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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A Chicken With It
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Intelligable and cute as Cupid
Knowledgable but not always right
Salvageable and free for the night
Well, my heart's running 'round like a chicken with its head cut off
All around the barnyard, falling in and out of love
Poor thing's blind as a bat, getting up, falling down, getting up
Woah, nelly!
My wife doesn't understand me
Many dozens hope to land me
I'm for free love and I'm in free fall
This could be love or nothing at all
But my heart's running 'round like a chicken with its head cut off
All around the barnyard, falling in and out of love
The poor thing's blind as a bat, getting up, falling down, getting up
Who'd fall in love with a chicken with its head cut off?
We don't have to be stars exploding in the night, or electric eels under the covers
We don't have to be anything quite so unreal, let's just be lovers
Well, my heart's running 'round like a chicken with its head cut off
All around the barnyard, falling in and out of love
The poor thing's blind as a bat, getting up, falling down, getting up
Who'd fall in love with a chicken with its head cut off?
It ain't pretty
The Magnetic Fields' song "A Chicken With Its Head Cut Off" is a comical and quirky song about the theme of falling in and out of love. The song begins with a list of desirable qualities in a partner - eligible, not too stupid, intelligible, cute as cupid, knowledgeable, and salvageable - which seems to suggest that the singer is searching for the perfect partner. However, the chorus stands as a stark contrast to the verses, as the singer compares their heart to a chicken with its head cut off, blindly running around the barnyard, getting up and falling down, and falling in and out of love.
The lyrics go on to touch upon the singer's relationship with their wife, who doesn't seem to understand them. The singer acknowledges that many people hope to land them, but they're all for free love and in free fall. The singer compares their feelings to love, but there's also the possibility that it's nothing at all. The song then ends with lyrics that suggest that love doesn't need to be grandiose or unrealistic - it can just be two people in love.
Line by Line Meaning
Eligible, not too stupid
I am suitable for love and not considered highly unintelligent
Intelligable and cute as Cupid
I am understandable and charming just like the Roman God of love and desire
Knowledgable but not always right
I possess knowledge but it doesn't always equate to being correct
Salvageable and free for the night
I can be saved or rescued and available for a night without any commitments
Well, my heart's running 'round like a chicken with its head cut off
My emotions are frenzied and erratic
All around the barnyard, falling in and out of love
I am constantly experiencing love, but it is not consistent
Poor thing's blind as a bat, getting up, falling down, getting up
Despite being visually challenged, I continue to persist in finding love despite repeated failures
Who'd fall in love with a chicken with its head cut off?
Why would anyone choose to fall in love with someone so scatterbrained and emotionally unstable?
Woah, nelly!
An expression of disbelief or shock.
My wife doesn't understand me
My spouse doesn't comprehend my true feelings and emotions.
Many dozens hope to land me
There are many people vying for my love and attention.
I'm for free love and I'm in free fall
I believe in open relationships and currently, my feelings are rapidly changing.
This could be love or nothing at all
My current relationship has the potential to be love, or it could end up being nothing at all.
We don't have to be stars exploding in the night, or electric eels under the covers
Our love doesn't have to be intense or passionate like fireworks or dangerous like electric eels.
We don't have to be anything quite so unreal, let's just be lovers
We don't need to have unrealistic expectations of love, instead, we should focus on just being in a loving relationship.
It ain't pretty
The reality of my emotional state and love life is not aesthetically pleasing.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind