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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Interlude
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Festoon her face this beautiful night
The moon her only lover
But soon even that will be over
So they climb high
In the violet sky
And they dance
All his mysteries to her
As they dance
He will fall
In love,
Poor fellow
Just when all
Above
Turns yellow
And the dawn breaks his heart
The Magnetic Fields's "Interlude" is a melancholic song that speaks about the end of a romantic affair, where the moon is the only witness and comforting entity in this makeshift love story. The lyrics paint a picturesque image of a mystical night where the moon's light illuminates the face of a lover who is about to leave this world. The lover has found comfort in the moon's light, which is seen as the only lover in this world. As the night progresses, the lover and the moon climb high into the violet sky, and they dance. Here, the moon is the only one the lover whispers his heart's secrets to, and they dance together.
However, as the night draws to an end, the yellow glow of dawn approaches, signifying the end of their time together. The lover, in love with the moon, falls heartbroken as the dawn breaks. The sun, which replaces the moon, replaces the magic and mystical wonder of the night with harsh daylight that dispels all enchantment. This song exemplifies how the passing of time and the inevitability of change can affect one's emotions in a fleeting romance.
Line by Line Meaning
The moon-blue rays of magical light
The enchanting blue rays of moonlight
Festoon her face this beautiful night
Her face adorned with the moonlight on this lovely night
The moon her only lover
She only has the moon as her romantic partner
But soon even that will be over
But soon even that will come to an end
So they climb high
Together they ascend to great heights
In the violet sky
In the purple sky
And they dance
And they dance together
And he'll whisper
He whispers to her
All his mysteries to her
He confides all his secrets to her
As they dance
As they continue to dance
He will fall
He will be smitten
In love,
With love,
Poor fellow
The poor man
Just when all
At the exact moment when everything
Above
Up high
Turns yellow
Begins to turn yellow
And the dawn breaks his heart
And the sunrise shatters his heart
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind