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)
http://www.houseoftomorrow.com/
From A Sinking Boat
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With a sickening sound
This little boat
Ran aground
The mast is twisted, the hull is breached
One high tide and it'll be beached
If I could walk, I'd walk away
The ink is sinking, the page is blurred
And I can't read a single word
But I know I love you,
Know what I wrote
My last words to you
From a sinking boat.
The Magnetic Fields's "From A Sinking Boat" is a poignant song about a relationship on the brink of collapse, using the metaphor of a boat sinking in the middle of the night. The lyrics depict a scene of despair and hopelessness, as the singer describes their boat running aground with a "sickening sound." The imagery of a damaged mast and breached hull give a sense of danger and tragedy, as one high tide could be the final blow to their doomed vessel.
The singer's desperation is palpable as they describe their inability to walk away from this sinking ship. Sleep-deprived and disoriented, they struggle to read a page of scribbled ink that has become blurred with tears. The only thing that remains clear in their mind is their love for their partner, and the final words they penned to them before their inevitable demise.
The raw emotion depicted in this song is a hallmark of The Magnetic Fields, with heartbreaking lyrics set against a simple, haunting melody. From A Sinking Boat is a testament to the fragility of love and the pain of letting go.
Line by Line Meaning
In the middle of the night,
It is dark and quiet when the events are taking place.
With a sickening sound
The boat made an unpleasant noise.
This little boat
The boat is small.
Ran aground
The boat came to a sudden stop on land.
The mast is twisted, the hull is breached
The boat's mast is bent and its structure is damaged.
One high tide and it'll be beached
If the water rises again, the boat will be stuck on land.
If I could walk, I'd walk away
The singer would leave if they could.
But I haven't slept since yesterday
The artist has been awake for a long time.
The ink is sinking, the page is blurred
The writing on the paper is being destroyed by water.
And I can't read a single word
The artist can no longer make out the words on the paper.
But I know I love you,
Despite the chaos, the singer is sure of their love for someone.
Know what I wrote
The artist is aware of what they wrote on the paper.
My last words to you
This is the final message the singer is sending to someone.
From a sinking boat.
The singer is writing this from a boat that is in danger of sinking.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind