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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Smoke Signals
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It won't fit on any forms
You gave me all your mirrors and they made me deformed
You're sending smoke signals
I know your secret code
We travel in the plaid van and we give our puppet show
You're sending smoke signals
I know your secret code
Well, you made a Molotov cocktail, and you threw it on the ground,
And it sent us flying, and now we're flying about
You're sending smoke signals
I know your secret code
The Magnetic Fields' song Smoke Signals narrates the story of two individuals who enjoy spending time together while travelling in a plaid van, giving puppet shows and having picnics in the winter on maple syrup and snow. The singer talks about the person having a really long name, one that won't fit on any forms. This could imply that the person might be hiding their true identity or have a lot of aliases. The person gives all their mirrors to the singer, and as a result, the singer feels deformed. This could suggest that the person is in control of the singer's perception of their own identity.
The chorus of the song speaks about the person sending smoke signals and the singer deciphering their secret code. Smoke signals are typically used to communicate over long distances, mostly during emergencies. It could imply that the person is trying to communicate something important through symbolic means, something that only the singer is privy to comprehend. In the last verse, the person makes a Molotov cocktail and throws it on the ground, causing the singer to fly about. This action could mean that the person has caused some form of explosion or dramatic event that has affected the singer's life. However, the singer still understands the person's secret code, suggesting that they still have a deep connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you've got a really long name
Your name is really long, so it can't fit on standard forms.
It won't fit on any forms
Your name is so long that it can't fit on any standard forms or documents.
You gave me all your mirrors and they made me deformed
You gave me everything you had, but it didn't make me happy and instead made me feel like something was wrong with me.
You're sending smoke signals
You're trying to communicate with me in a subtle, indirect way.
I know your secret code
I understand the hidden or obscure message you're trying to convey.
We travel in the plaid van and we give our puppet show
We have an unconventional lifestyle, traveling in a unique van and entertaining people with our puppet shows.
And we picnic in the winter on maple syrup and snow
We find joy in the simple things, like having a picnic in the winter and eating maple syrup with snow.
Well, you made a Molotov cocktail, and you threw it on the ground,
You created something dangerous and destructive, and then frivolously discarded it.
And it sent us flying, and now we're flying about
Your reckless actions had unexpected consequences and we're now dealing with the fallout.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
End Wildlife Services'Needless Killing Of Wildlife
The best album from the group....Susan Anway supplying the lyrics here
auntie social
Well, you've got a really long name........but I like it, good message
C Short
Susan's voice... it's.... it's perfect.
Scott Hubert
ABSOLUTELY!!!
Skooma
I will love this song forever.
Danton Favaretto
que capa maravilhosa. e este trecho, "you gave me all your mirrors and they made me deformed". poxa. <3
bobbiwib
thanks so much for the upload, this is one of my all-time favourite albums and Smoke Signals is my favourite song from it :D
Palafico3
I LOVE THIS ALBUM!!!! :D
Victor Hugo Tolugo
Lovely song!
John Marr
Beautiful song.