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.
Winter In July
The 6ths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I do is cry
All as I see is rain falling
It's winter in July
In another city
'Neath another sky
Are you feeling lonely?
Would you have fallen in love
If I'd stayed another day?
You could have fallen in love
But you let me fly away
I saw something in your eyes
That I'll never find again
And now there's something in mine
So I'll walk out in the rain
All alone in Melbourne
All I do is cry
All as I see is rain falling
It's winter in July
In another city
'Neath another sky
Are you feeling lonely?
It's winter in July
It's winter in July
The lyrics of "Winter In July" by The 6ths convey the sense of loneliness, longing and regret that is experienced when someone leaves behind a love interest and moves on. All alone in Melbourne, the singer of the song is crying as she sees rain falling, which signifies that it's winter in July. The rain, which represents sadness and sorrow, is an apt metaphor for the feelings of the singer. The mention of winter in July also indicates that her heart is cold, and her soul is dark.
In the second verse, the singer wonders if her love interest, who is in another city and under another sky, is feeling as lonely and lost as she is. Through this verse, she is trying to express her feelings of connection and the possibility that her love interest may also be experiencing the same sense of loss and pain. The chorus of the song repeats the theme of the winter in July, emphasizing the singer's sense of isolation and loneliness.
The third verse delves deeper into the possible reasons why the singer left her love interest. She wonders if he would have fallen in love with her if she had stayed another day, and blames him for not letting her fly away. The use of the phrase "something in your eyes" suggests that the love interest had powerful feelings for the singer, which she would never be able to find again. Overall, the song "Winter In July" is a wistful ballad that explores themes of loss, regret, and the pangs of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
All alone in Melbourne
Being by myself in a place that's both new and different is a feeling I can hardly bear
All I do is cry
My emotions in this situation are extreme, and all I can do to let it out is cry
All as I see is rain falling
Even the weather seems to reflect my sadness and despair, and nothing seems bright or hopeful
It's winter in July
The world around me feels so cold and barren, with none of the usual warmth or brightness associated with summer
In another city
I can't help but wonder if things would be different if I was in a new place with new experiences
'Neath another sky
The sky above me seems to embody the same loneliness and alienation I'm feeling
Are you feeling lonely?
I can't escape this feeling of isolation, and I worry that you might be feeling the same way
It's winter in July
The same sense of coldness and bleakness persists, no matter where I go or what I do
Would you have fallen in love
I can't help but wonder if there was an opportunity in our past that we missed out on, something that could have changed everything
If I'd stayed another day?
Maybe if I had stayed just a little longer, things would have been different between us
You could have fallen in love
I know there was a possibility for us to connect on a deeper level, but that chance has passed now
But you let me fly away
You made a choice to let me go, and that decision has led us down this path of loneliness and longing
I saw something in your eyes
There was a spark between us, a glimmer of something special that could have blossomed into love
That I'll never find again
But that moment has passed now, and I fear I'll never be able to find that same connection with anyone else
And now there's something in mine
Those memories and feelings still linger within me, haunting me with what could have been
So I'll walk out in the rain
The only thing I can do in this moment is let my tears mix with the rain, and hope that someday the sun will shine again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAMON MINCHELLA, SIMON FOWLER, OSCAR LLOYD HARRISON, STEPHEN CRADOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind