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 Nun
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd do whatever they asked me to
I'd meet people with lots of money
And they would love me
Like I loved you
I want to be a topless waitress
I want my mother to shed one tear
Slip into something a tad more sheer
I want to be an artists' model
An odalisque, au natural
I should be good at spin-the-bottle
While I've still got something
Left to sell
I want to be a cobra dancer
With Little Willy between my thighs
I may not find a cure for cancer
But I'll meet plenty of single guys
I want to be a brothel worker
I've always been treated like one
If I could be a back-street lurker
I'd make more money
And have more fun
I want to be a dominatrix
Which isn't like me, but I can dream
Learn S, and M,
And all those gay tricks
And men will pay me to
Make them scream
I want to be a porno starlet
(for that I'll wait till Mama's dead)
I'll see my name in lights of scarlet
And get to spend every day in bed
I want to be a tattooed lady
Dedicated, as I am, to art
Characters bold, complex and shady
Will write my memoirs
Across my heart
The Magnetic Fields’ “The Nun” is a darkly humorous song about a woman who longs to escape the confines of her life and pursue a more adventurous, even risqué existence. She dreams of occupations that are taboo, such as a Playboy bunny, topless waitress, artist's model, cobra dancer, brothel worker, dominatrix, and even a porn starlet. Through each profession she names, she expresses her desire to be seen as desirable, to have people love and desire her the way she once loved someone.
The song is told from the point of view of a woman who is longing for something more out of life. She wants to shed her old sedate dress and slip into something more revealing, to be good at spin-the-bottle while she still has something to sell. She is acutely aware of her own mortality and feels the pressure to live a full life while she still can. The lyrics of the song are tongue-in-cheek, but the underlying message is that this woman feels trapped by societal expectations and is desperate for a change.
The Magnetic Fields’ “The Nun” is a song that has been interpreted in a variety of ways, depending on the listener's perspective. Some see it as a feminist anthem that speaks to the longing for freedom and autonomy. Others might see it as a commentary on the male gaze and the unrealistic expectations placed on women in society. In any case, it's a clever and thought-provoking piece that invites us to examine our own desires and expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to be a playboy's bunny
I aspire to be one of the women who entertain rich men and do whatever they ask me to do with the hope that they will love me.
I'd do whatever they asked me to
I am willing to do anything that they demand me in order to gain their affection.
I'd meet people with lots of money
I believe that attaching myself to wealthy and affluent individuals would bring me happiness and contentment.
And they would love me
I am expecting that the rich people I meet would admire me and take care of me like my past partner once did.
Like I loved you
I have loved someone in the past, perhaps the person I am singing about in this song, and I want new people to love me in the same way.
I want to be a topless waitress
I desire to be a waitress while wearing revealing clothing and evoke strong emotions or responses from my clients.
I want my mother to shed one tear
I want my mother to be proud of me for whatever career path I take, even though it might be unconventional.
I'd throw away this old sedate dress
I want to discard the cultural norm of dressing conservatively and opting for something more risqué.
Slip into something a tad more sheer
I desire to wear something that is more see-through than my current clothing with the intention of sparking broader interest from customers.
I want to be an artists' model
I aspire to be an image used as inspiration for artists and their creative works.
An odalisque, au naturel
I want to be portrayed as an exotic female slave in oriental attire without any clothes on.
I should be good at spin-the-bottle
I am confident that I can keep up with the games and pleasures that come with being an artist's model.
While I've still got something left to sell
I think I am currently at my prime and want to take advantage of my existing appearance and skill set.
I want to be a cobra dancer
I aspire to be a performer who dances and interacts with cobras.
With Little Willy between my thighs
This line is interpreted as a reference to a battery-operated vibrator that I would enjoy while performing.
I may not find a cure for cancer
I am willing to lead a life that may not yield significant contributions to science or society.
But I'll meet plenty of single guys
I am optimistic that my career choice would expose me to several single men who would be interested in me.
I want to be a brothel worker
I desire to entertain customers sexually in exchange for money.
I've always been treated like one
I may have had experiences where people saw me as a prostitute, despite not working at a brothel.
If I could be a back-street lurker
I would do anything it takes to bolster my image as someone who is sexually adventurous and promiscuous.
I'd make more money
I see this profession as a way to make more money than I earn in other jobs or other ways of earning money.
And have more fun
I believe that I would feel more joyful and excited with this type of work compared to other professions.
I want to be a dominatrix
I aspire to be a female professional who dominates and punishes men sexually as a form of entertainment.
Which isn't like me, but I can dream
I acknowledge that this profession isn't something that reflects what virtues or beliefs I hold deep down, but it makes for an attractive fantasy.
Learn S, and M, and all those gay tricks
I am willing to learn the art of sadomasochism and various methods used by homosexuals to better excel in this line of work.
And men will pay me to make them scream
I am confident that there is a market for men who want to be sexually dominated in a professional setting and are willing to pay me for that experience.
I want to be a porno starlet
I desire to act in pornographic movies and become a popular figure who is known among fans.
(for that I'll wait till Mama's dead)
I am willing to wait until after my mother has passed away to pursue this career path because I am aware of the societal stigma attached to it and am afraid of my mother's reaction.
I'll see my name in lights of scarlet
I anticipate that my career choice would make me famous with the glitz and glamour attached to it.
And get to spend every day in bed
I imagine a life where I only work while lying in bed and get to enjoy the pleasure while earning money at the same time.
I want to be a tattooed lady
I aspire to have tattoos and be remodeled in a way that is different from the norm.
Dedicated, as I am, to art
I see tattoos as a form of artistic expression and something that I am passionate about.
Characters bold, complex and shady
I imagine the tattoos would be dark, eye-catching, and have a deep meaning that would reflect my personality.
Will write my memoirs, across my heart
The tattoos would be a story of my life, written in ink and inscribed on my skin.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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