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 Horrible Party
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And let me get home to mother
Don't make me stay at this horrible party
And I'll never go to another
People are shedding their inhibitions and their clothes
Many are sprawled on divans painting each other's toes
Everyone seems to be stuffing something up his nose
Deliver me from this horrible party
And I will give you some money
Why, why are we at this horrible party?
And I don't see what's so funny
Here in the darkness known hitherto only to moles
People are using the slang they picked up from the proles
Everyone's finding new uses for muffs and mink stoles
And "anything goes" goes again, how they know all the roles
Some plastic surgeon's done horrible things to poor jane
Making her terrifically popular, men are insane
"anything goes" is the motto and endless refrain
My dear, it was heaven until they ran out of champagne
The Magnetic Fields' song "The Horrible Party" is a comical yet dark portrayal of a scandalous and wild party that the singer is desperate to escape from. The first verse reveals the singer's strong desire to leave and return to the comfort of their mother's home. They are unimpressed with the party and are eager to never attend one again.
The second verse provides a description of the debauchery at the party. People are losing their inhibitions and clothes, and the atmosphere is one of indulgence and recklessness. The "player piano" repeatedly plays "anything goes," emphasizing the party-goers' disregard for social norms and expectations.
The singer pleads for someone to help them escape, offering money as incentive. The question of why they are at the party is posed, and they fail to see the humor in the situation. The third verse describes the participants' fascination with taboo acts and materials, such as mink stoles and drugs. The repetition of "anything goes" highlights the lack of moderation or restraint at the party. The final lines reveal a disturbing subplot about a woman named Jane who has undergone cosmetic surgery and is objectified by men. The line "My dear, it was heaven until they ran out of champagne" suggests that the high of the party experiences quickly fades once the material pleasures are exhausted.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me away from this horrible party
I want to leave this party because it is terrible
And let me get home to mother
I want to go back to my mother's house
Don't make me stay at this horrible party
Please don't force me to stay at this party
And I'll never go to another
I won't go to any party like this again
People are shedding their inhibitions and their clothes
People are becoming more uninhibited and taking off their clothes
Many are sprawled on divans painting each other's toes
Some people are lounging on couches and painting each other's toes
Everyone seems to be stuffing something up his nose
Everyone is snorting something
A player piano is tinkling "anything goes" again and again
A piano that plays by itself is repeatedly playing the song 'Anything Goes'
Deliver me from this horrible party
Please rescue me from this terrible party
And I will give you some money
I'll pay you if you help me leave
Why, why are we at this horrible party?
Why did we even come to this bad party?
And I don't see what's so funny
I don't find anything humorous about this gathering
Here in the darkness known hitherto only to moles
In this dim room that no one could see in before
People are using the slang they picked up from the proles
People are using slang they learned from lower-class people
Everyone's finding new uses for muffs and mink stoles
Everyone is discovering different ways to use fur accessories
And "anything goes" goes again, how they know all the roles
The song 'Anything Goes' keeps playing, and everyone knows what to do
Some plastic surgeon's done horrible things to poor jane
A plastic surgeon did something terrible to a woman named Jane
Making her terrifically popular, men are insane
Her altered appearance has made her very attractive, and men are crazy about her
"anything goes" is the motto and endless refrain
'Anything Goes' is the motto of this party that never stops
My dear, it was heaven until they ran out of champagne
It was wonderful at first, but then we ran out of champagne
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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