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'd Go Anywhere with Hugh
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hugh's the kind of boy I take to
Mother of God, if he only knew
I'd go anywhere with Hugh
I'd do anything for him
Sacre-bleu when the lights are dim
I'd entertain each and every whim
I love Hugh
And Hugh loves you
You love me
And he does not
I don't love you
You don't love Hugh
What a sad gevalt
Hugh'd go anywhere with you
Hugh would take you to Timbukto
You would do anything for me
Me, I'd go anywhere with Hugh
Who'd do anything for you
Who'd go anywhere with me
I'd do anything for Hugh
He would go anywhere with you
The Magnetic Fields' song "I'd Go Anywhere With Hugh" tells a story of unrequited love and longing. The lyrics describe the singer's devotion to a boy named Hugh, whom she is completely enamored with. She sings of her willingness to go anywhere and do anything for him, even if he doesn't reciprocate her affections. The lyrics are filled with desperation, highlighting the singer's deep feelings for Hugh.
The song's chorus, "I love Hugh and Hugh loves you, you love me and he does not," emphasizes the complexity of the relationships in the song. The singer's love for Hugh is not returned, while the person Hugh loves is unnamed. The singer is left feeling excluded and brokenhearted. Despite this, she still wishes to be with Hugh and would go anywhere with him.
Line by Line Meaning
I'd go anywhere with Hugh
I am willing to travel anywhere with Hugh.
Hugh's the kind of boy I take to
Hugh is the type of person I like to be with.
Mother of God, if he only knew
If Hugh only knew my true feelings, I would be overjoyed.
I'd do anything for him
I am willing to do anything to make Hugh happy.
Sacre-bleu when the lights are dim
Even in the dark, I would still do anything for Hugh.
I'd entertain each and every whim
I am willing to indulge Hugh's every desire or fancy.
I love Hugh
I have romantic feelings for Hugh.
And Hugh loves you
Hugh has feelings for someone else, not me.
You love me
Someone loves me, but it's not Hugh.
And he does not
Hugh does not love me romantically.
I don't love you
I do not have romantic feelings for the person who loves me.
You don't love Hugh
The person who loves me is not in love with Hugh.
What a sad gevalt
What a sad turn of events.
Hugh'd go anywhere with you
Hugh would accompany another person anywhere they wanted to go.
Hugh would take you to Timbukto
Hugh would travel to any location with another person.
You would do anything for me
The person who loves me is willing to do anything to make me happy.
Me, I'd go anywhere with Hugh
I am still willing to travel anywhere with Hugh.
Who'd do anything for you
Hugh is also willing to do anything to make the person who loves me happy.
Who'd go anywhere with me
Hugh is also willing to travel anywhere with the person who loves me.
I'd do anything for Hugh
Once again, I am willing to do anything to make Hugh happy.
He would go anywhere with you
Hugh is willing to accompany the person who loves me anywhere they want to go.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind