In an Operetta
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Sing me the kind of song
You hear in an operetta
Sing me the words I long
To hear out of Violetta

In an operetta
She will fast be outcast
From her castle, with nary a friend
But, since she's a princess,

There's hints of a prince
In the end
She'll enjoy some employ as a boy
With her name changed to Pip

Soon, by gum, she'll become
The brave captain of some
Pirate ship
Singing a thing fit for a king

In an operetta
In an operetta
It's the all-singing,all-dancing
Princess Violetta

Of the operetta




In an operetta
Within an operetta

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song "In an Operetta" is a whimsical and theatrical song that revolves around the concept of an operetta within an operetta. The song itself is a request made by the singer to the singer, asking them to sing the kind of song that they would hear in an operetta. They long to hear the words that one would hear sung by the character Violetta in an operetta. The lyrics speak of how in an operetta, Violetta would be cast out from her castle without any friends. She is a princess, so there are hints of a prince that would come in and assist her. In the end, Violetta becomes a boy with the name changed to Pip and becomes the captain of a pirate ship. The song talks about the world of an operetta, where anything is possible and there is always a happy ending.


Line by Line Meaning

Sing me the kind of song
Requesting to hear a certain type of song


You hear in an operetta
Similar to the musical style of an operetta


Sing me the words I long
Asking to hear specific lyrics


To hear out of Violetta
Similar to the character in the operetta


In an operetta
Within a musical play


She will fast be outcast
The character will be quickly rejected


From her castle, with nary a friend
She will be left alone, without any allies


But, since she's a princess,
Despite her misfortune, she has royal blood


There's hints of a prince
A possible future companion


In the end
Ultimately


She'll enjoy some employ as a boy
She will disguise herself as a male and find work


With her name changed to Pip
She will have a new identity


Soon, by gum, she'll become
She will eventually transform


The brave captain of some
The leader of a group


Pirate ship
A ship used for illegal activity


Singing a thing fit for a king
Performing a song that is worthy of a royal audience


It's the all-singing,all-dancing
A type of musical that involves multiple songs and dances


Princess Violetta
The main character of the operetta


Of the operetta
The central figure in the story


Within an operetta
Contained in the larger musical production




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Raymond Merritt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

christy

When I said I wanted to listen to harpsichord music, this is exactly what I meant. For once, YouTube got it right. 💕

María Paz Greene F

I LOVE this song! Which instrument is the leading one? Mandolyn?

Matthew Colville

Harpsichord, I'm pretty sure.

stupidyutube9

Sing me the kind of song you hear...