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.
The Dead Only Quickly
The 6ths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are but animate clay,
But rude vessels
Housing immortal souls.
But the dead only quickly decay.
They don't go around being born and reborn
And rising and falling like soufflé.
It would be swell
To see some folks burn in hell,
But when they go
It's just as pleasant to know
That the dead only quickly decay.
They don't go around being born and reborn
And rising and falling like soufflé.
The dead only quickly decay.
In The 6ths' song "The Dead Only Quickly," the lyrics revolve around the concept of mortality and the belief in life after death. The opening lines state that according to priests and fools, humans are made of animate clay but house immortal souls. However, the chorus contradicts this belief by stating that the dead only decay quickly and do not go through cycles of birth and rebirth. The lyrics may suggest a cynicism towards religion and the afterlife.
The second verse brings up the idea of punishment and reward in the afterlife, with the singer expressing a desire to see some people burn in hell. However, the lyrics then suggest that it is just as satisfying to know that these individuals will simply decay like all other bodies. Ultimately, the chorus reaffirms the belief that death is final and decay is the only fate for all humans.
Overall, "The Dead Only Quickly" is a commentary on the transience of human life and the finality of death. The lyrics may also reflect a skepticism towards organized religion and the notion of an afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
Priests and fools say
According to certain people, both religious and foolish, our existence is believed to be made of organic matter.
We are but animate clay,
We are nothing more than living clay, shaped to be animate only through an unknown force.
But rude vessels
Despite being held in a high regard in terms of our existence, we are mere vessels.
Housing immortal souls.
However, it is believed that our vessels are merely houses to our eternal beings.
But the dead only quickly decay.
However, when we leave these vessels, we decay quickly and without much effect on the world around us.
They don't go around being born and reborn
The dead don't get reincarnated and proceed to live again in a new form.
And rising and falling like soufflé.
They don't rise and fall again in a cycle, like a soufflé that grows and then deflates.
It would be swell
It would be enjoyable or satisfying.
To see some folks burn in hell,
Watching certain individuals suffer eternal damnation would be satisfying to some.
But when they go
However, when those individuals pass away,
It's just as pleasant to know
It's just as satisfying to be aware
That the dead only quickly decay.
That they will quickly decay and become unrecognizable, without the power to cause any more harm or suffering.
Contributed by Nathaniel T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.