Sixpence None the Richer - An Apology Lyrics
Lyrics
Questions flew
And words were hurled into the air
And when the smoke had cleared
I saw you lying there
I used my words like bullets in a gun
To pick your ego off like skeet flung
In the gallery of fools
Too many words come from my mouth
I wish would remain unsaid
Oh I've had to eat them all and now I must confess
It was a silly thing to say to you
It was a silly thing to say to you I know
We know
Video
An Apology
Meaning & Inspiration
Released on April 26, 1994, as part of their album *The Fatherless & the Widow*, Sixpence None the Richer’s "An Apology" is a poignant and stark reflection on the devastating impact of our words and the humble path of repentance. Far from a casual pop song, it delves into the raw aftermath of verbal conflict, offering a profound journey from belligerence to sincere remorse, a theme deeply resonant with biblical wisdom on the power of the tongue and the necessity of confession.
The song immediately plunges the listener into the heart of a heated exchange, where "questions flew and words were hurled into the air." The imagery is vivid and unsettling; the speaker admits to wielding words like "bullets in a gun," specifically aimed to dismantle another's "ego." This isn't just an argument; it's a deliberate verbal assault, a calculated strike within what the lyrics term "the gallery of fools." The consequence is immediate and stark: "when the smoke had cleared, I saw you lying there," a visceral depiction of emotional devastation caused by careless speech. This opening serves as a powerful reminder of how easily our tongues can become instruments of destruction, leaving wounds that are often more profound and lasting than physical ones.
What follows is the speaker's profound moment of regret, a turning point where the weaponized words boomerang back, landing heavily on the conscience. The admission, "Too many words come from my mouth I wish would remain unsaid," captures the universal human experience of speaking hastily and then wishing we could snatch those words back from the air. This regret intensifies into a humbling confession: "Oh I've had to eat them all and now I must confess." This phrase powerfully evokes the bitter taste of one's own hurtful words, forcing an introspection that leads to genuine contrition and the difficult but necessary act of owning one's mistakes.
From a scriptural perspective, "An Apology" serves as a modern-day parable illustrating numerous warnings found in the Bible about the tongue's potential for harm. James 3:5-6 famously declares, "Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body." The song’s depiction of words as "bullets" perfectly captures this destructive power, echoing Proverbs 18:21, which warns that "death and life are in the power of the tongue." The speaker's remorse over having "hurled" words that wounded another’s spirit directly reflects the biblical call to tame our tongues, recognizing their capacity to tear down rather than build up.
The song’s core confession, "It was a silly thing to say to you," might initially sound dismissive of the harm inflicted, but it’s rather an admission of the sheer foolishness and lack of wisdom that led to such an outburst. It acknowledges the irrationality of pride and the destructive nature of an uncontrolled tongue. This humility aligns with biblical principles found in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall," and 1 Peter 5:6, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time." The speaker's willingness to label their own actions as "silly" is not an attempt to minimize the pain caused but to express the profound embarrassment and regret for succumbing to impulses that betray wisdom and compassion.
The concluding line, "We know," adds another layer of depth. It moves beyond a singular act of confession to a shared understanding. This "we know" can imply that both parties recognize the folly of the conflict, the pain inflicted, and perhaps even the shared human propensity for error. It suggests a possibility for mutual acknowledgement and, ultimately, reconciliation. This resonates with Matthew 5:23-24, which instructs us to "go and be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift" before approaching God. The shared recognition becomes the foundation for healing and rebuilding relationships damaged by harsh words. "An Apology" ultimately encourages us to embrace the hard work of self-reflection and genuine confession, paving the way for forgiveness and restoration. It is a powerful musical call to cultivate speech that reflects grace and wisdom, building up those around us rather than leaving them wounded in the "smoke" of our verbal battles, as Ephesians 4:29 beautifully advises: "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."