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 Death of Ferdinand de Saussure
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On a night like this
On love he said
"I'm not so sure
I even know what it is
No understanding
No closure
It is a nemesis
To study orchids"
He said
So we don't know anything
You don't know anything
I don't know anything
about love
But we are nothing
You are nothing
I am nothing
Without love
I'm just a great composer
And not a violent man
But I lost my composure
And I shot Ferdinand
Crying "it's well and kosher
to say you don't understand
but this is for Holland-Dozier-Holland"
His last words were
We don't know anything
His fading words were
We don't know anything
The Magnetic Fields's song 'The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure' is a tribute and a reference to the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure. The song speaks about the confusion and uncertainty surrounding love and relationships. The singer of the song encounters Ferdinand de Saussure and asks him about love, to which Saussure responds that he doesn't understand it, and that no one does. The phrase, "You can't use a bulldozer to study orchids," suggests that love is too complicated and nuanced to be examined in the same way as more concrete things.
The song takes a turn when the singer, who claims to be a great composer, reveals that he has shot and killed Saussure. The line "Crying 'it's well and kosher to say you don't understand but this is for Holland-Dozier-Holland'" is a reference to the songwriting and production team known for their work with Motown Records. The implication is that Holland-Dozier-Holland's songs about love are responsible for the confusion and turmoil that led to Saussure's death. His last words, "We don't know anything," are a haunting reminder that even great minds like his can't figure out the mysteries of love.
Overall, 'The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure' is a complex and thought-provoking song that tackles big questions about love, human nature, and violence.
Line by Line Meaning
I met Ferdinand de Saussure
I had the opportunity to meet Ferdinand de Saussure
On a night like this
It was on a night similar to this one
On love he said
He talked to me about love
"I'm not so sure
He wasn't entirely sure
I even know what it is
About what love actually is
No understanding
Lack of comprehension
No closure
Absence of conclusion
It is a nemesis
Love can be an unconquerable obstacle
You can't use a bulldozer
Metaphorically, love cannot be studied with brute force
To study orchids"
He used an analogy to suggest how delicate love can be
He said
He continued to explain
So we don't know anything
None of us truly understood love
You don't know anything
He directed the statement to me specifically
I don't know anything
He included himself in this conclusion
about love
Regarding the topic at hand
But we are nothing
He emphasized how small we are in terms of understanding love
You are nothing
He made it personal again
I am nothing
He confirmed that he too was part of the group that knew nothing of love
Without love
He acknowledged the centrality of love to human existence
I'm just a great composer
He introduced another aspect of himself
And not a violent man
He distinguished himself from the action to come
But I lost my composure
He admitted to losing control of his emotions
And I shot Ferdinand
He committed murder in the heat of the moment
Crying "it's well and kosher
He shouted out an exclamation
to say you don't understand
Referencing the philosopher, he noted how easy it is to claim ignorance
but this is for Holland-Dozier-Holland"
He finished the exclamation by recognising the death of Motown's songwriting trio
His last words were
He moved on to talk about Saussure's final moments
We don't know anything
The philosopher's last statement echoed his prior sentiments
His fading words were
As he passed away, his final words were
We don't know anything
Continuing to emphasise his earlier thoughts on love
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind