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.
Looking For Love
The 6ths Lyrics
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For the city at dawn
The drone of the young and the hum
Of the pretty were songs
You thought you′d never forget
It's a pity they′re gone
When the sun goes down and the moon appears
There's a dark place down by the tracks
Where the wrinkles don't show
They′ve got a room in the back
Where the lonely hearts go
You can get in on the act
Or just take in the show
When the sun goes down and the moon appears
You go looking for love in the hall of mirrors
The 6ths' song "Looking For Love" is about searching for love and companionship in dark and unlikely places, specifically in the city at night. The singer of the song refers back to their past on the farm where they heard the "drone of the young" and "hum of the pretty" which they thought they would never forget, but now these memories are gone. The song then shifts to the present as the singer describes a "dark place down by the tracks" where the wrinkles don't show, and lonely hearts go. The singer offers two options: get in on the act or just take in the show. Then, repeating the central theme of the song, the singer proclaims that when the moon appears, they go looking for love in the hall of mirrors.
The hall of mirrors could be interpreted in a few different ways. It could be a literal hall of mirrors reflecting the people who come searching for love, or it could be a metaphor for the places we go when we feel lost and lonely, where we see only distorted reflections of ourselves. The song paints a vivid picture of a desolate and lonely world, where even the memories of happier times have faded away. The singer is left searching for love, not knowing where to look - a common theme in love songs, but presented here in a much darker and more ominous way.
Overall, "Looking For Love" is a haunting and melancholic song that speaks to the universal need for human connection and companionship, while also serving as a warning against the dangers of searching for those things in the wrong places.
Line by Line Meaning
When you left them back on the farm
You abandoned your past and moved on to bigger things
For the city at dawn
You left early in the morning to start a new life in the city
The drone of the young and the hum
You miss the simple sounds of youth and beauty
Of the pretty were songs
The beauty of the young was like a melody to you
You thought you'd never forget
You believed those memories would be with you forever
It's a pity they're gone
But unfortunately, those memories are no longer a part of your life
When the sun goes down and the moon appears
You seek out love when the day turns to night
You go looking for love in the hall of mirrors
You search for love in a place where it is elusive and often only a reflection of yourself
There's a dark place down by the tracks
You know of a seedy location near the train tracks
Where the wrinkles don't show
It's a place where age is not apparent, and people are trying to escape its effects
They've got a room in the back
There is a private room where things happen that are not for public viewing
Where the lonely hearts go
People who are alone and searching for love or companionship are drawn to this place
You can get in on the act
You're welcome to participate and find someone to fulfill your desires
Or just take in the show
Or you can observe and be entertained by the spectacle happening around you
Writer(s): Stephin Merritt
Contributed by Natalie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.