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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Acoustic Guitar
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm gonna make you a star
Get your picture all over the world
Acoustic Guitar
You can have your own car
Just bring me back my girl
You made her think, maybe, I wasn't so dumb
She tends to faint at the sound of a drum
'Cause she's focused and planned, maybe she'll come
Acoustic Guitar, how lovely you are
With your inlays of mother of pearl
Be a good guitar and you could go far
Just bring me back my girl
She always said that you were the one
That could make her move her cute little bum
You understand where she's coming from
Which I obviously don't, or she wouldn't be gone
Acoustic guitar, if you think I play hard
Well you could of belonged to Steve Earle
Or Charo or GWAR, I could sell you tomorrow
So bring me back my girl
You'd better bring me back my girl
The Magnetic Fields' song Acoustic Guitar is about a man who is desperate to get back his girl, and so turns to his guitar to try to win her back. The guitar is personified as a being with feelings and a possible pathway back to his lost love. The singer sees the guitar as a valuable commodity, even offering to sell it, as long as it helps him win his girl back. He credits the guitar with being a catalyst for bringing him closer to his love. In his mind, the guitar can make him famous and get him everything, including his girl, but only if he has it by his side.
The phrase "Acoustic Guitar" is repeated throughout the song, acting as a motif that ties the lyrics together. It also emphasizes the importance of the guitar as a tool for the singer to get what he wants. The guitar, in this song, symbolizes the singer's hopes and dreams, desires, and love.
The chorus of the song, where the singer pleads for the return of his girl, highlights a feeling of desperation to get back what he has lost. He believes that with the guitar by his side, he will be unstoppable and believes that the guitar has the power to bring him closer to his love. In summary, the Magnetic Fields' Acoustic Guitar is a desperate plea from a man who believes his guitar is his only hope to get back his lost love.
Interesting Facts
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna make you a star
The singer plans on showcasing the acoustic guitar's musical talent in order to gain fame and recognition.
Get your picture all over the world
The singer aims to promote the acoustic guitar's music on a widespread scale to make it more popular.
You can have your own car
If the acoustic guitar performs well, the singer promises to reward it with its own means of transportation.
Just bring me back my girl
The artist has a motive behind promoting the guitar's music, which is to reunite with his girlfriend.
She always loved the sound of your strum
The artist's girlfriend was fond of the acoustic guitar's unique sound and enjoyed listening to it frequently.
You made her think, maybe, I wasn't so dumb
The acoustic guitar's music resonated with the girlfriend, who began to believe that her partner might not be as foolish as she thought he was.
She tends to faint at the sound of a drum
The girlfriend disliked loud and intense music, to the point where it would cause her to become dizzy and faint.
'Cause she's focused and planned, maybe she'll come
The girlfriend was focused and organized, perhaps leading the artist to hope that she would eventually return to him.
Acoustic Guitar, how lovely you are
The artist admires the physical appearance of the acoustic guitar and appreciates its beauty.
With your inlays of mother of pearl
The artist notices the intricate design details of the acoustic guitar, such as the mother of pearl inlays.
Be a good guitar and you could go far
The singer encourages the guitar to perform well, promising it success if it does so.
She always said that you were the one
The girlfriend believed that the acoustic guitar was special and had the ability to move her emotionally.
That could make her move her cute little bum
The girlfriend enjoyed dancing to the acoustic guitar's music and was physically moved by it.
You understand where she's coming from
The acoustic guitar has the ability to connect with the girlfriend's emotions and musical preferences.
Which I obviously don't, or she wouldn't be gone
The singer acknowledges that he may have not understood his girlfriend's interests and personality, leading to their separation.
Acoustic guitar, if you think I play hard
The artist warns the guitar that he may play it roughly or aggressively.
Well you could of belonged to Steve Earle
The acoustic guitar's talent is compared to a professional musician like Steve Earle.
Or Charo or GWAR, I could sell you tomorrow
The singer has the option to sell the guitar to other musicians or interested parties if it performs well enough.
So bring me back my girl
The main motive behind the narration of the song is reiterated, requesting the acoustic guitar to help the singer reunite with his girlfriend.
You'd better bring me back my girl
The urgency and importance of the guitar's role is emphasized, with the guitar being held responsible for the potential reunion of the couple.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind