The Magnetic Fields is a New York-based group fronted by Stephin Merritt. R… Read Full Bio ↴The Magnetic Fields is a New York-based group fronted by Stephin Merritt. Recent albums released under the name "The Magnetic Fields" usually consist of synth-pop music in a 1980s style underlying clever lyrics which are often heavily ironic. While synth-pop often forms the foundation of their music, The Magnetic Fields' music borrows from many other styles, notably country, folk and indie pop.

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 Thought You Were My Boyfriend
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You told me you loved me
I know where and when
Come sunrise, surprise surprise, the joke's on me again.
I know you don't love me,
You know i don't care.
Keep it hidden better.
Did I say the world is fair.

I thought I was just the guy for you and it would never end.
I thought we were supposed to be like glue,
I thought you were my boyfriend.
I thought you were my boyfriend.
Love or not, I've always got ten guys on whom I can depend.
And if you're not mine, one less is nine, get wise,
I thought you were my boyfriend.
I thought you were my boyfriend.

I just hope you're happy,
Stringing me along.
While you're stringing.
I'm here singing this, my saddest song.
I wish I could see you,
I wish I could sleep.
Should I freak out?
Should I seek out
Someone I could keep?

I thought I was just the guy for you and it would never end.
I thought we were supposed to be like glue,
I thought you were my boyfriend.
I thought you were my boyfriend.
Love or not, I've always got ten guys on whom I can depend.
And if you're not mine, one less is nine, get wise,
I thought you were my boyfriend.
I thought you were my boyfriend.

I wanted you tonight.
I walked around a lot.
Wishing you were here to keep me from sleeping
With anyone who might
Want me or even not.
Some guys have a beer and they'll do anything, anything, anything.

I thought I was just the guy for you and it would never end.
(thought you were my boyfriend)
I thought we were supposed to be like glue,
I thought you were my boyfriend.
(thought you were my boyfriend)
I thought you were my boyfriend.
Love or not, I've always got ten guys on whom I can depend.
(thought you were my boyfriend)
And if you're not mine, one less is nine, get wise,
I thought you were my boyfriend.
(thought you were my boyfriend)
I thought you were my boyfriend.

I thought I was just the guy for you and it would never end.
(thought you were my boyfriend)
I thought we were supposed to be like glue,
I thought you were my boyfriend.
(thought you were my boyfriend)
I thought you were my boyfriend.
Love or not I've always got ten guys on whom I can depend
(thought you were my boyfriend)
And if you're not mine, one less is nine, get wise
I thought you were my boyfriend.

(thought you were my boyfriend)
I thought you were my boyfriend

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Magnetic Fields' "I Thought You Were My Boyfriend" tell the story of a person who thought they had a romantic relationship with someone, only to find out that it was not mutual. The singer expresses frustration and confusion, wondering why they were strung along by someone who never loved them back. Despite the disappointment, the singer still maintains a sense of independence, emphasizing that they have other options and that they can "depend" on ten other people if needed.

The first verse begins with the revelation that the singer's romantic interest never loved them, setting the tone for the rest of the song. The line "Come sunrise, surprise surprise, the joke's on me again" suggests a pattern of disappointment and disillusionment for the singer. They then question why their love interest couldn't have been more upfront about their feelings: "Keep it hidden better. Did I say the world is fair." This line suggests that the singer understands that love and relationships can be messy and complicated, but they still feel hurt by the deception.

The chorus of the song emphasizes the singer's belief that their love interest was supposed to be their "boyfriend" and that they thought they would be together forever like "glue." The repetition of the line "I thought you were my boyfriend" reinforces the disappointment and disillusionment felt by the singer. However, the chorus also hints at the singer's sense of independence and self-reliance, as they say they have "ten guys on whom I can depend" and that losing one love interest is not the end of the world.

Overall, "I Thought You Were My Boyfriend" is a bittersweet song about the ups and downs of love and relationships. The lyrics express both disappointment and resilience, as the singer navigates the complexities of living and loving in an uncertain world.

Line by Line Meaning

You told me you loved me
You said that you loved me

I know where and when
I remember the specific time and place you said it

Come sunrise, surprise surprise, the joke's on me again.
Once again I am disappointed in the morning after believing you

I know you don't love me,
I am aware that you do not have romantic feelings for me

You know I don't care.
I am not bothered by the fact that you do not reciprocate my feelings

Keep it hidden better.
You should try to conceal the fact that you do not love me more effectively

Did I say the world is fair.
I am questioning whether or not I truly believed that love and fairness always go hand in hand

I thought I was just the guy for you and it would never end.
I believed that I was the perfect match for you and that our love would last forever

I thought we were supposed to be like glue,
I believed that we were meant to be inseparable

I thought you were my boyfriend.
I believed that you were my significant other

Love or not, I've always got ten guys on whom I can depend.
Whether or not you love me, I have ten other reliable men in my life

And if you're not mine, one less is nine, get wise,
If you are no longer my boyfriend, I still have nine other men I can rely on, so you should wise up

I just hope you're happy,
I only hope that you are content with the situation

Stringing me along.
Keeping me hopeful while having no intention to commit

While you're stringing.
Although you are stringing me along

I'm here singing this, my saddest song.
I am expressing my feelings of sadness through this song

I wish I could see you,
I want to be able to see you

I wish I could sleep.
I wish I could find peace and rest at night

Should I freak out?
Am I overreacting to this situation?

Should I seek out someone I could keep?
Should I look for someone who will commit to me?

I wanted you tonight.
I desired your presence tonight

I walked around a lot.
I wandered around with no destination

Wishing you were here to keep me from sleeping
I wished you were here to prevent me from feeling lonely and sleepless

With anyone who might want me or even not.
I feared succumbing to the advances of anyone who may express interest, even if I wasn't attracted to them