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 Like a Bottle of Gin
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It makes you think you're pretty tough
It makes you prone to crime and sin
It makes you say things off the cuff
It's very small and made of glass
And grossly over-advertised
It turns a genius into an ass
It could make you regret your birth
Or turn cartwheels in your best suit
It costs a lot more than it's worth
And yet there is no substitute
They keep it on a higher shelf
The older and more pure it grows
It has no color in itself
But it can make you see rainbows
You can find it on the Bowery
Or you can find it at Elaine's
It makes your words more flowery
It makes the sun shine, makes it rain
You just get out what they put in
And they never put in enough
Love is like a bottle of gin
But a bottle of gin is not like love
The Magnetic Fields's "Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin" is a song that compares love to alcohol - specifically, gin. The lyrics paint an image of the dangerous and unpredictable nature of love, comparing it to the effects of drinking gin. The song suggests that love can create an altered sense of reality, leading to risky behavior and foolish decisions. The line "It makes you blind, it does you in" speaks to the idea that love can cloud judgment and lead to bad decisions. The line "It makes a fool think he is wise" suggests that love can create a false sense of confidence, leading individuals to make decisions that they may later regret.
The song also touches on the subject of addiction. The lyrics "It costs a lot more than it's worth, and yet there is no substitute" speaks to the idea that love can be addictive and difficult to replace. The line "You just get out what they put in, and they never put in enough" speaks to the idea that individuals may put too much of themselves into a relationship and not receive enough in return.
Overall, "Love Is Like a Bottle of Gin" is a song that explores the complicated and often contradictory nature of love, painting it as both beautiful and dangerous.
Line by Line Meaning
It makes you blind, it does you in
Love can deceive you and cause you harm
It makes you think you're pretty tough
Love gives you a sense of strength and confidence
It makes you prone to crime and sin
Love can make you do things you wouldn't normally do
It makes you say things off the cuff
Love can make you speak without thinking
It's very small and made of glass
Love is fragile and can easily be broken
And grossly over-advertised
Love is often sensationalized and misrepresented in media
It turns a genius into an ass
Love can make intelligent people act foolishly
And makes a fool think he is wise
Love can make foolish people feel wise and knowledgeable
It could make you regret your birth
Love can cause deep emotional distress
Or turn cartwheels in your best suit
Love can bring joy and excitement
It costs a lot more than it's worth
The emotional toll of love is often high
And yet there is no substitute
Despite the cost, people still seek out and value love
They keep it on a higher shelf
Love is often idealized and held up as something to aspire to
The older and more pure it grows
Love that endures and matures over time is highly valued
It has no color in itself
Love is not defined by superficial qualities
But it can make you see rainbows
Love can bring beauty and wonder into your life
You can find it on the Bowery
Love can be found in unlikely places
Or you can find it at Elaine's
Love can be found in high-end, expensive places
It makes your words more flowery
Love can inspire the use of poetic or romantic language
It makes the sun shine, makes it rain
Love can dramatically affect your mood and emotions
You just get out what they put in
What you get from love depends on what you and your partner invest in it
And they never put in enough
People often feel that their partner doesn't invest as much in the relationship as they do
Love is like a bottle of gin
Love can be intoxicating and unpredictable
But a bottle of gin is not like love
Despite superficial similarities, love is more complex and valuable than alcohol
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Raymond Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind