Please Stop Dancing
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Please stop dancing in my head
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
Please stop dancing in my heart
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

Overall Meaning

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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