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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Lonely Highway
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I couldn't bear to show my face
I nearly killed you with my drinking
Wouldn't be caught dead in that place
Lonely highway, only friend
You've got me to keep you warm again
Let me hold you in my arms tonight
And as I hurdled down the highway
Passed the factories and the graves
I think of all the years I've wasted
I think of all the years I've saved
Lonely highway, only friend
You've got me to keep you warm again
Lonely highway, don't you cry
Let me hold you in my arms tonight
The Magnetic Fields's song Lonely Highway is a melancholic reflection on a life lived and the choices that have been made. The song is about a person who has left their hometown of Jackson, likely due to destructive behavior caused by excessive drinking, and doesn't want to return because of the shame that they feel. The singer looks back on their life as they drive down the highway, taking stock of the things they have lost over the years. The lyrics create a sense of sadness and regret, as the singer contemplates what might have been.
The refrain of the song, "Lonely highway, only friend / You've got me to keep you warm again" sets the tone for the whole song. The highway becomes a companion to the person, a source of comfort in the loneliness of the journey. The final line, "Let me hold you in my arms tonight," creates a sense of intimacy between the person and the road. The use of personification in the song creates a poetic metaphor that allows the road to take on a life of its own.
Overall, the song is an affecting meditation on the human experience, with its ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and missed opportunities. It reminds us that even though we may have made mistakes and lost things along the way, we can still find solace in the journey itself.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm never going back to Jackson
I can't bring myself to return to Jackson, a place that holds bad memories for me.
I couldn't bear to show my face
The embarrassment and shame I feel are too overwhelming to face the people in Jackson.
I nearly killed you with my drinking
I was once a danger to myself and others due to my excessive drinking habits.
Wouldn't be caught dead in that place
I have no desire to ever return to Jackson, even if it means losing my life.
Lonely highway, only friend
The road and my car are my only companions during my travels.
You've got me to keep you warm again
Despite being alone, the familiarity of the car and the road provide some level of comfort.
Lonely highway, don't you cry
I know that the road can be tough, but I'm here to face it head-on.
Let me hold you in my arms tonight
As I drive, I find solace in the routine and comfort of traveling on the road.
And as I hurdled down the highway
As I rapidly travel down the road, I reflect on my life and choices.
Passed the factories and the graves
The scenery around me as I drive reminds me of the life cycle and mortality of all things.
I think of all the years I've wasted
I regret the time I've lost in my life due to my bad decisions and mistakes.
I think of all the years I've saved
I also remember the times I succeeded and overcame obstacles in my life.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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