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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The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little flowers so though it's always pricking me
My ardor never sours the cactus where your heart
Once was has power to rend and flay I stick because
I'm stuck, because I just can't tear myself away
The Magnetic Fields's song "The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be" is an aptly titled and heartbreaking song. The lyrics describe a person who is in love with someone who is emotionally unavailable, comparing their heart to a cactus. The song starts by acknowledging the prickliness of the person's heart, but quickly moves to describe the beauty of the cactus's flowers, signifying a potential for love and emotional fulfillment. However, despite the constant emotional pain caused by loving someone with a cactus heart, the singer's love only intensifies. It's clear that the singer is torn between their desire for emotional fulfillment and their inability to leave the person they love.
Line by Line Meaning
The cactus where your heart should be has lovely little flowers
Despite the fact that you lack emotional capacity, I appreciate the positive qualities you possess, much like how a cactus can be beautiful despite its prickly nature.
So though it's always pricking me my ardor never sours
Although your behavior constantly hurts me, my love for you remains strong and unwavering.
The cactus where your heart once was has power to rend and flay
Even though you used to have the ability to love, your emotional emptiness now has the power to hurt and harm those around you.
I stick because I'm stuck, because I just can't tear myself away
Despite being aware of the pain you cause and the lack of reciprocity in our relationship, I am unable to leave because my love for you is too strong and enduring.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Written by: Stephin Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind