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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Plant White Roses
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I planted you, watered you with tears
And watched you grow away from me
So much for my green thumb
I've overstayed my welcome
Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
If I can't spend my life with you
When you're gone I stumble and fall
I'm told you don't wanna stay around
Those trains call -- you're all I need
But you need more than country songs
You need to be getting along
Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you
You'll have to stay
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
You'll have to stay
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
You'll have to stay
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you
My life with you
My life with you
The Magnetic Fields' song "Plant White Roses" is a poignant expression of love and loss. The singer is devastated by the departure of his beloved and feels as though he has lost his touch when it comes to nurturing relationships. The metaphor of planting and growing white roses is a powerful symbol of hope and beauty, but it is also infused with sorrow because the singer may never have the chance to share that beauty with his loved one.
The first verse of the song captures the emotional depth of the singer's despair. He has invested so much time and energy into his relationship that it feels as though he has given away a part of himself. The metaphor of pouring his heart out and watching his blood flow underscores the intensity of his emotional investment. However, instead of reaping the benefits of his hard work, he finds himself alone and abandoned. The line "So much for my green thumb" is a clever twist on the gardening metaphor, suggesting that the singer may not be as skilled at nurturing relationships as he thought.
The chorus of the song, with its repeated refrain of "Plant white roses and plan to cry," encapsulates the bittersweet nature of the singer's longing. On the one hand, he longs to be reunited with his loved one and to share the beauty of growing white roses with them. On the other hand, he knows that this may never happen, and he is resigned to the inevitability of tears and heartache. The final verse of the song is a plea to his beloved to stay and watch the white roses grow, even if they cannot be together. It is a poignant request that underscores the depth of the singer's unconditional love.
Line by Line Meaning
When I poured my heart out, blood flowed
When I confessed my love, I was deeply invested
I planted you, watered you with tears
I nurtured and cared for you with all my emotions
And watched you grow away from me
I witnessed you drift apart from me
So much for my green thumb
My skills in fostering a relationship were not enough
I've overstayed my welcome
My presence is no longer appreciated
Plant white roses and plan to cry
Accept the harsh reality of the situation
If I can't spend my life with you
Acknowledging the possibility of separation
When you're gone I stumble and fall
When you're not around, I'm lost without you
I'm told you don't wanna stay around
Rumors suggest that you're looking for a way out
Those trains call -- you're all I need
The temptation to leave is strong, but you're everything to me
But you need more than country songs
Music and love are not enough to sustain you
You need to be getting along
You need to move on and find your own path
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
You must stay behind and observe the roses flourish
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If our love cannot thrive, then I have no reason to live
My life with you
The ideal life that I envision involves you
Contributed by Gavin W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
john hatchell
When I poured my heart out, blood flowed
I planted you, watered you with tears
And watched you grow away from me
So much for my green thumb
I've overstayed my welcome
Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you
When you're gone I stumble and fall
I'm told you don't wanna stay around
Those trains call -- you're all I need
But you need more than country songs
You need to be getting along
Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you
You'll have to stay
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
You'll have to stay
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
You'll have to stay
You'll have to stay and watch them grow
Plant white roses and plan to cry
If I can't spend my life with you
Plant white roses, I wanna die
If I can't spend my life with you
My life with you
My life with you
Apple O
RIP Susan Anway :-( I had a tape of Distant Plastic Trees/The Wayward Bus back in the early 90s and always liked this song, but a few years later it went out of print, and afterward the only version of the song I could find had Stephin singing and it just wasn't the same. I never understood why this went out of print, it's great. Thanks for posting it!
DerpTheBass
why would they keep such a beautiful song basically a secret for so many years? i saw them 2 nights in a row in march and this song was the highlight of both performances
Andriy Pshenyshnyak
What a luck!! :)
JJ
This song was written by Stephin as a sort of joke, for an amazing band called Lazy Susan. All kids living in Cambridge, MA. They were sort of, well, like this. He said, “I can write like that”, and wrote this for them. It was stunning the few times I heard it. And this is, too. A classic, perfect song.
TR
I’ve never heard this anecdote, were you in the Cambridge scene? Stephin is so good at writing country songs
JJ
I’m Claudia’s sister 😁
TR
@JJ oh my gosh! Well you’re practically royalty in this comment section. I’ve seen Mags live 11 times and Claudia is a joy anytime she’s on stage, you guys got the good genes.
TR
@JJ I should add that Claudia’s own version of Plant White Roses on Obscurities is uniquely stunning
Ian Iles
This might be the best recording of music ever, but don't tell Stephin that or he might stop making music. How odd it must be, to have recorded a timeless classic before even maturing as a musician.
TR
Rest In Peace Susan :’( I will water my garden with tears for you