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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I Shatter
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You told the truth
I cried
You flew
You called me mad (and I am mad) as a hatter
Some fall in love
You make it rain
Too bleak, too stark
Should night not fall you make things dark
Bang here am I
No one nowhere no ground no sky no light no air
The lyrics to The Magnetic Fields' song "I Shatter" describes a bittersweet romance that ultimately ends in heartbreak. The opening lines of "Bang there was you too gold too blue, You told the truth, I cried" suggests a beautiful beginning, where the two individuals were honest with each other. However, later in the song, it is revealed that the other person had called the singer "mad", which implies mental instability. This line also references the phrase "mad as a hatter," which alludes to the character of the Hatter in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." This adds a sense of whimsy and unreality to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Bang there was you too gold too blue
Suddenly, you appeared before me, shining like gold and blue colors.
You told the truth
You were honest with me.
I cried
Emotions overwhelmed me and I shed tears.
You flew
You crossed vast distances and left me behind.
You called me mad (and I am mad) as a hatter
You labeled me crazy, and I admit that I am indeed insane like a hatter.
Some fall in love
People can't control whether or not they fall in love.
I shatter
I break into pieces from the intensity of my emotions.
You make it rain
You bring a deluge of intense feelings and emotions, much like a rainstorm falling from the sky.
Too bleak, too stark
Things are too dark and dismal without you.
Should night not fall you make things dark
Even during the day, you bring darkness and despair.
Bang here am I
I am still here, present in this moment.
No one nowhere no ground no sky no light no air
I feel completely alone, without any sense of place or purpose, and everything around me is dark, empty and devoid of any life-giving force.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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