The Dreaming Moon
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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With an ivory pipe
And a cummerbund
In the dead of night
On the autobahn
With the long ago
On the radio
And the dreaming moon...
We were young and in love
In a burning town
But the fire went out
I'm alone again now
And I finally know
How cool to be cold
With the dreaming moon
I'll begin again
With another new name
And a whole new life
Full of fortune and fame
But in the 100th year




I'll be right back here
With the dreaming moon

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song "The Dreaming Moon" narrates a story of a past love lost, and how the singer copes with the aftermath. The lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and regret, and also feature a hint of sarcasm towards the end. The song showcases the singer's growth and acceptance of the fact that the fire in their past relationship has burnt out.


In the first verse, the ivory pipe and cummerbund create an image of an elegant event, but this image is immediately juxtaposed with the rebel-like setting of the autobahn. The phrase "long ago on the radio" signifies a past time, perhaps suggesting that the relationship was formed in the past. The phrase "dreaming moon" represents a sense of longing for a better time, and possibly foreshadows the hopeful ending of the song.


In the second verse, the singer, who was once part of a passionate love in a "burning down town", has now become cold and detached. However, they admit to the newfound "coolness" they have acquired, which hints at an underlying sense of emotionally stability they have found after the heartbreak. The singer also expresses a desire to start anew, with a new identity and enjoys the possibility of fortune and fame. The fact they end up back where they started juxtaposes this.


Line by Line Meaning

With an ivory pipe
Holding an ivory pipe


And a cummerbund
Wearing a cummerbund


In the dead of night
During the quietest time of night


On the autobahn
Driving on the highway


With the long ago
Playing an old song


On the radio
Broadcasted on the radio


And the dreaming moon...
With the moon shining above


We were young and in love
When we were youthful and in love


In a burning town
Living in a chaotic place


But the fire went out
Our love extinguished


I'm alone again now
Feeling lonely once more


And I finally know
Realizing after much contemplation


How cool to be cold
To be distant and unemotional


With the dreaming moon
Under the moonlight


I'll begin again
Start anew


With another new name
Using a different identity


And a whole new life
Completely different experiences


Full of fortune and fame
Filled with wealth and recognition


But in the 100th year
Many years into the future


I'll be right back here
Returning to where I started


With the dreaming moon
Underneath the shining moon




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

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