Meaningless- Sixpence None The Richer... Happy April Fool's Day

Sixpence None The Richer- Meaningless

History merely repeats itself (Eccl. 3:15)
Nothing in this world is truly new
The sea churns as it feeds from the river at its mouth (Eccl. 1:7)
The wind blows across the land from north to south (Eccl. 1:6)
The laboring man spends his life getting nowhere

Meaningless
It's all meaningless
All my life and labor is foolish
And now I don't have a reason anymore

Come now be merry drink your drink (Eccl 5:18; 8:15)
Devour your feast don't stop to think
Tomorrow you could be gone far away
So gather ye rosebuds while he may
Tomorrow you could like in a silent grave
Pawing the dust and awaiting the end of time (Eccl. 3:20)

Fear your God this is all I know (Eccl 12:13)

Meaningless
It's all meaningless
All my life and labor is foolish
And now, I don't have a reason
A reason to live anymore

Ecclesiastes 1:6 “The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.”
Ecclesiastes 1:7 “All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.”
Ecclesiastes 3:15 “Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before; and God will call the past to account.”
Ecclesiastes 3:20 “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.”
Ecclesiastes 5:18 “Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot.”
Ecclesiastes 8:15 “So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

This song is about the meaninglessness of life and the idea that one must try to live a happy life now because tomorrow is not promised to us. It mentions the fear of God which is one of the major themes in Ecclesiastes. Thinking that work and life is meaningless may make a person think that they have no reason to live since work is life and life is work. Through work comes joy as long as the fruits of our labor are shared with others and not hoarded for ourselves. Though this song ends on a sad note our lives do not have to. We can enjoy the simple pleasures in life that can bring happiness temporarily but in all we do we must exalt God as sovereign because just as the song writer says “Fear your God this is all I know” in reality this is all we should know. Happy April Fool’s Day!

-Natalia Alcantara