Sixes and Sevens

Song Meaning

Lucero's "Sixes and Sevens" isn't just a bluesy barroom lament; it's a raw, unflinching portrait of a man wrestling with internal chaos. The repeated phrase "sixes and sevens" acts as the core of the song meaning, immediately signaling a state of disarray and confusion. But it's not a passive confusion. It's an active, almost willful embrace of disorder, fueled by "drinking women, chasing whiskey / Like there's nothing left to lose." This isn't simply about being lost; it's about choosing to remain so, even finding a grim sort of comfort in the tumult. The lyrics hint at a deeper conflict. The lines "Six, it tells me to believe / Seven kicks me in the teeth" suggest an internal battle between hope and harsh reality. Six, perhaps representing intuition or a desire for stability, is constantly undermined by Seven, the embodiment of life's brutal disappointments. This push and pull creates a self-destructive cycle, where the protagonist simultaneously yearns for connection ("Now if she'd only kiss me / I'd be a little less confused") and sabotages any chance of finding it. The repeated image of throwing money on the ground is the most powerful symbol of this self-sabotage. It's a rejection of conventional responsibility, a defiant act of squandering potential. It speaks to a profound sense of disillusionment, a feeling that the traditional paths to happiness and security are ultimately meaningless. The mention of New Orleans introduces the idea of escape, but even that is tinged with cynicism: "The more chance I might break even / That didn't sound like fun to me." "Sixes and Sevens" ultimately portrays a character who's not just lost, but actively resisting being found, drawn to the intoxicating allure of chaos over the mundane promise of equilibrium.