Love Is Lighter Than Air
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Summer, summer, summer
Slowly turned into fall
Me and my baby doll
Never went to the beach
Somewhere, somewhere, somewhere
Was a place we could run
On the sand with the sun
Always just out of reach
Somewhere sunny summer's
Marching to a different drummer, singing
"Summer, summer, summer's
Gonna turn into fall
You and your baby doll
Better go to the beach 'cause
(C): Love is lighter than air
It floats away if you let go
Love is ligher than air
It rises through the falling snow"
A crime, crime, crime
Sin and illness is time
Neither reason nore rhyme
Can obstruct his bad dance
The nasty little swine
Slipped us mickeys in wine
Wove his hair into twine
And then tied our hands
We're forced to watch him wriggle
And endure his fulsome giggle and his
Mime, mime, mime
Unforgivable mime
Our one chance is to climb




Into blimps of romance 'cause
(C) (C)

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song Love Is Lighter Than Air is a melancholic tribute to the bittersweet nature of love. The singer remembers a summer spent with his lover, but they never made it to the beach they dreamt of visiting. The season has now changed, and they missed their chance. Instead, they are stuck watching the passage of time and the inevitable march towards winter. They are victims of a crime perpetrated by time, the ultimate thief that robs us of love and life. The bad dance of time, marked by sin and illness, has tied their hands and forced them to watch as it wriggles in front of them. Nevertheless, the singer acknowledges that love is lighter than air and warns that it will float away if one lets go. The only chance to pursue it is to climb into blimps of romance and elevate above the ground, away from time's grip.


The song is a reflection on the ephemeral and wistful nature of love. It captures the fleeting quality of summer and the pain of opportunities missed. The lyrics are simple yet powerful, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loss that resonates with anyone who has loved and lost. The singer's voice is mournful, but there is also a sense of gratitude for the time he had with his lover. Love may be lighter than air, but it still has the power to lift us up and transport us to another place.


Line by Line Meaning

Summer, summer, summer
Season of joy and happiness


Slowly turned into fall
Time passed by quickly, bringing a change in the season


Me and my baby doll
Refers to the singer and his lover


Never went to the beach
Lost opportunities to spend time together by the seaside


Somewhere, somewhere, somewhere
An unknown location where they could have gone


Was a place we could run
A place to escape from the daily grind


On the sand with the sun
Tanning in the warmth of the beach


Always just out of reach
Their desire to go to the beach remained unfulfilled


Somewhere sunny summer's
The past season that made them happy


Marching to a different drummer, singing
The season changed and so did their mood


Gonna turn into fall
Summer is over and autumn is here


You and your baby doll
The singer and his lover


Better go to the beach 'cause
They must make the most of what's left


Love is lighter than air
Love is a fleeting and elusive feeling


It floats away if you let go
If you don't hold on to love, it will escape you


Love is ligher than air
Love is ethereal and elusive


It rises through the falling snow
Even in tough times, love still exists and can be found


A crime, crime, crime
An unforgivable act


Sin and illness is time
The effects of time can be harmful


Neither reason nor rhyme
No explanation can justify this act


Can obstruct his bad dance
The person responsible for the bad act cannot be stopped


The nasty little swine
The person responsible for the bad act


Slipped us mickeys in wine
They were drugged without their knowledge


Wove his hair into twine
Crafted something using his hair


And then tied our hands
They were restrained against their will


We're forced to watch him wriggle
They are trapped and have to observe the person's behavior


And endure his fulsome giggle and his
They have to endure his excessive laughter and behavior


Mime, mime, mime
Miming, another form of expression


Unforgivable mime
An act of expression that cannot be forgiven


Our one chance is to climb
Their only chance is to escape the situation


Into blimps of romance 'cause
Take refuge in the world of romance, a safer place


Love is lighter than air
Love is a fleeting and elusive feeling


It floats away if you let go
If you don't hold on to love, it will escape you


Love is ligher than air
Love is ethereal and elusive


It rises through the falling snow
Even in tough times, love still exists and can be found




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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