Incense and Peppermints
Thee Sixpence Lyrics
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Ba-ba, ba-ba
Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind
Dead kings, many things I can't define
Occasions, persuasions clutter your mind
Incense and peppermints, the color of time
Little to win, but nothin' to lose
Incense and peppermints, meaningless nouns
Turn on, tune in, turn your eyes around
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, girl
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, girl, yeah, yeah
To divide the cockeyed world in two
Throw your pride to one side, it's the least you can do
Beatniks and politics, nothin' is new
A yardstick for lunatics, one point of view
Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win, but nothin' to lose
Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind
Dead kings, many things I can't define
Occasions, persuasions clutter your mind
Incense and peppermints, the color of time
Who cares what games we choose?
Little to win, but nothin' to lose
Incense, peppermints
Incense, peppermints
Sha-la-la
Sha-la-la
Sha-la-la
Sha-la-la
Sha-la-la
Sha-la-la
The lyrics to Thee Sixpence's song "Incense and Peppermints" are full of abstract and symbolic phrases that can be interpreted in different ways. The song seems to criticize the conformist society of the 1960s, urging people to look beyond material success and embrace a more spiritual and individualistic worldview. The opening lines set the tone for this critique, as "good sense" and "innocence" are presented as virtues that are "crippling mankind" rather than liberating it. The reference to "dead kings" and "many things I can't define" creates an air of mystery and disillusionment, as if the singer is grappling with existential questions that cannot be easily answered.
The chorus brings a shift in tone, as the repetitive phrase "who cares what games we choose?" suggests a sense of apathy or resignation. However, this is followed by the enigmatic line "little to win, but nothing to lose", which can be seen as either a pessimistic or optimistic statement depending on the interpretation. The use of "incense and peppermints" as a symbol of time adds to the song's dreamlike quality, as if the singer is lost in a haze of sensory experiences that blur together.
Line by Line Meaning
Good sense, innocence, cripplin' mankind
The values of good sense and innocence that we uphold are actually hindering humanity's progress.
Dead kings, many things I can't define
There are a lot of things in life that are a mystery or beyond understanding, just like the lives of dead kings.
Occasions, persuasions clutter your mind
The constant barrage of invitations, advertisements, and other forms of persuasion can make it hard to think clearly.
Incense and peppermints, the color of time
The fragrances and colors we associate with different periods in history are merely symbolic and have no real meaning.
Who cares what games we choose? Little to win, but nothin' to lose
It doesn't really matter which path we take in life, because the stakes are low and we have nothing to lose.
Incense and peppermints, meaningless nouns
The words we use to describe our experiences and emotions are just empty phrases with no real substance.
Turn on, tune in, turn your eyes around
Open your mind to new experiences and ideas, and be more aware of your surroundings and your own thoughts and feelings.
Look at yourself, look at yourself, yeah, girl
Examine your own life and behavior, and be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want.
To divide the cockeyed world in two
The world is complicated and often doesn't make sense, so people try to simplify it by dividing it into good vs. evil or us vs. them.
Throw your pride to one side, it's the least you can do
Put aside your own ego and try to see things from a different perspective, even if it challenges your beliefs.
Beatniks and politics, nothin' is new
The counterculture movements and political upheavals of the 60s are just another chapter in the long history of human conflict and rebellion.
A yardstick for lunatics, one point of view
People often use extreme or unconventional behavior as a way to measure their own normalcy or sanity, but this is a narrow and flawed perspective.
Incense and peppermints, the color of time
The scents and colors that we associate with different eras in history have no inherent meaning, but are merely symbolic.
Sha-la-la
This is just a meaningless musical interlude.
Contributed by Grace A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Raúl Arturo Lemus Fortanel
Strowberry Alarm Clock, An American Bandstand Psychedelic Músic .. Incense and Peppermints. Llegó al número 1. El 25 de Noviembre de 1967 del hot 100. Con el entonces joven vocalista dé 16 años; Greg Munford. Recuerdos de Radio Capital, de México D.F. gracias por compartir. !!