It
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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It's a crime to fall in love
Heart and mind and soul in love
It's a crime to fall in love
So hard, so hard

I shouldn't have bothered, cuz you're just like all the others
Now I know that I won't do that again
I should have guessed that you'd be just like all the rest
Now I know not to go through that again

I'm still crying all night and all day
But if I show it, someone lock me away, 'cause

It's a crime to fall in love
Heart and mind and soul in love
It's a crime to fall in love
So hard, so hard

My mother said gently, "You can buy her a Bentley, but, my son, she'll only drive it away."
I didn't listen, 'cause my brain was missing
And I only found it today
I was a man, but now I'm only a child
And if it kills me, I am going to smile, 'cause

It's a crime to fall in love
Heart and mind and soul in love
It's a crime to fall in love
So hard, so hard

You won't be hearing from me anymore,
'Cause I can't see through my tears anymore
If it takes years to be anymore than a jellyfish
I will not tell you this, because

It's a crime to fall in love
Heart and mind and soul in love
It's a crime to fall in love
So hard, so hard
So hard, so hard




So hard, so hard
So hard, so hard

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Magnetic Fields’s song It's a Crime seem to talk about the pain and suffering that can come with falling in love. The first verse repeats the line “It’s a crime to fall in love, heart and mind and soul in love,” suggesting that the intensity of love can be overwhelming and maybe even dangerous. The following lines convey the sense of disappointment and regret that can come with investing intense emotions in a person who turns out to be like “all the others.”


The second verse talks about the consequences of ignoring warnings from loved ones about the object of affection. The singer’s mother advises him that the woman he is interested in will “only drive [the Bentley] away.” Ignoring her advice and following his “missing” brain led to the singer being reduced to a childlike state of crying and despair. The final lines suggest that the singer has given up on finding love and is withdrawing from the world because of the pain it can bring.


Overall, the song portrays the dangers of loving too deeply, and the risks that one takes when opening themselves up to another person. While the lyrics can be read as a cautionary tale, they also convey a sense of resilience and determination to keep moving forward, even in the face of heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

It's a crime to fall in love
The singer believes it is wrong to allow oneself to become emotionally attached to someone.


Heart and mind and soul in love
The singer is referring to a deep and all-encompassing love, involving not only emotions and the mind but the soul.


It's a crime to fall in love
The singer repeats the claim that attachment is ethically forbidden.


So hard, so hard
The artist describes the pain and difficulty of being in love.


I shouldn't have bothered, cuz you're just like all the others
The artist regrets pursuing affection for someone whom they now see as no different than past failed partners.


Now I know that I won't do that again
The pain of their failed relationship has led the singer to give up on the idea of romantic connection.


I should have guessed that you'd be just like all the rest
The singer admits a sense of cynicism that contributes to their adopted position against love.


Now I know not to go through that again
The artist is certain to avoid the same pain and disappointment by withdrawing from romance.


I'm still crying all night and all day
The artist has not overcome the despair of their loss.


But if I show it, someone lock me away, 'cause
The artist feels ashamed of their emotions and wants to keep them hidden.


My mother said gently, "You can buy her a Bentley, but, my son, she'll only drive it away."
The singer's mother warns against materialism as a means to win over someone who is not truly interested in them.


I didn't listen, 'cause my brain was missing
The artist acted foolishly in ignoring their mother's advice, out of overwhelming emotion and passion.


And I only found it today
The singer has come to the realization of their folly, but it is too late.


I was a man, but now I'm only a child
The singer feels a loss of maturity and dignity in the aftermath of their failed romance.


And if it kills me, I am going to smile, 'cause
The singer will try to maintain a brave and happy face, even if it is difficult.


You won't be hearing from me anymore,
The artist is cutting off communication with their former love interest.


'Cause I can't see through my tears anymore
The artist is so emotional and heartbroken that they cannot write or communicate without crying.


If it takes years to be anymore than a jellyfish
The singer is saying that they will be a passive and unfeeling creature if they are hurt again.


I will not tell you this, because
The singer will keep their internal pain hidden from their former love interest.


It's a crime to fall in love
The closing lines repeat the song's main chorus, emphasizing the artist's cynical beliefs.


So hard, so hard
The repeated phrase underscores the difficult and painful nature of love, as the song comes full circle.




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Comments from YouTube:

Burps

magnetic fields is forever for me. if i live to be a million i'll still be playing his albums

Roland Deschain

I love It!
I used to listen to 69 love songs on a loop two summers ago in the car, and many times after making a coffee I would bring the girl I liked to her house. her music always takes me to that place of possibilities, melancholy and the vibrant heat of summer.

Today we are engaged and the first song we put on after the request was "the book of LOVE"

Thanks for sharing your music Stephin! Lots of love ❤️

Eliz Manandhar

i love how stephen merrit's actual talking voice is similar to his singing baritone (which he excels in)!

miko tikkanen

i'd say he's a bass too, since i'm a baritone and while i have the same range, i sound like a squirrel compared to him

Lucas Fantin

I would say he's a bass singer

SisterToSleepx

It's so nice to see Stephin looking happy and well, especially doing live stuff. This is probably one of the best live one on one things I've seen of him and the music itself is really good too (the choice to move into the bathroom to record was definitely a good one). 

Stephen Wulff

Best songwriter alive today

ASMR For Your Soul

He and Bibio, yes

Bernie Whomever

What a great interview. He is notoriously "difficult" to interview, as we see in so many transcripts, but Dj El Toro clearly has the chops to keep his interest and even a few unguarded laughs i dare say. If he ever decided to move away from the virtual records, this Dj could be an effective counselor for anyone on suicide watch.

cptplanet

ahh so happy you did this! TMF is one of my favourite band. love their old stuff; love their new stuff. cant get enough of merritt's voice. why wasn't the rest of them band there? stephin merritt isn't the magnetic fields. he IS integral, but.. everyone else is important too. their two most recent tours were fantastic. they tour RARELY (esp since stephin doesn't like touring), so if you get a chance, GO see them!

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