A Chicken With It
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Eligible, not too stupid
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
Who'd fall in love with a chicken with its head cut off?
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

Overall Meaning

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
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