Smoke and Mirrors
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Someone else's world goes by
As my train runs through this night
Someone else's rain comes down
But no rain can touch me now

Smoke and mirrors, special effects
A little fear, a little sex
That's all love is behind the tears
Smoke and mirrors

We were foolish, you and I
But there's no reason to cry
We put on a lovely show, but that's all
I had to go

I don't know the stations' names
I'll spend my life on this train

Fumee et miroirs, effets speciaux
Un pue de peur, un peu de sexe




Sous les larmes l'amour n'est que sa de
La fumee et des miroirs

Overall Meaning

In "Smoke and Mirrors," The Magnetic Fields sing about a love that has ended, leaving the singer feeling isolated from the world around them. The lyrics describe a scene of being on a train, with the passing scenery embodying the idea that life around the singer is continuing while they are left feeling stuck in their own feelings. The lines "Someone else's world goes by" and "Someone else's rain comes down, but no rain can touch me now" both illustrate this sense of detachment.


The chorus employs the metaphor of "Smoke and mirrors" to represent the deceptions and illusions that can be a part of love, suggesting that what may seem like profound connections are often instead just the result of manipulation or trickery. The line "A little fear, a little sex, that's all love is behind the tears" underlines this idea. Despite the pain of love's ending, the singers acknowledge that their relationship was ultimately just "a lovely show," indicating a certain level of acceptance and letting go.


Overall, "Smoke and Mirrors" presents a melancholic reflection on the nature of love and the ways it can both bring people together and drive them apart. The song's use of vivid imagery and evocative language help to convey the complex emotional landscape that comes with the end of a relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Someone else's world goes by
Observing the surroundings while being indifferent and aloof


As my train runs through this night
Traveling in a state of detachment and isolation


Someone else's rain comes down
Others are experiencing emotions that the singer cannot connect with


But no rain can touch me now
Feeling numb and unaffected, unable to feel the same emotions as others


Smoke and mirrors, special effects
Love is often an illusion created by superficial displays


A little fear, a little sex
Love is driven by primal instincts and emotions


That's all love is behind the tears
Love is often just a façade or a display of emotions, not genuine feelings


Smoke and mirrors
Love is just a trick, an illusion that people buy into


We were foolish, you and I
They both made mistakes and took risks for love


But there's no reason to cry
The relationship did not work out, but regret is pointless


We put on a lovely show, but that's all
The relationship was a façade, a superficial display of something that was not real


I had to go
The artist had to leave the relationship in order to find themselves


I don't know the stations' names
The singer has lost touch with reality and cannot connect with their surroundings


I'll spend my life on this train
The singer is stuck in a state of detachment and isolation, unable to move on from their past


Fumee et miroirs, effets speciaux
French translation for 'smoke and mirrors, special effects'


Un pue de peur, un peu de sexe
French translation for 'a little fear, a little sex'


Sous les larmes l'amour n'est que sa de
French translation for 'under the tears, love is nothing but smoke and mirrors'




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARRY GIBB, MAURICE ERNEST GIBB, ROBIN HUGH GIBB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

winklestiltskin

This song is brilliant. This is the first album I bought from them. It was 1994 & I was 18. My favorite songs on this album are Smoke & Mirrors, Famous, Don't Look Away, Why I Cry, Love Is Lighter Than Air, When You're Old And Lonely & The Dreaming Moon. I turned a lot of people on to this band back then. This album is a 9/10 for me & is a classic.

laplace.1817

they are absolutely original. Stephin Merritt is a genius.

superjule

merritt is one of the best songwriters ever, no doubt. but if beauty could kill, this one would be my end.

Are There Lakers To Talk About?

This band just makes my soul so happy

wdamian

Probably my favorite Merritt tune.

alm

Really spectacular album cover, very soothing album

SummerOfGeorge

alm Yeah I think its my favourite album cover. Love you for saying that^^

Chris Harley

Smoke and mirrors, special effects
A little fear, a little sex
That's all love is behind the tears
Smoke and mirrors

Bleu Hope

For ages, I always misheard “smoke and mirrors” as “small candy runes”...
Definitely conjures up an interesting mental image so it does! 😂

Toñin

Other jewel more, so Get lost is a Masterpiece 10/10,album essential 90,s

More Comments

More Versions