08. Bitter Tears
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Bitter tears keep me going
Through the years, freely flowing
What have you done
Only a gun

Could stop these bitter tears
The endless streets I walk along
You made them seem pretty
But no I dress in country songs

And wake in New York City
I cry because it looks so good
I cry, why not, it's free
And there's nothing more interesting





Than crying constantly

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's 08. Bitter Tears song is a remarkable piece that depicts the struggles of trying to move on from a past affair. Here we see the singer, despite trying to stay away from their past love, is still struggling to let go. The lyrics "Bitter tears keep me going, through the years, freely flowing, what have you done, only a gun could stop these bitter tears" highlight how painful and unyielding the singer's emotions are, and how their sorrow seems like the only constant in their life.


Additionally, the lines "...you made them seem pretty, but now I dress in country songs, and wake in New York City" allude to the idea that urbanization and the fast-paced city lifestyle only serve as a temporary respite for the singer's suffering. They express how no amount of external stimulation, like music or the city, can fully alleviate the pain and how they are forced to accept and confront their feelings, regardless of how overwhelming it may be.


The final lines, "I cry because it looks so good; I cry, why not, it's free, and there's nothing more interesting than crying constantly," reflect on how crying serves as an emotional release for the singer, a way to cope with their unrequited love. Through the repetition of crying, the singer's emotions may become trivialized, and their constant sorrow may become more manageable for the damaged protagonist.


Line by Line Meaning

Bitter tears keep me going
Continual sadness is what fuels me


Through the years, freely flowing
Sadness is something that has never stopped coming out of me


What have you done
What impact have you made on my life?


Only a gun
The only way for me to stop feeling this way is with a drastic measure


Could stop these bitter tears
There seems to be no other way to stop the flow of my sadness


The endless streets I walk along
I am constantly trying to find a way out of my sadness


You made them seem pretty
In the past, you made it seem like there was beauty in the pain


But no I dress in country songs
Now, I am trying to find comfort in simplistic and relatable music


And wake in New York City
I find myself alone in a city that never sleeps, which only adds to my sadness


I cry because it looks so good
Sometimes, it feels like the only way to feel anything is through tears


I cry, why not, it's free
Why not let out my emotions if it doesn't cost me anything?


And there's nothing more interesting
My sadness has become my source of fascination




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

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