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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Grand Canyon
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd echo everything you say
But I'm just me
I'm only me and you used to love me that way
So you know how to love me that way
If I was Paul Bunyan I'd carry you so far away
And you used to love me that way
So you know how to love me that way
The Magnetic Fields's song, Grand Canyon, is a poignant rendition of a lover's remorse over a relationship that has gone sour. The lyrics of the song are introspective and full of wistful longing. The song begins with the admission that if the singer were the Grand Canyon, the natural wonder that echoes everything said to it, then he would gladly echo everything that his former lover says. However, he is just himself, an ordinary individual, who is subject to his own thoughts and emotions.
The tone of the song is one of regret and sadness. The singer seems to be expressing that he is not who he once was and has lost the love that his partner once had for him. He says, "I'm only me and you used to love me that way, so you know how to love me that way." This line is a powerful statement about the nature of relationships and how they change over time. The singer seems to be acknowledging that he has lost something that was once special and unique, and he is mourning the loss of that love.
Overall, "Grand Canyon" is a poignant reflection on the nature of love and relationships. The lyrics are introspective and full of regret, but they also capture the deep emotions that come with the end of a relationship. The song is a reminder that sometimes love is not enough to sustain a relationship, and we must learn to grow and change in a way that allows us to hold onto the things that matter most.
Line by Line Meaning
If I was the Grand Canyon
If I had the strength and power of a natural wonder
I'd echo everything you say
I'd listen intently and repeat every word you speak
But I'm just me
I'm only a regular person
I'm only me and you used to love me that way
I haven't changed, but you don't love me in the same way anymore
So you know how to love me that way
You possess the ability to love me like you used to
If I was Paul Bunyan I'd carry you so far away
If I had the strength of a folklore giant, I would take you away with me
But I'm just me I'm only me
Again, I'm just a regular person
And you used to love me that way
Just a gentle reminder that the love they once had was a powerful force
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind