fill the void while you were gone.

To fill this space of emptiness.
I'm only human, of flesh and blood I'm made.
Ooh human, born to make mistakes.
If five boys in the house say it loud
If five boys in the house check it out.
When I lay upon my bed I reminisce then I wish
That I got you by my side with the cherry red kiss
Hit me off make it soft hold me tight throughout the night
You know I'm gonna fight cos the thing we had was right
But if you go all I know I can't go a day without you
Here in my arms hypnotized with your charms now
I'm feeling for you baby ain't you hearing the alarms
You can't stop all that love that I got
Wanna rewind time to better days that were hot check it
Bring back the better days for me baby
You gotta bring 'em back cos I'm going crazy
I go insane with your name up in my brain
Things will never be the same you ain't up in my frame
So what you gonna do what you gonna say
Tell me that you're gonna push your loving back my way.
I'm only human, of flesh and blood I'm made.
Ooh human, born to make mistakes.

If five boys in the house say it loud.
If five boys in the house check it out.

Overall Meaning

The song "Human" by The 6ths is about someone who recognizes their own human nature and flaws, and how they have made mistakes in their relationship with their partner. The lyrics reflect their regret for hurting their significant other and how they only wanted someone to fill the void they felt when their partner was not around. They express their deep love for their partner and their desire to have them back in their life again. The line "if five boys in the house say it loud, if five boys in the house check it out" could be interpreted as the individual seeking validation and confirmation from their friends or the people around them about their feelings towards their partner.

The song captures the essence of human nature, acknowledging the fact that we are not perfect and bound to make mistakes. The lyrics show vulnerability and honesty as the person admits their mistake and seeks forgiveness. The desire for human connection and love is also evident, as they express their longing for their partner's presence in their life.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm only human, of flesh and blood I'm made.
I acknowledge that I am only a human being, with physical limitations and flaws.

Ooh human, born to make mistakes.
As a human being, I inherently make mistakes and errors in my life.

If five boys in the house say it loud.
I am seeking confirmation or validation from a group of people, possibly friends or peers.

If five boys in the house check it out.
The confirmation or validation I am seeking is important to me, and I want it to be acknowledged.

Come on baby dry your eyes, wipe your tears.
I want to comfort someone who is upset or crying, and make them feel better.

Never like to see you cry, please forgive me.
I care about the person and their emotions, and I am sorry for any role I may have played in them feeling upset.

I wouldn't ever try to hurt you, I just needed Someone to hold me, to fill the void while you were gone.
While I did not intend to cause harm, I was seeking comfort and intimacy from someone else while my partner was away.

To fill this space of emptiness.
I was feeling lonely and empty, and sought out someone else to alleviate those feelings.

When I lay upon my bed I reminisce then I wish That I got you by my side with the cherry red kiss
While alone, I reflect on past memories with my partner and wish they were there with me to share intimate moments.

Hit me off make it soft hold me tight throughout the night
I am seeking physical contact and embrace to feel safe and comforted in the night.

You know I'm gonna fight cos the thing we had was right
I value and cherish the relationship I had with my partner, and feel a need to defend it and make it work.

But if you go all I know I can't go a day without you
I have a deep emotional attachment to my partner, and feel like I cannot live without them.

Here in my arms hypnotized with your charms now
I am entranced and deeply in love with my partner, and feel a strong connection to them.

I'm feeling for you baby ain't you hearing the alarms
I am expressing my love and devotion to my partner, and hope they are also feeling the same way.

You can't stop all that love that I got
My love for my partner is strong and cannot be easily extinguished or diminished.

Wanna rewind time to better days that were hot check it
I wish I could go back in time to a happier phase in the relationship, and make things work again.

Bring back the better days for me baby
I am pleading for my partner to work with me and bring back the happiness and love we once had.

You gotta bring 'em back cos I'm going crazy
The state of the relationship is affecting my mental health and wellbeing, and I need it to improve for my own sake.

I go insane with your name up in my brain
My thoughts and feelings for my partner are overwhelming me, and affecting my mental state.

Things will never be the same you ain't up in my frame
Without my partner, my life will never be the same, and I feel like a part of me is missing.

So what you gonna do what you gonna say Tell me that you're gonna push your loving back my way.
I am pleading for my partner to communicate with me and show affection again, and promising to reciprocate that love.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: TERRY LEWIS, JAMES HARRIS III

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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