All the Umbrellas in London
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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If I live through the night
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 drive around
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

Overall Meaning

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.
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Comments from YouTube:

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.

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