Living in an Abandoned Firehouse With You
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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You're in your own little world: an expensive birdcage;
Like a plastic baby in a Faberge egg
I saw you today at the Cafe Blase
And thought of the nights when we had fire fights
Nameless seaside ghost town...
That's where I go when I see the moon
Living in an abandoned firehouse with you
You're in your own little head in a field of sunflowers
And there's blood in your mouth and there's rats all over town
(C): Take me out to the beach and I'll tell you my secret name
Take me under the sea and we'll derail the trains
Let's run away into the caves I still love you I still love you baby
You're in your own little box with ribbons in your hair
And there's dust in your mouth and worms in the air
Hideous city of unknown words...




That's where I live when I go to sleep
In an abandoned firehouse with you. (C)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Living in an Abandoned Firehouse With You" by The Magnetic Fields are open to interpretation, but they seem to describe a relationship that the singer still feels attached to despite the darkness and isolation that surround it. The song's title suggests a place of danger and loss, but the lyrics are full of imagery that represents both beauty and decay. The first lines describe the subject as being in their "own little world" and in an "expensive birdcage," which creates a sense of isolation and imprisonment. The comparison to a "plastic baby in a Faberge egg" further reinforces this idea of being trapped and preserved, while also setting up the contrast between the artificial and the precious.


The next lines refer to the singer seeing the subject at the Cafe Blase and remembering "fire fights." This could be a reference to arguments, but it's also possible that it means actual fires, given the setting of an abandoned firehouse. The chorus is more abstract, with a suggestion of secrets and escape. The lines "Take me out to the beach and I'll tell you my secret name / Take me under the sea and we'll derail the trains / Let's run away into the caves I still love you I still love you baby" could be read as a desire to leave behind the constraints of the present and embrace something more adventurous and unpredictable. The final lines of the verse return to imagery of confinement and decay, with the subject being compared to being in a box with dust and worms.


Overall, the lyrics of "Living in an Abandoned Firehouse With You" use a range of imaginative images to create a sense of intimacy and decay, and the chorus suggests a desire to find a way out of this cycle. While the exact meaning may be open to interpretation, the song is a powerful evocation of complex emotions.


Line by Line Meaning

You're in your own little world: an expensive birdcage;
You love living in your own little world, but it's like being trapped in an expensive birdcage.


Like a plastic baby in a Faberge egg
You're fragile like a plastic baby in a Faberge egg.


I saw you today at the Cafe Blase
You crossed my mind when I saw you today at the Cafe Blase.


And thought of the nights when we had fire fights
I remembered the times when we used to have passionate arguments.


Nameless seaside ghost town...
I retreat to a deserted town by the sea in my mind.


That's where I go when I see the moon
I like to go to that ghost town when I see the moon.


Living in an abandoned firehouse with you
I wouldn't mind living in an abandoned firehouse with you.


You're in your own little head in a field of sunflowers
Your mind is wandering while you're surrounded by a picturesque field of sunflowers.


And there's blood in your mouth and there's rats all over town
You're suffering and surrounded by troubles.


Take me out to the beach and I'll tell you my secret name
Take me to the beach and I'll share my deepest secret with you.


Take me under the sea and we'll derail the trains
Let's go under the sea and cause chaos by derailing trains.


Let's run away into the caves I still love you I still love you baby
Let's escape to the caves and never forget that I still love you.


You're in your own little box with ribbons in your hair
You have your own unique style and appearance.


And there's dust in your mouth and worms in the air
You are surrounded by unpleasantness.


Hideous city of unknown words...
I often picture myself in a bizarre, unfamiliar city in my imagination.


That's where I live when I go to sleep
I fall asleep and dream about that strange city.


In an abandoned firehouse with you.
I wouldn't mind experiencing those strange dreams with you by my side.




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

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