Six O'Clock - Lovin' Spoonful, The (cover-live by Bill Sharkey)

Six O'Clock (Lovin' Spoonful, The, 1967). Live cover performance by Bill Sharkey, Home Studio, Hawaii Kai, HI. 2023-09-25. "Keeping the Oldies & Classics Alive"Show more

"Six O'Clock," written by John Sebastian, was the Lovin' Spoonful's last top 20 hit rising to no. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1967 (Whitburn, 2013). It has been argued that "Six O'Clock" may have been the first pop song to use the clavinet (J. Kimsey, zeroto180, Mar. 2, 2016). Some thought that Sebastian was using an electric harpsichord, but according to Sebastian: “It was a Hohner Clavinet. My father [John B. Sebastian] was a concert chromatic harmonica player, so I was way inside when it came to Hohner (I played with Matt Hohner‘s kids). I may have had one of the first [clavinets], due also to the band’s success” (zeroto180, Jun. 29, 2016). However, a closer look may indicate that The Left Banke was the first group to use the clavinet on a pop song, "Let Go of You Girl," which was recorded sometime between December 1965 - January 1967 and was released on their debut album "Walk Away Renee/Pretty Ballerina" in February of 1967 (rateyourmusic, 2023); although Wiikipedia suggest it was released in January of 1967. Regardless, The Lovin' Spoonful released "Six O'Clock" in April 1967 and is found on their album "Everything Playing," which was released in December of 1967 (genius, 2023); both were released after the release of "Let Go of You Girl." What could be argued is that "Six O'Clock" was the first pop release to use the clavinet that landed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

An interesting side note, "After the song was released [guitarist] Zal Yanovsky was busted for marijuana possession in San Francisco. As a Canadian citizen, concerned he would be barred from re-entering the United States, Yanovsky cooperated with police and named his drug supplier. The incident resulted in a boycott started by a Los Angeles Times columnist, 'urging people not to buy Spoonful records or attend their concerts.' Yanovsky subsequently left the band and was replaced by Jerry Yester" (R. McGinnis, vancouversignaturesounds, Apr. 29, 2020). Some have argued that this led to radio stations not placing the song in rotation.

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Lyrics:

There's something special 'bout six o'clock
In the morning when it's still too early to knock
And the dusky light shines down on the block
And reflects up and down on the hands of the clock
Six o'clock, six o'clock

A few hours ago she was standing here
Just watching the stars in our eyes and the lights as the tights disappeared
And I could feel I could say what I want
That I could nudge her and call her my confidante
And now I'm back alone with just my shadow in front
At six o'clock, six o'clock

I went home and found that time to sleep was rare
Just watching my eyelids, knowing my brain bids the night not to care
I got up and got scufflin' around
But somehow it just wasn't the same happy town
And the bells didn't ring with the same happy sound
At six o'clock, six o'clock

If I go back where we parted
Could I ever feel like that again
Guess I'll just have to wait 'til tomorrow
But what can I do 'til then

Guess I'll go back home and just wait until dawn
Yes, I had to learn going back where we were wouldn't help at all
And I wish my head had been working right
We'd have gone for coffee and talked all night
And now I'm back alone, bein' twisted up tight
Six o'clock, six o'clock

Now I'm back alone
Yes, now I'm back alone
I'm back alone