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 Dreaming Moon
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
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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