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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All the Umbrellas in London
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I could be all right
It'll make a good song or something
I've been trying to give
Myself reasons to live
But I really can't think of one thing
I walk around in circles
'Cause I've got no sense of direction
I guess I've got no sense at all
All the umbrellas in London couldn't stop this rain
And all the dope in New York couldn't kill this pain
And all the money in Tokyo couldn't make me stay
All the umbrellas in London couldn't stop this rain
I don't cry anymore
I walk out the door
And I usually keep on walking
I may sit in a bar
Where the cocktails are
But I really don't feel like talking
I ride around
And let the darkness fall
'Cause I got a sense of perfection
And nothing makes much sense at all
All the umbrellas in London couldn't stop this rain
And all the dope in New York couldn't kill this pain
And all the money in Tokyo couldn't make me stay
All the umbrellas in London couldn't stop this rain
The Magnetic Fields' "All the Umbrellas in London" presents a hopeless and melancholic attitude towards life. The singer contemplates the possibility of dying throughout the night but acknowledges that if they were to survive, it might result in a good song. The singer has been trying to find reasons to keep on living but hasn't been able to find any hope. They drive and walk around without any genuine direction, displaying their loss of purpose.
The singer clearly experiences a great amount of pain and feels isolated from the world. They state that all the umbrellas in London couldn't stop this rain, meaning that there is nothing that can shield them from the various hardships they're faced with. They acknowledge that all the drugs in New York couldn't ease their pain and all the money in Tokyo couldn't make them stay. They don't cry anymore and instead leave with a sense of desolation. The singer acknowledges their understanding of the meaninglessness of everything around them when they state that they ride around and let the darkness fall because they have a sense of perfection, but nothing else makes much sense at all.
Line by Line Meaning
If I live through the night
Surviving the night will mean that things might get better
I could be all right
Things have been bad, but maybe there is hope for improvement
It'll make a good song or something
Even if things continue to be bad, at least they can be turned into art
I've been trying to give
The artist has been attempting to find reasons to live
Myself reasons to live
The artist wants to have a purpose to keep going
But I really can't think of one thing
Despite attempts, the singer is unable to find a reason to keep living
I drive around
The singer goes on aimless drives
I walk around in circles
The artist wanders aimlessly
'Cause I've got no sense of direction
The artist is lost and doesn't have a clear path or goal
I guess I've got no sense at all
The artist feels directionless and lost in life
All the umbrellas in London couldn't stop this rain
The singer is going through something that can't be stopped or fixed, even if they had all the tools available
And all the dope in New York couldn't kill this pain
The artist is in emotional pain that can't be numbed with drugs
And all the money in Tokyo couldn't make me stay
Money can't keep the singer from leaving or escaping their problems
I don't cry anymore
The singer is past the point of tears and is numb
I walk out the door
The singer leaves their environment
And I usually keep on walking
The artist is constantly moving forward and looking for a way out
I may sit in a bar
The artist might try to distract themselves or self-medicate with alcohol
Where the cocktails are
The bar is a place with alcohol and other distractions
But I really don't feel like talking
The singer doesn't feel like opening up or being around people
I ride around
The artist continues to aimlessly drive around
And let the darkness fall
The artist lets the dark emotions consume them
'Cause I got a sense of perfection
The artist is striving for perfection in their life
And nothing makes much sense at all
Despite striving for perfection, things still feel chaotic and messy
Contributed by Samuel V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SweetMisirie
Sad songs usually make me more depressed, but the magnetic fields just make me think: "at least someone else has lived through this misery."
New Dawnfades
"I've got a sense of perfection, and nothing makes much sense at all." The greatest cynics are the most disappointed and disillusioned romantics once we are given hope and then eventually are betrayed too many times to count. This song captures it perfectly. Except it's usually the betrayer who walks out the door. Law of diminishing returns or just weariness at starting all over again, perhaps.
Kyky Ahonen
This is some 4-track excellense in action there! Merritt has never bettered this, the song is so strong!
cricketeliz7 Hamilton
I could listen to this song on repeat for days and never tire of it. As a musician, I ponder why this is? If I think too much about it, it may ruin the appeal, so I'll just let this wonder of a song work it's way into my being and not worry about it too much.
M.J. Kalloor
perfect vocal poise and delivery
tubingtubing1
I feel the same and have wondered too. The instrumentation is brilliant: that sharp ostinato in the programmed hi-hat (like the drip of rain on a tin roof), counterbalanced with Merritt's flat, weighed-down vocals, and then the lush, warm, chugging sounds of the other instruments (which I can't make out very well). It's comforting and restless, hopeful and despondent at the same time.
Ashley Kimm
obviously one of my favorite songs ever. the lyrics are simplistic but gorgeouuuuus. <3
Lynx Dominance
Great stuff... Get Lost is an incredible album...
Belljargrrrl
One of my favorites. Such an amazing band!
Catcoon Catcher
I love how it sounds like it's raining.