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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Take Ecstacy With Me
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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.
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
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
Danilo Adamovic 耍大刀盎然 Hao Ming Resident
Sappy, ridiculous, but still overwhelmingly romantic. The Magnetic Fields understand that love lies on the extreme ends of human emotion.
robin bugs
The end of the second verse gets me every time. It's like a knife in the heart.
lollersteaks
Back when ecstasy was still ecstasy.
The Spatula
Damn 11y ago
sneed Feed
yes!!!!
Bubble Gum
This song is beautifully saddening makes me think of driving home while the sun sets after leaving an old friends house knowing it will be a long time or possibly never before you see them again
Brie Nance
sigh......
John S.
you stuttered like a kaleidoscope
'cause you knew too many words
That is one of the best lyrics anyone ever wrote.
Elena
Listening to this song watching the snow fall, feels like time has stopped and all my worries disappear into the distance.
mistery-ed
In the 90's there wasn't a better group than Magnetic Fields.