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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My Only Friend
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
that even dawn may come You and me, we don't believe in happy endings Hey,
Lady Day, can you save my life this time Can you cry so beautifully you
make my troubles rhyme Hey, Lady Day, can you save my life again My only
love has gone away Will you be my only friend Billie you're a genius
enough to be a fool a fool to gamble everything and never know the rules
Some of us can only live in songs of love and trouble Some of us can only
live in bubbles...
In The Magnetic Fields' song "My Only Friend," the singer reaches out to Billie Holiday for help. The lyrics express the feeling of being lost and alone--"my only love has gone away"--and searching for a sense of purpose and understanding through music. The singer believes that Billie, as a musical icon and a personal role model, can offer comfort and guidance. In mentioning Lady Day's ability to cry "so beautifully" and make his "troubles rhyme," the song gestures towards the therapeutic power of music to heal emotional pain.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of escapism, with lines like "Some of us can only live in songs of love and trouble / Some of us can only live in bubbles." This could be interpreted as a commentary on the different ways people cope with stress and trauma. For some, music offers a means of transcendence or transcendence, while for others it serves as a form of retreat from reality.
Overall, "My Only Friend" is a poignant meditation on the intersections of music, love, and mental health. As the singer seeks solace from Billie Holiday and the song itself, they articulate a desire for something more--perhaps a sense of purpose or a way to move forward through life's difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Billie you're a miracle and God knows I need one
The singer sees Billie as an extraordinary person who possesses qualities that can bring about positive changes in their life.
Sing me something terrible that even dawn may come
The singer wants Billie to sing a sad song that can make them feel better and bring them closer to a new day.
You and me, we don't believe in happy endings
The singer and Billie do not have faith in the idea of a typical fairytale ending where everything falls perfectly into place.
Hey, Lady Day, can you save my life this time
The artist is reaching out to Billie and asking her to provide emotional support that will help them cope with their current situation.
Can you cry so beautifully you make my troubles rhyme
The artist wants Billie to express her emotions through song in a way that is powerful and meaningful.
Hey, Lady Day, can you save my life again
The singer is once again asking Billie for help in a time of need.
My only love has gone away
The singer has lost their significant other and is experiencing heartbreak.
Will you be my only friend
The artist is asking Billie to be their sole source of comfort and companionship.
Billie you're a genius enough to be a fool a fool to gamble everything and never know the rules
The artist acknowledges Billie's intelligence and ability to take risks without fully understanding the consequences.
Some of us can only live in songs of love and trouble
The artist believes that music is a form of escapism and that some people can only find solace in it.
Some of us can only live in bubbles...
The singer believes that certain people's experiences are so isolating that they can only exist in their own world, apart from reality.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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