Stray With Me
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

You used to slide down
The carpeted stairs
Or down the banister
You stuttered like a kaleidoscope
Cause you knew too many words
You used to make ginger bread houses
We used to have taffy pulls
Take ecstasy with me baby
Take ecstasy with me.

You had a black snowmobile
We drove out under the northern lights
A vodka bottle gave you
Those raccoon eyes




We got beat up
Just for holding hands

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song 'Take Ecstasy With Me' is a beautiful portrayal of innocent love, freedom, and youth. The song describes the nostalgia of the singer's youthful days spent with their lover. The singer reminisces about the little things they used to do together, like sliding down carpeted stairs, making gingerbread houses, having taffy pulls, and driving out under the northern lights on a black snowmobile. The imagery in the song is playful and whimsical, giving a sense of carefree love and joy.


The chorus "Take ecstasy with me baby / Take ecstasy with me" is not necessarily about taking the drug, but rather the metaphorical idea of experiencing intense emotions and living life in the moment without any inhibitions. When the singer sings "Take ecstasy with me", they are asking their lover to embrace life's beauty and intensity with them. The song's references to Northern Lights, gingerbread houses, and taffy pulls create a sense of warmth, love, and familiarity.


Line by Line Meaning

You used to slide down
You used to race down


The carpeted stairs
The stairs with soft, fluffy carpet on them


Or down the banister
Or even on the wooden railing of the stairs


You stuttered like a kaleidoscope
You spoke in a dreamy, nonsensical way


Cause you knew too many words
Because you were so intelligent and knew too much


You used to make ginger bread houses
You enjoyed constructing miniature houses with gingerbread


We used to have taffy pulls
We used to play with gooey, sweet taffy


Take ecstasy with me baby
Let's take the drug ecstasy together, love


Take ecstasy with me.
Let's experience a moment of blissful euphoria with each other


You had a black snowmobile
You owned a sleek, fast snow vehicle


We drove out under the northern lights
We went out into the wilderness to see the beautiful aurora borealis


A vodka bottle gave you
Drinking vodka caused


Those raccoon eyes
The dark circles under your eyes


We got beat up
We were physically attacked


Just for holding hands
Simply for showing affection towards each other




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Raymond Merritt

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@scottyslearningcorner6080

This is a classic song that stopped me in my tracks.

In 2006 my dad was driving me and my brother to school and this played on WMBR 88.1. I think on a Wednesday.

it stopped us all in our tracks. I tried to scribble the words on one of my text books. I covered my text books with paper bags and stuff (everyone did in my high school) and I think I tried to write down the words so I'd remember it.

i remember getting to school and just remember and hearing what it was.

later I was so excited i went home and went on the WMBR archive to find out what it was.

We all got so into the Magnetic Fields because of that. My dad doesn't really like any music i do except the Magnetic Fields and the Cure and stuff.



@TheRoyce666

You are a splendid butterfly
It is your wings that make you beautiful
And I could make you fly away
But I could never make you stay

You said you were in love with me
Both of us know that that's impossible
And I could make you rue the day
But I could never make you stay

Not for all the tea in China
Not if I could sing like a bird
Not for all North Carolina
Not for all my little words
Not if I could write for you
The sweetest song you ever heard
It doesn't matter what I'll do
Not for all my little words

Now that you've made me want to die
You tell me that you're unboyfriendable
And I could make you pay and pay
But I could never make you stay

Not for all the tea in China
Not if I could sing like a bird
Not for all North Carolina
Not for all my little words
Not if I could write for you
The sweetest song you ever heard
It doesn't matter what I'll do
Not for all my little words
It doesn't matter what I'll do
Not for all my little words



All comments from YouTube:

@scottyslearningcorner6080

This is a classic song that stopped me in my tracks.

In 2006 my dad was driving me and my brother to school and this played on WMBR 88.1. I think on a Wednesday.

it stopped us all in our tracks. I tried to scribble the words on one of my text books. I covered my text books with paper bags and stuff (everyone did in my high school) and I think I tried to write down the words so I'd remember it.

i remember getting to school and just remember and hearing what it was.

later I was so excited i went home and went on the WMBR archive to find out what it was.

We all got so into the Magnetic Fields because of that. My dad doesn't really like any music i do except the Magnetic Fields and the Cure and stuff.

@danielmont6544

Yo that's so wholesome

@slysawyer5022

That was really nice to read. Thank you.

@elaborator

Love this story. Nobody writes music like Mag Fields

@pendragonU

The first time I heard these guys it was accidental too, they were playing maybe with another name too, but although there were other bands around playing still earlier techno, much fading into else (before everything went into a "new sound discovered" promoted massively with bands of back alley cats meowing/grunging their entitled Whiteness disappointments at slacking it from Seattle) in that late 80's sweet period of Peace, before the Crusades over the Middle East will start for the next decade/s...when I heard the Music these were doing, I realized that was something else of higher value than commercial labels promoters unfaithful waltzes with bands if pop in returns to invested pumping in their money schemes. This was, truly better crafted music as the Indie revolution ever made possible to be proud, not just knowing but enriching your life. After I returned to Boston, I was very relieved to find they finally had recorded some of their songs, so they could be around me wherever I went in the World. Not just a memory or dream of a short period of time

@sherinfr.3712

❤😂

@77hodag

One of those life-changing records - Stephen Merritt is one of the great living songwriters.

@teeterharris

The narrator may have lost his greatest love, but he gained the greatest love of all: knowing reality. That is why this song is beautiful :-)

@MarzLabs

I can't ever compare The Magnetic Fields to any other band. They are unique and I will always enjoy hearing them.

@TheTomTerrible

Heard this at the end of one of the episodes of "The Shield" and it immediately grabbed me. I love great songwriters- Waits, Cave, MacGowan. This one is up there with the greats.

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