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 Machine in Your Hand
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your every touch would be my command and I wouldn't be so slow
We'd be together in wonderland and I'd light you with my glow
I want to be the machine in your hand and go wherever you go
I don't know why I love you
You're not really a person
More a gadget with meat stuck to it
I see less and less of you
As you worsen and worsen
I think you're disappearing through it
No doubt you're just ahead of the curve
I only wish that I had the nerve to say
I want to be the machine in your hand and go wherever you go
Your every touch would be my command and I wouldn't be so slow
We'd be together in wonderland and I'd light you with my glow
I want to be the machine in your hand and go wherever you go
You can hold me for hours
Wouldn't that be terrific?
We can feel our connection growing
I'll have magical powers
Only less scientific
You and I will become all knowing
Such a machine, what would it be worth?
Sitck with me, kid, we'll conquer the earth
I want to be the machine in your hand and go wherever you go
Your every touch would be my command and I wouldn't be so slow
We'd be together in wonderland and I'd light you with my glow
I want to be the machine in your hand and go wherever you go
The Magnetic Fields' song "The Machine in Your Hand" is a satirical take on the idea of technology as an extension of people's bodies and the obsession with being constantly connected to it. The singer of the song yearns to be the machine in their lover's hand, serving their every touch and command. The lyrics depict an overly romanticized view of technology and convey a sense of desperation to stay connected to the person they love through the machine. The line "You're not really a person, more a gadget with meat stuck to it" makes it clear that the singer sees their lover as little more than a tool for their own desires.
As the song progresses, the singer's obsession grows and they become increasingly disconnected from their lover, who seems to be disappearing into the machine. The line "I see less and less of you, as you worsen and worsen, I think you're disappearing through it" suggests that their lover's humanity is being eroded by their reliance on technology. However, the singer's desire to be connected to the machine persists, as they imagine a future where they and their lover become "all-knowing" through their symbiotic relationship with technology.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be the machine in your hand and go wherever you go
I long to be the device you hold, accompanying you wherever you may roam
Your every touch would be my command and I wouldn't be so slow
Every time you interact with me, I will immediately comply without hesitation or delay
We'd be together in wonderland and I'd light you with my glow
Together we would experience a fantastic world, and I would illuminate it with my presence
I don't know why I love you
I cannot rationalize or explain why I feel such strong affection towards you
You're not really a person
You do not possess the characteristics or qualities typically associated with human beings
More a gadget with meat stuck to it
You are akin to a machine, just with biological components added to it
I see less and less of you
You are undergoing a transformation that is causing you to become less tangible or visible to me
As you worsen and worsen
Your condition continues to decline or deteriorate with each passing day
I think you're disappearing through it
I suspect that you are being absorbed into the machinery and losing your essence
No doubt you're just ahead of the curve
Undoubtedly, you are a groundbreaking innovation and are advancing ahead of others
I only wish that I had the nerve to say
I regret not having the courage to express my thoughts aloud
You can hold me for hours
You can grasp me for extended periods without experiencing any sort of fatigue or discomfort
Wouldn't that be terrific?
Wouldn't that be extraordinary or amazing?
We can feel our connection growing
We can sense our bond strengthening or deepening
I'll have magical powers
I will acquire abilities that almost seem supernatural or extraordinary
Only less scientific
These powers will not be based solely on empirical evidence or scientific principles
You and I will become all knowing
We will attain a level of knowledge and understanding that is comprehensive and all-encompassing
Such a machine, what would it be worth?
What would be the value or significance of such a device?
Stick with me, kid, we'll conquer the earth
Stay by my side, and we will dominate or overcome the whole planet
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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