The band was originally formed in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1990 by friends Merritt and (percussionist/pianist/vocalist) Claudia Gonson. While 1991's Distant Plastic Trees and 1992's The Wayward Bus (now most easily available together as a compilation, The Wayward Bus / Distant Plastic Trees) are sung by Susan Anway (b. 1951 - d. 2021), all subsequent albums are principally sung by Merritt himself.
Longtime members include: Gonson, (cellist) Sam Davol, and (banjo player/guitarist) John Woo. Contributors include (but are not limited to) the singers Susan Anway, Dudley Klute, Shirley Simms, and LD Beghtol, and the accordionist/writer Daniel Handler (famous for writing the childrens' books A Series of Unfortunate Events under the alias Lemony Snicket).
Their most popular and best-selling album to date is 69 Love Songs issued on Merge Records as a triple album filled with many fairly short songs that are reminiscent of early Beatles productions.
The album is notable for its employment of many unorthodox musical arrangements and downright impressive quantity of material presented. Instruments used on this album include the ukulele, banjo, accordion, cello, mandolin, piano, flute, xylophone guitars, various percussion instruments, and a standard setup of synths and effects. It features several guest vocalists on several different tracks. The album is a three CD set, released in the US as three separate albums (also available as a boxed set) and in the UK as a triple album.
The album i (2004, Nonesuch Records) continues Merritt's fixation on the concept album, with each of the 14 songs beginning with the letter (and often the pronoun) "I".
The album Distortion, was released through Nonesuch on the 15th January 2008 and introduced noise pop to the array of styles utilized in their music. The album's release was followed by a sold-out U.S. tour starting in February. Additional albums followed in 2010, 2012, 2017, and 2020.
Stephin Merritt is involved in several other musical projects: The 6ths (featuring different guest performers on every track), The Gothic Archies (songs dealing humorously with dark themes) and Future Bible Heroes (with music written by Chris Ewen)
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03. Busby Berkeley Dreams
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you're in every song I know
Whining and pining is wrong and so
On and so forth, of course of course,
But no, you can't have a divorce
I haven't seen you in ages
But it's not as bleak as it seems
In my Busby Berkeley dreams
The tears have stained all the pages
Of my True Romance magazines
We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
Busby Berkeley dreams
And now you want to leave me for good
I refuse to believe you could
You forget we're not made of wood
Well darling you may do your worst
Because you'll have to kill me first
Do you think it's dangerous
To have Busby Berkeley dreams?
The Magnetic Fields's song "Bubsy Berkeley Dreams" portrays the theme of an unrequited love of someone who lives only in the dreams of the singer. The song opens with the singer acknowledging that they should have let go of this love long ago, but they can't, and their lover is a constant reminder through every song they know. The singer even mentions that it is wrong to whine and pine for someone, but they cannot change how they feel, and divorce is not an option.
The song progresses to speak of the sentimental nature of their dreams. The singer expresses that they have not seen their love in ages; however, it is not as gloomy as it seems. The two still dance in the singer's Busby Berkeley dreams, a tribute to the luxurious choreographed dance sequences that the film director Busby Berkeley was famous for. The tears shed for their love have even left a stain on the pages of their True Romance magazines, adding to the sentimental value of their dreams.
However, the song concludes with a sobering realization. The singer acknowledges that their love is leaving them for good, but they refuse to believe it. They plead their lover not to forget that they are not made of wood and to do their worst, but they will have to kill them first. The last line of the song raises a question, "Do you think it's dangerous to have Busby Berkeley dreams?," leaving an open interpretation to what the singer means by dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
I should have forgotten you long ago
I've been holding onto this relationship for too long
But you're in every song I know
Everything reminds me of you
Whining and pining is wrong and so
I know I'm being pathetic
On and so forth, of course of course,
I'm just repeating myself at this point
But no, you can't have a divorce
I can't let go of this relationship
I haven't seen you in ages
We haven't been in contact for a long time
But it's not as bleak as it seems
I still have hope for us
We still dance on whirling stages
In my dreams, we're still together
In my Busby Berkeley dreams
I escape into nostalgic fantasies
The tears have stained all the pages
I've been crying over you
Of my True Romance magazines
Even things that are supposed to bring joy remind me of you
We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
In my dreams, everything is perfect and glamorous
And now you want to leave me for good
You want to end things for real
I refuse to believe you could
I don't want to accept the reality of the situation
You forget we're not made of wood
We have feelings and attachments
Well darling you may do your worst
Even if you hurt me, I'll still hold on
Because you'll have to kill me first
I'll never give up on you
Do you think it's dangerous
Is it unhealthy to hold onto these dreams?
To have Busby Berkeley dreams?
To escape into a perfect fantasy world?
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind