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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Sweet-Lovin' Man
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For a million years of rain
But somehow that always seems to be enough,
When love falls from the sky, nobody ever asks why
You just take it or you leave it where it was
But there's just one kind of love
You can spend your life dreaming of
Some have traveled far and wide
Some have given up and died
For the love of a sweet-lovin' man
Some have broken down and cried
Some have turned to dust inside
But I'll stay right here and hide
In the arms of my sweet-lovin' man
Until you've had sweet lovin'
There's no lovin' worth the name
But you can go blind from crying all the time
And who said life was easy
And who said a man was fair
Well I wish you well
But keep your paws off mine
You can't buy one at the mall
But he'll come if you just call
The Magnetic Fields's song Sweet-Lovin' Man is a beautiful ballad about the power and depth of love. The song starts off with a beautiful metaphor, 'an hour of sunshine, for a million years of rain,' indicating how love can make everything worth it, even if it is just for a tiny moment. The singer emphasizes that love is something we all crave and cherish in life. When love appears in our lives, we tend to accept it without any questioning because of the joy it brings. However, there is a certain type of love that is worth spending our lives dreaming of, and that is the love of a sweet-lovin' man.
The lyrics go on to talk about how some have traveled far and wide looking for love, only to become disillusioned and die without ever finding it. On the other hand, those who have found love, have broken down and cried, and some have turned to dust inside. However, the singer has found comfort in the arms of her sweet lovin' man and wants to stay hidden there forever.
The lyrics hold a universal appeal and sentiment about love and its power. The song is both melancholic and upbeat, which is an interesting contrast, and the clever use of metaphors and imagery make the song a beautiful and touching piece.
Line by Line Meaning
There's an hour of sunshine,
Despite all the difficulties and struggles one may face in life, there are some fleeting moments of happiness.
For a million years of rain
Bad times seem to last forever.
But somehow that always seems to be enough,
A little bit of happiness manages to overcome a lot of sadness.
When love falls from the sky, nobody ever asks why
People are quick to accept love and do not question its origin or existence.
You just take it or you leave it where it was
Love is not something that people can control, and they have to accept it as it comes.
But there's just one kind of love
There is only one true form of love that people truly crave.
You can spend your life dreaming of
People can fantasize about love their entire lives.
For the love of a sweet-lovin' man
People are willing to go through everything to find the right kind of love.
Some have traveled far and wide
People would do anything to find the right kind of love.
Some have given up and died
Some people have given up on finding the right kind of love and succumb to the sadness and loneliness.
Some have broken down and cried
Some people are so overwhelmed by their inability to find the right kind of love that they break down and cry.
Some have turned to dust inside
Some people have become empty and hopeless on the inside because of their inability to find the right kind of love.
But I'll stay right here and hide
Despite the difficulty, some people choose to stay and hide rather than move on without love.
In the arms of my sweet-lovin' man
The ideal love some imagine is found in the arms of a sweet and affectionate man.
Until you've had sweet lovin'
People cannot appreciate true love until they have experienced it for themselves.
There's no lovin' worth the name
Without experiencing true love, one cannot understand the meaning of love.
But you can go blind from crying all the time
People can become so overwhelmed by sadness and loneliness that it causes physical harm.
And who said life was easy
Life is full of obstacles and difficulties, including finding love.
And who said a man was fair
Not everyone is treated equal, even in regards to love.
Well I wish you well
A polite dismissal to someone who is not the right lover.
But keep your paws off mine
A warning to others not to try and steal their lover.
You can't buy one at the mall
True love cannot be bought or found in material goods.
But he'll come if you just call
The right kind of love is out there, and one can find it if they are patient and persistent enough.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind