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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Andrew In Drag
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A shame he's not a fag
The only girl I ever loved was
Andrew in drag
There is no hope of love for me
From here on I'm a stag
The only girl I'll ever love is
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Yeah
I don't know why I even went
It's really not my bag
Just thought it might be funny to see
Andrew in drag
The moment he walked on the stage
My tail began to wag
Wag like a little wiener dog for
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Yeah
I've always been a ladies' man
And I don't have to brag
But I become a momma's boy for
Andrew in drag
I'd sign away my trust fund
I would even sell the Jag
If I could spend my misspent youth with
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Andrew in drag
Yeah
So stick him in a dress and
He's the only boy I'd shag
The only boy I'd anything is
Andrew in drag
I'll never see that girl again
He did it as a gag
I'll pine away forevermore for
Andrew in drag
The Magnetic Fields' "Andrew in Drag" is a song that tells a story of an unexpected love for a man in drag. The singer comments that it's a shame that the woman he loves doesn't exist, and the man he loves isn't gay. The only girl he ever loved was the man in drag, Andrew. From that moment on, he sees no hope of love because he's turned into a stag. He confesses that he's always been a ladies' man, but he becomes a momma's boy for Andrew in drag.
The singer saw Andrew in drag on stage as a joke or maybe because he thought it would be funny. When Andrew entered the stage, the singer's tail began to wag like that of a little wiener dog. Despite being a ladies' man, he speaks of signing away his trust fund and selling his car to relive his misspent youth with Andrew. He admits that the only boy he'd shag is Andrew in drag. The singer concludes the song by saying that although he pines away forevermore for Andrew in drag, he knows he'll never see that girl again because Andrew did it as a gag.
Line by Line Meaning
A pity she does not exist
The singer regrets that the perfect girl doesn't actually exist.
A shame he's not a fag
The singer wishes the perfect girl was actually a gay man so they could pursue a relationship.
The only girl I ever loved was
Andrew in drag
The singer reveals that 'Andrew in drag' is the one that they really love and not an actual girl.
There is no hope of love for me
From here on I'm a stag
The artist has lost hope of finding love and will remain single.
Andrew in drag
Repetition of the person's name, emphasizing their importance to the artist.
I don't know why I even went
It's really not my bag
The singer questions their own motives for attending the show and admits that cross-dressing is not something they typically enjoy.
Just thought it might be funny to see
Andrew in drag
The singer is watching the show for comedic purposes, but is primarily interested in seeing 'Andrew in drag'.
The moment he walked on the stage
My tail began to wag
The artist was immediately enamored with 'Andrew in drag', experiencing physical arousal at their appearance.
Wag like a little wiener dog for
Andrew in drag
The artist's physical attraction to 'Andrew in drag' is compared to the excited tail-wagging of a small dog.
I've always been a ladies' man
And I don't have to brag
But I become a momma's boy for
Andrew in drag
The artist typically pursues romantic relationships with women, but is willing to deviate from this pattern for 'Andrew in drag'.
I'd sign away my trust fund
I would even sell the Jag
If I could spend my misspent youth with
Andrew in drag
The singer is willing to give up their wealth and luxury to be with 'Andrew in drag', hoping to recapture their lost youth with them.
So stick him in a dress and
He's the only boy I'd shag
The only boy I'd anything is
Andrew in drag
The artist is attracted to 'Andrew in drag' specifically, not simply to men in general.
I'll never see that girl again
He did it as a gag
I'll pine away forevermore for
Andrew in drag
The singer realizes that 'Andrew in drag' was likely just performing for comedic purposes and that they will never be able to be with them. They will always love and long for 'Andrew in drag'.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
N T
I'm 23 and I've been going in and out of the closet to myself for years and this song found me just as I finally decided I to admit to myself I'm a boy. this is such a song
Jimbo Slice
‘Boys have a penis girls have a vagina’ - Sun Tzu
Ster
A man.
Sam
<3
Lauren
Congratulations bruv!!
BethGoth15
Not that long ago, I wrote a short story inspired by this classic. A teenage boy named Andrew was bullied for his stammer and he never wanted to speak. His teacher encouraged him to enter the school's talent show, which he did. He performed Andrew in Drag in drag 😂 He was terrible and lost, but in the end, he was confident enough to speak.
monke
That sounds really stupid. He sung a love song about himself that has nothing to do with self esteem and uses the f slur?
MEOWWWWWW
I love that did you make it a comic?
SpikeLee3000
I feel bad for the homophobes; they're missing out on some amazing music. I'm straight and The Magnetic Fields are my all-time favorite band.
Andrew Collette
@Rafael 5 Month old comment