Parades Go By
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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I'll linger here your ring upon my finger dear and sing till dawn
A song of you and me and what and why for time is all I have to keep
Between these walls and half asleep the days go by a million little

Nights and days go by and I don't mind Parades go by So many beautiful
Parades go by Leave me behind I'll sit and stare how could I venture
Anywhere and let the centuries fall where they may but never die
For I have loved and so I lost the world above beyond the moss




Overall Meaning

These lyrics describe a person who is caught in their memories of a past love. The ring upon their finger symbolizes the connection they had with the person they still long for. They sing a song of their love until dawn, trying to make sense of what happened and why. Time is their only companion as they are trapped between the walls of their own memories.


The person is half asleep and the days go by. They feel like they are in a daze, and time seems to be dragging on with no end in sight. Yet, they don't mind. They watch the parades go by and leave them behind, as they are content to sit and stare. They are unable to leave their memories behind and move on, for fear of losing the love they once had. They have loved and lost, and so they are resigned to live in the world beyond time and space where their love still exists.


Line by Line Meaning

I'll linger here your ring upon my finger dear and sing till dawn
I will stay here wearing your ring and singing until sunrise.


A song of you and me and what and why for time is all I have to keep
I'll sing a song about us, our purpose and the questions that arise, for all I have is time.


Between these walls and half asleep the days go by a million little
As I remain within the walls, half-asleep, time passes by in countless little moments.


Nights and days go by and I don't mind Parades go by So many beautiful
Days and nights come and go, and I do not care. I observe beautiful parades pass by.


Parades go by Leave me behind I'll sit and stare how could I venture
Parades continue to pass by without me, as I sit and watch, never daring to join them.


Anywhere and let the centuries fall where they may but never die
I will go anywhere and let time pass freely, yet I will not die, for my memory will live on.


For I have loved and so I lost the world above beyond the moss
I have loved and lost, but my love transcends beyond this earthly world.




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Merritt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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