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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Please Stop Dancing
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have cried till I'm half dead
Please stop dancing in my head
Please stop dancing in my mind
I have cried till I'm half blind
Please stop dancing in my mind
I can't seem to break apart
Please stop dancing in my heart
Please stop dancing in my soul
I can't make it rock and roll
Please stop dancing in my soul
Please stop dancing my sleep
I can't make it terminate
Please stop dancing in my sleep
Please stop dancing in my eyes
I can't make up pretty lies
Please stop dancing in my eyes
Please stop dancing in my blood
Who would've ever wondered
Please stop dancing in my blood
Please stop dancing in my life
I will never be your wife
Please stop dancing in my life
The Magnetic Fields' "Please Stop Dancing" is a love song that expresses the singer's desire for someone to stop occupying their thoughts and emotions. The repetitive structure of the lyrics emphasizes the desperate plea to get this person out of their head, mind, heart, soul, sleep, eyes, blood, and life. Each verse builds on the previous, adding to the sense of desperation and exhaustion felt by the singer. The use of the metaphor of dancing highlights the way this person has taken over the singer's life, joy, and even identity.
The refrain "Please stop dancing in my..." is hauntingly melancholic, emphasizing the singer's sense of powerlessness and defeat in trying to break away from this person's hold on them. The lyrics' simplicity is combined with the arrangement's intricacy, making for a rich sonic texture that captures the desperation and longing at the core of the lyrics.
Overall, the song expresses the dark side of love: the heartache, obsession, and disorienting grip it can have on us. The singer is trying to regain their identity and independence and trying to stop their former lover from haunting them. With the repetition used to drive the point home, the song takes the listener on the journey of heartbreak and desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
Please stop dancing in my head
I can't stop thinking about you, and it's affecting my mental wellbeing.
I have cried till I'm half dead
I have already shed so many tears over you that it has taken a toll on me.
Please stop dancing in my mind
You're constantly on my mind, and I can't seem to shake you off.
I have cried till I'm half blind
I've been in tears for so long that it has even affected my eyesight.
Please stop dancing in my heart
You've taken up residence in my heart, and I can't seem to get you out.
I can't seem to break apart
Despite my best efforts, I can't seem to move on from you.
Please stop dancing in my soul
You've infiltrated every part of me, including my soul.
I can't make it rock and roll
I can't seem to find joy or excitement in anything since you left.
Please stop dancing my sleep
You're even invading my dreams, making it difficult for me to get restful sleep.
I can't make it terminate
No matter what I do, the thought of you stays with me.
Please stop dancing in my eyes
Your memory is affecting how I view the world and not allowing me to see things clearly.
I can't make up pretty lies
I can't pretend that everything's fine and create a false sense of reality.
Please stop dancing in my blood
You've become a part of me, and my very essence feels like it's linked to you.
Who would've ever wondered
I never would have thought that someone could have such a profound effect on me.
Please stop dancing in my life
You're affecting every aspect of my life, and it's time for you to leave.
I will never be your wife
Despite everything, we can never be together, and I need to accept that and move on.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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