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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Love Is Lighter Than Air
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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)
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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