The Night You Can
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Before you left your garrison
You'd had a drink, maybe two
You don't remember Paris, hon
But it remembers you
It's true, we flew to Paris, dear
Aboard an Army jet
The night you can't remember
The night I can't forget
You said I was terrific, it
Meant zilch to you, ah, but I
Have our marriage certificate
'N I'll keep it till I die

You were an Army officer
And I just a Rockette
The night you can't remember
The night I can't forget
No rose conveyed your sentiments
Not even a petunia
But you've got vague presentiments
And I've got little Junior
You said, Nobody loves me
And I said, wanna bet?




The night you can't remember
The night I can't forget

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song The Night You Can't Remember is a bittersweet reflection about an unforgettable night that meant nothing to one person and everything to the other. The song tells the story of a woman recalling a night in Paris with her husband who was an Army officer, and she was a Rockette. She remembers how they boarded an Army jet to Paris, the city of love, and how he had a drink or two before leaving his garrison. However, he doesn't remember anything from that night. The woman tries to convey the significance of the night by recollecting their marriage certificate, which he had called terrific at some point during the evening. She cherishes it and keeps it with her, realizing that it will always hold a special place in her heart even if he can't remember it.


The two shared a moment of vulnerability, with the husband confessing that nobody loves him, and the wife responding with a witty line - 'wanna bet?'. The emotions of that beautiful night are still vivid for her and leave an indelible mark on her heart. The song's title itself points out how a person perceives different things from the same event, and how some people can forget even the most meaningful moments of their lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Before you left your garrison
When you were about to leave your military base


You'd had a drink, maybe two
You had consumed some alcohol before leaving


You don't remember Paris, hon
You don't recall anything that happened in Paris


But it remembers you
Paris still holds memories of you being there


It's true, we flew to Paris, dear
It's a fact that we traveled together to Paris


Aboard an Army jet
We took a military plane to go there


The night you can't remember
You can't recollect what happened that night


The night I can't forget
I remember that evening perfectly


You said I was terrific, it
You complimented me by saying I was great


Meant zilch to you, ah, but I
However, it held no meaning for you, while for me,


Have our marriage certificate
I still have the legal document that proves our marriage


'N I'll keep it till I die
And I'll cherish it forever


You were an Army officer
You held a rank in the military


And I just a Rockette
I was a member of a dance troupe, a Rockette


No rose conveyed your sentiments
You didn't express your feelings in a romantic way


Not even a petunia
You didn't offer any flowers


But you've got vague presentiments
However, you have a hazy feeling about something


And I've got little Junior
I have our child, Junior


You said, Nobody loves me
You expressed sadness over not being loved


And I said, wanna bet?
But I reject this statement and challenge you to prove me wrong


The night you can't remember
The night you can't recall


The night I can't forget
The night I will always remember




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

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