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 Die
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' song "I Die" is a poignant reflection on the intense emotions of unrequited love. The lyrics describe the singer's experience of being so deeply enamored with someone that their mere presence sends them into a state of emotional turmoil. The first line alone sets the tone of the song: "I die when you walk by." This hyperbolic statement encapsulates the singer's overwhelming feelings. The object of their affection is "so beautiful and strong," and embodies all the qualities they find most captivating. However, the singer is aware that they are trapped in a one-sided relationship, as the object of their love remains happily ensconced in their own "bubble where nothing goes wrong."
The second verse contains one of the most striking images in the song: "You think your youth / A permanent truth / But here is a tear for your eye / Having forgotten how to cry / I die." This passage speaks to the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, and the singer's wistful recognition that their beloved will one day face the same struggles and hardships that beset us all. The key phrase here is "having forgotten how to cry." This line is a poignant reminder that emotional vulnerability is a key component of being human, and that our ability to feel deeply and express those feelings is what makes life worth living. The singer is both mourning the loss of their own emotional connection to this person, and lamenting the fact that their beloved has lost touch with this vital aspect of their humanity.
In conclusion, "I Die" is a deeply affecting song that captures the complex emotions of unrequited love in a truly poetic and profound way. The Magnetic Fields' understated instrumentation and Stephin Merritt's plaintive vocals serve to enhance the raw emotional power of the song, leaving the listener with a sense of both longing and catharsis.
Line by Line Meaning
I die when you walk by
My heart beats faster and I feel a strong, overwhelming emotion every time I see you walking by
So beautiful and strong
You possess an unparalleled level of beauty and inner strength that captivates me and makes me feel weak in the knees
Each day you pass my way
You cross my path every day, making it hard for me to forget about you and move on
In your bubble where nothing goes wrong
You seem to live in a perfect bubble, where everything goes smoothly and nothing seems to bother you, at least not as much as I am bothered by my unrequited love for you
You think your youth
You seem to believe that your youth is something that will last forever, that nothing can taint it or take it away from you
A permanent truth
You seem to think that your youth is an everlasting truth, that nothing can change, no matter what you do or what happens around you
But here is a tear for your eye:
But I can see through your facade, and feel sorry for you, because you are unable to see the world through my eyes, a world where nothing is as perfect as it seems
Having forgotten how to cry
You have forgotten how to feel sorrow or pain, maybe because you have never experienced it, or maybe because you are too afraid to show your vulnerability
I die
My love for you is so strong, that it is slowly killing me, with each passing day, without you knowing or caring
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Raymond Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind