Bubsy Berkeley Dreams
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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I should have forgotten you long ago
But you're in every song I know
Whining and pining is wrong and so
On and so forth, of course of course
But no, you can't have a divorce

I haven't seen you in ages
But it's not as bleak as it seems
We still dance on whirling stages
In my Busby Berkeley dreams
The tears have stained all the pages
Of my True Romance magazines
We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
Busby Berkeley dreams

And now you want to leave me for good
I refuse to believe you could
You forget we're not made of wood
Well darling you may do your worst
Because you'll have to kill me first

I haven't seen you in ages
But it's not as bleak as it seems
We still dance on whirling stages
In my Busby Berkeley dreams
The tears have stained all the pages
Of my True Romance magazines
We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
Busby Berkeley dreams

I haven't seen you in ages
But it's not as bleak as it seems
We still dance on whirling stages
In my Busby Berkeley dreams
The tears have stained all the pages
Of my True Romance magazines
We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
Busby Berkeley dreams





Do you think it's dangerous
To have Busby Berkeley dreams?

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song "Bubsy Berkeley Dreams" portrays the theme of an unrequited love of someone who lives only in the dreams of the singer. The song opens with the singer acknowledging that they should have let go of this love long ago, but they can't, and their lover is a constant reminder through every song they know. The singer even mentions that it is wrong to whine and pine for someone, but they cannot change how they feel, and divorce is not an option.


The song progresses to speak of the sentimental nature of their dreams. The singer expresses that they have not seen their love in ages; however, it is not as gloomy as it seems. The two still dance in the singer's Busby Berkeley dreams, a tribute to the luxurious choreographed dance sequences that the film director Busby Berkeley was famous for. The tears shed for their love have even left a stain on the pages of their True Romance magazines, adding to the sentimental value of their dreams.


However, the song concludes with a sobering realization. The singer acknowledges that their love is leaving them for good, but they refuse to believe it. They plead their lover not to forget that they are not made of wood and to do their worst, but they will have to kill them first. The last line of the song raises a question, "Do you think it's dangerous to have Busby Berkeley dreams?," leaving an open interpretation to what the singer means by dangerous.


Line by Line Meaning

I should have forgotten you long ago
I've been holding onto this relationship for too long


But you're in every song I know
Everything reminds me of you


Whining and pining is wrong and so
I know I'm being pathetic


On and so forth, of course of course,
I'm just repeating myself at this point


But no, you can't have a divorce
I can't let go of this relationship


I haven't seen you in ages
We haven't been in contact for a long time


But it's not as bleak as it seems
I still have hope for us


We still dance on whirling stages
In my dreams, we're still together


In my Busby Berkeley dreams
I escape into nostalgic fantasies


The tears have stained all the pages
I've been crying over you


Of my True Romance magazines
Even things that are supposed to bring joy remind me of you


We still dance in my outrageously beautiful
In my dreams, everything is perfect and glamorous


And now you want to leave me for good
You want to end things for real


I refuse to believe you could
I don't want to accept the reality of the situation


You forget we're not made of wood
We have feelings and attachments


Well darling you may do your worst
Even if you hurt me, I'll still hold on


Because you'll have to kill me first
I'll never give up on you


Do you think it's dangerous
Is it unhealthy to hold onto these dreams?


To have Busby Berkeley dreams?
To escape into a perfect fantasy world?




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Raymond Merritt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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