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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Strange Eyes
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two lives lived in distant lands
Little blue mysteries
What did they see in me
Strange eyes, early Picasso
Call me even when you don't
If only from pictures
The follow me in all my dreams
Oh God I'm still in love with you
Strange eyes, to little star charts
Plunge knives into my poor heart
As lovely as a tree they endlessly recede
Strange eyes, two little whirlpools
Made by God to destroy fools
Two pearls of infinite cost
Two paradises lost
They swallow me in all my dreams
Oh God I'm still in love with you
The Magnetic Fields' song "Strange Eyes" is a melancholic and romantic song that depicts the longing and passion for a distant lover. The lyrics are deep and insightful, and they convey themes of love, distance, and mystery. The first line of the song, "Strange eyes, blue clocks without hands," sets a metaphor for the lover's eyes, which are mysterious like blue clocks without hands. The reference to "two lives lived in distant lands" builds on the idea of the lover's distant location and the longing for their presence.
The second verse further intensifies the longing, as the singer reveals that even though they have not seen their lover in three years, they still dream of them. The line "Oh God, I'm still in love with you" shows the desperation and intensity of the singer's feelings. The third verse underlines the mysterious nature of the lover's eyes, creating a sense of foreboding with the line "Plunge knives into my poor heart." The metaphor of "two little whirlpools made by God to destroy fools" leaves an impression that the relationship is both irresistible and dangerous.
The song's chorus, "Two paradises lost, they swallow me in all my dreams," emphasizes the singer's feeling of being entirely consumed by their love for the distant lover. The concluding line, "Oh God, I'm still in love with you," further underscores the singer's attachment and utter devotion to the lover, even though they are far away.
Line by Line Meaning
Strange eyes, blue clocks without hands
The eyes of the person being described are strange because they seem like blue clocks that show no time through their hands.
Two lives lived in distant lands
The person with the strange eyes has lived two separate lives in faraway places; there's a sense of separateness and disconnectedness, even in their presence.
Little blue mysteries
The mysteries of the strange-eyed person are like little blue secrets that are not easy to solve or unravel.
What did they see in me
The artist is perplexed about why the strange-eyed person seems to be paying attention to them or what it is that caught their attention.
Strange eyes, early Picasso
The strange eyes of the person are like those of Picasso's subjects in his earlier paintings - curious, colorful, and expressive.
Call me even when you don't
The person with the strange eyes calls the singer to mind, even when they are not around or have not made a call or connection.
If only from pictures
The singer's access to the strange-eyed person is only through pictures or photographs, and even then, they have not had contact in three years.
It having been three years
The last time the artist saw or had a connection with the strange-eyed person was three long years ago, and they are still very much in their thoughts.
They follow me in all my dreams
The strange-eyed person features prominently in the artist's dreams and subconscious thoughts.
Oh God I'm still in love with you
The artist is confessing that they are still in love with the strange-eyed person and cannot seem to let go of their feelings or the idea of a connection with them.
Strange eyes, too little star charts
The eyes of the strange-eyed person are too small and insignificant to be star charts, but they still guide and direct the singer in some way - like constellations in the sky.
Plunge knives into my poor heart
The strange-eyed person's gaze feels like sharp knives that pierce and hurt the artist's heart in some way - a metaphor for the intensity of their feelings.
As lovely as a tree they endlessly recede
The loveliness of the strange-eyed person is as fleeting and elusive as the trees in the distance that recede into the horizon - never quite in reach.
Strange eyes, two little whirlpools
The eyes of the strange-eyed person are like whirlpools that draw the singer in and threaten to engulf them entirely.
Made by God to destroy fools
The eyes of the strange-eyed person were made by God to destroy foolish people who fall for their enchanting gaze - a warning or reminder that the singer is vulnerable to heartbreak.
Two pearls of infinite cost
The strange-eyed person is like two pearls that hold infinite value or worth, and it would be a loss to lose them or any connection to them.
Two paradises lost
The loss of the strange-eyed person or any chance at a connection with them would be like losing paradise or heaven on earth - a point of despair for the artist.
They swallow me in all my dreams
The person with the strange eyes is like a whirlpool that engulfs the singer in all their dreams, leaving them helpless or vulnerable.
Oh God I'm still in love with you
The singer reiterates their confession of love for the person with the strange eyes and the depth of their feelings.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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