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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Kiss Me Like You Mean It
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He is my saviour
And He rewards my good behavior
My secret soul,
I know He's seen it
He says, come here baby and
He calls me baby,
Says kiss me like you mean it
He is my life and my salvation
He's always right,
He's always patient
I pinch myself
It's like I'm dreaming it
He is my love,
He's always been it
The Magnetic Fields's Kiss Me Like You Mean It is a song about a woman's relationship with her partner, who she believes to be her 'lord', 'savior' and the love of her life. She describes her partner as someone who rewards her good behaviors and has always been patient with her. The woman feels that her partner is her 'secret soul' who knows her innermost thoughts and feelings. She feels blessed to have such a partner in her life and 'pinches' herself to ensure that it is not a dream.
The song highlights that there is a power dynamic in the relationship between the woman and her partner. He is seen as the dominant player, who guides the relationship, while she is the submissive one, who is willing to do his bidding. The line 'He calls me baby, says kiss me like you mean it' seems to indicate that he is in control of the sexual aspects of their relationship and has dictated what he wants from her. She is willing to comply with his wishes as she feels that he is her protector and savior.
Overall, the song has a dark tone to it, which is accentuated by the melody and the sparse instrumentation. The lyrics suggest that the woman's partner is a controlling figure who has taken on the mantle of her savior. The lyrics do not reveal whether this is a healthy or an unhealthy relationship, but the song does leave the listener with a sense of unease.
Line by Line Meaning
He is my lord,
He is my highest authority,
He is my savior
He rescues me from danger and harm,
And He rewards my good behavior
He acknowledges and blesses my actions that are morally right,
My secret soul,
The hidden part of me,
I know He's seen it
He is aware of even the parts of me that I try to conceal,
He says, come here baby and
He invites me closer with affection,
Kiss me like you mean it
Show me your sincere and wholehearted love,
He calls me baby,
He addresses me with affection,
Says kiss me like you mean it
Requests me to truly show my love and affection towards Him,
He is my life and my salvation
He is the reason for my existence and the source of my deliverance,
He's always right,
He never makes mistakes or errors in judgement,
He's always patient
He is understanding and tolerant even in difficult circumstances,
I pinch myself
I can hardly believe it,
It's like I'm dreaming it
It feels like an unbelievable reality,
He is my love,
He is the object of my romantic and affectionate feelings,
He's always been it
He is, and has always been, the one I love and adore.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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