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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Parades Go By
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
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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
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