Some songs arrive like a soft breeze—gentle, unassuming, but somehow instantly refreshing. “There She Goes” by Sixpence None the Richer, released in its celebrated cover form in 1999, fits that rare category of music that seems to float rather than play. It’s one of those tracks that people know even if they don’t realize they know it. You hear it in a movie trailer, drifting out of a coffee shop, layered under a nostalgic montage in a romantic comedy, and instantly your mood shifts. It’s sweet without being saccharine, wistful without being heavy, simple without ever feeling small. And because Sixpence None the Richer were already riding high on their breakout hit “Kiss Me,” their shimmering take on “There She Goes” quickly became another cornerstone of late-’90s pop culture.
But what makes the song so enduring? What keeps it showing up in playlists, films, and commercials decades after its release? A track that began its life as a 1988 La’s classic somehow found new wings in the closing stretch of the millennium. And in the case of Sixpence None the Richer, a band known for tender, melodic clarity, “There She Goes” wasn’t just another cover—it became a defining part of their identity. To understand its lasting glow, you have to embrace both versions: the jangly British original and the soft-focus American reinvention that helped introduce a new generation to one of the most effortlessly catchy songs ever written.
A Melody That Feels Like It Already Belongs to You
When Sixpence None the Richer recorded their version of “There She Goes,” they approached it with a lightness that suited their style. Leigh Nash’s vocals have always been the band’s secret weapon—breathy but steady, sweet but never cloying. On this track, she doesn’t overthink the melody. She just floats across it, letting the words land with a clarity that feels conversational.
The first few seconds of the song tell you everything you need to know. Those bright, chiming guitars—true to the spirit of The La’s original arrangement—guide the listener straight into familiar emotional territory. It’s the sound of a crush you can’t shake, a memory that won’t dissolve, or a moment of beauty that passes just fast enough to make you long for its return.
And while the song is famously debated for its lyrical meaning—some insist it’s about love, some argue it references addiction, others say it’s simply poetic ambiguity in motion—Sixpence None the Richer’s version leans wholly into innocence. Their interpretation feels like the soft-focus lens of a late ’90s rom-com. You can practically see the sunlit park bench, the hopeful smile, the slow-motion turn of the head.
1999: A Perfect Year for a Pop Resurgence
The year 1999 was an interesting moment in pop. Teen pop was exploding. Alternative rock still occupied a major part of radio. Soundtracks were becoming cultural touchpoints. And a handful of bands—like Sixpence None the Richer—thrived in the in-between, offering a blend of acoustic, alternative, and pop sweetness that felt like a palate cleanser.
“There She Goes” fit that era’s vibe perfectly. It was breezy, gentle, retro without being kitschy, and romantic without being dramatic. Coming off the massive success of “Kiss Me,” the band was already embraced by film studios, radio programmers, and MTV, who loved their soft, daydreamy aesthetic. Adding “There She Goes” to their self-titled album cemented their position as purveyors of delicate, melody-first pop.
And it wasn’t long before the song found itself woven into the fabric of late-’90s entertainment. It popped up in commercials, teen movies, and coming-of-age scenes—moments meant to evoke lightness and curiosity. The track moved beyond being a hit single and became a cultural shorthand for youthful yearning and breezy optimism.
The Simplicity That Works Every Time
One of the reasons the song remains so timeless is its structure. “There She Goes” is incredibly straightforward—no extended instrumental breaks, no surprising chord changes, no complex layers to untangle. It’s the definition of clean songwriting: a few chords, a repeating hook, and a melody that feels inevitable.
This simplicity is a huge part of its power. The repetition of the phrase “There she goes” becomes almost hypnotic. It mirrors the way a person with a crush might obsess over fleeting glances, imagining meaning in every movement. That “there she goes again” refrain is both excited and wistful, hopeful and resigned. It captures the universal feeling of watching someone slip just out of reach.
Sixpence None the Richer amplify that emotion by stripping away some of the rawness of The La’s version. Their version is smoother, softer, more dreamlike. It’s less about ache and more about allure. It’s not someone sitting awake all night thinking about the one who got away—it’s someone staring out a window, lost in a moment they wish would last just a little longer.
Nostalgia Wrapped in Guitar Strings
By the time the 2000s arrived, “There She Goes” had already secured a place in the nostalgia canon. But interestingly, it didn’t feel old. Instead, it became one of those crossover songs that appealed to different age groups in different ways. For Gen X, it recalled the jangly British indie rock of The La’s. For millennials, it conjured memories of late-’90s pop culture, summer soundtracks, and the earnest vibe of shows like Dawson’s Creek or movies like She’s All That.
Part of the magic is that the melody itself sounds nostalgic, regardless of when you hear it. There’s something quintessentially timeless about its sound—like it could have been written in any era. The gentle jangle of the guitars has echoes of ’60s pop. The melodic melancholy nods to ’80s alternative. And the airy sweetness of Nash’s vocals grounds it in the ’90s without trapping it there.
The song doesn’t ask you to think—it asks you to feel. And that’s why it continues to find new audiences.
Vocals That Glow Without Trying
Leigh Nash deserves a lot of credit for why this song continues to resonate. Her tone is one of those unmistakable voices—soft as a sigh, steady as a heartbeat. On “There She Goes,” she sings with a kind of wistful detachment that fits the theme perfectly. She isn’t belting, she isn’t performing theatrically—she’s simply telling you how she feels.
There’s a purity in her approach that keeps the song from ever feeling dated. Even in an era when vocal gymnastics were becoming increasingly popular, Nash’s restraint stood out. She invited the listener in rather than overwhelming them.
And because the melody is so light, her voice almost becomes another instrument—blending seamlessly with the guitars, carried forward by the rhythm, becoming part of the atmosphere rather than dominating it. The track is a reminder that vocal subtlety can be just as emotionally potent as power.
A Cover That Became Its Own Legacy
Sometimes a cover version disappears into the shadow of the original. Other times it becomes the definitive version for a new generation. Sixpence None the Richer’s take on “There She Goes” managed to do both simultaneously: it honored the original while standing confidently on its own.
Fans who first heard the song in 1999 often think of Sixpence’s version first—not because it’s better or more iconic universally, but because it was introduced to them during a formative moment in pop culture. The version you grow up with becomes the version that lives in your heart.
And that’s the mark of a truly great cover: when it becomes part of the cultural DNA of more than one generation.
Why It Still Works Today
“There She Goes” continues to thrive because it captures a feeling that never goes out of style—infatuation mixed with admiration, longing softened by sweetness, the ache of wanting something you can’t quite reach. There’s no cynicism in the song, no bitterness, no heartbreak. It’s pure, uncomplicated yearning.
In a world where music keeps getting bigger, louder, and more polished, there’s something refreshing about a song that doesn’t need to do much to make you feel something. That breezy guitar line and airy vocal hook still have the power to lift spirits, brighten mornings, and soundtrack moments of quiet hope.
For all its simplicity, “There She Goes” is a reminder that not every great song needs drama. Sometimes all you need is a few perfect chords, a gentle melody, and a voice that feels like a breeze drifting through an open window.
And decades after its release in 1999, Sixpence None the Richer’s cover still sparkles—light, wistful, and endlessly replayable.
