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/
I
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So beautiful and strong
Each day you pass my way
In your bubble where nothing goes wrong
You think your youth
A permanent truth
But here is a tear for your eye:
I die
The Magnetic Fields's song "I Die" is a complex portrayal of unrequited love and the agony that comes with it. The lyrics are filled with intense emotion that reflects the pain of loving someone who is undoubtedly beautiful, but who is also out of reach. As the singer of the song sees this person walk by every day, he slowly withers away, unable to bear the weight of his unrequited love.
The imagery in the song is powerful, as the singer sees the object of his affections as being beautiful and strong. This creates a sense of awe in him, as he is drawn to this person's physical and emotional power. However, there is also a sense of isolation and sadness that permeates the lyrics, as the singer acknowledges that he is not a part of the person's life, only an observer from afar.
The final lines of the song are particularly poignant, as the singer mourns the loss of his ability to feel deeply. He is so consumed by his love for this person that he has forgotten how to cry, which is a testament to the intensity of the emotion he is experiencing. Overall, "I Die" is a powerful and moving portrayal of love and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
I die when you walk by
Your presence overwhelms me and I feel as though I cease to exist.
So beautiful and strong
You possess both physical attractiveness and emotional fortitude, qualities which make it harder for me to resist your charms.
Each day you pass my way
Your regular and consistent appearance in my surroundings only intensifies the effect you have on me.
In your bubble where nothing goes wrong
You live in a seemingly perfect world where problems don't affect you, but I am not a part of that world and constantly face hardships.
You think your youth
You believe that your current state of being is impervious to the effects of time.
A permanent truth
You perceive your youthful state as an unchangeable and perpetual fact of your existence.
But here is a tear for your eye:
Despite my admiration for you, I offer you my sympathy and sadness for the fact that you will eventually face adversity as well.
Having forgotten how to cry
Your emotional detachment has caused you to lose touch with your capacity for expressing emotions or empathizing with others.
I die
Your youth and beauty highlight my own shortcomings and vulnerabilities, causing me to balk in comparison and feel as though a part of me has died.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind