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)
http://www.houseoftomorrow.com/
Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For you now that you're gone
You'd grow wings and fly
Home to me
Home tonight
And in the morning sun
Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits
Let abbots, Babbitts and Cabots
Say Mother Nature's wrong
And when we've had a couple'a'beers
We'll put on bunny suits
I long to nibble your ears
And do as bunnies do
Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits
Let's do it all day long
Rapidly becoming rabid
Singing little rabbit songs
I can keep it up all night
I can keep it up all day
Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits
Until we pass away
Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits
Until we pass away
The Magnetic Fields's song "Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits" speaks about a longing for a loved one who is no longer present. The singer expresses their desire for the other person to return home to them, and they use the metaphor of growing wings and flying to emphasize how much they miss them. However, the song takes a playful turn when the singer suggests that they should "pretend we're bunny rabbits" and do everything that bunnies do, like nibbling on each other's ears.
The sexual innuendos present in the song are hard to miss, but they are cleverly disguised in the guise of innocent bunny behavior. The singer even acknowledges that what they are suggesting goes against "Mother Nature's" rules but says that they should do it anyway. The song then goes on to describe the various activities that they would engage in if they were bunny rabbits, including wearing bunny suits and singing little rabbit songs.
The repetition of the chorus line "Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits until we pass away" serves as a reminder that the singer's longing for their loved one is intense and long-lasting. While the song is playful and witty, it ultimately speaks to the deep-seated desire for connection and intimacy that we all crave.
Line by Line Meaning
If you knew how I long
If you only knew how deeply I yearn for you
For you now that you're gone
Now that you are away from me
You'd grow wings and fly
You would attain the power to sprout wings and fly
Home to me
Towards me, to my dwelling place
Home tonight
Tonight itself, without delay
And in the morning sun
As the sun shines in the morning
Let's pretend we're bunny rabbits
Let us imagine that we are cute little bunnies
Let's do it all day long
Let us engage in it throughout the day
Let abbots, Babbitts and Cabots
Let us not worry about what people would say
Say Mother Nature's wrong
Oppose the expectations of nature or society
And when we've had a couple'a'beers
After we have consumed some drinks
We'll put on bunny suits
We will wear costumes of cute little rabbits
I long to nibble your ears
I have an intense desire to bite and kiss your ears
And do as bunnies do
Engage in activities that are typical of rabbits
Rapidly becoming rabid
Quickly becoming fierce and addicted
Singing little rabbit songs
Humming cute melodies like rabbits
I can keep it up all night
I can continue the activity all night long
I can keep it up all day
I can continue the activity all day long
Until we pass away
Until we die
Lyrics Β© ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind