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)
http://www.houseoftomorrow.com/
Walk A Lonely Road
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Way out in the the wood
I had neither friend nor toy
Never knew I could
When I found this lonely road
Off I walked for good
When I was a little boy
Way out in the wood
Walk a lonely road with me
I will walk with you
Half as lonely we will be
When we walk as two
If the road goes straight uphill
We'll admire the view
Walk a lonely road with me
I will walk with you
When I was a little girl
On the lonesome plain
I had neither pal nor pearl
Mostly wind and rain
One day I set out along
A little winding lane
When I was a little girl
On the lonesome plain
The Magnetic Fields's song "Walk A Lonely Road" is a melancholic reflection on the loneliness that can accompany us throughout our lives. The lyrics convey a sense of isolation, from the singer's youth spent in the woods without friends or toys, to the young girl on the lonesome plain with nothing but wind and rain. The chorus, "Walk a lonely road with me, I will walk with you. Half as lonely we will be when we walk as two," offers a glimmer of hope that perhaps by joining forces, these individuals can ease their solitude. Even if the path is "straight uphill," the companionship will make the journey more bearable.
The repetition of the opening lines and phrases emphasizes the cyclical nature of loneliness and the difficulty of breaking free from it. The use of the childlike imagery of the woods and the plain as well as the simple language of the lyrics adds to the sense of innocence lost to loneliness. Overall, the song evokes a longing for connection and a desire to wander together on the lonely road of life.
Line by Line Meaning
When I was a little boy
As a child, in my youth
Way out in the wood
I was living in a remote area surrounded by trees and nature
I had neither friend nor toy
I had no companions or toys to entertain myself with
Never knew I could
I was unaware that I could desire such things
When I found this lonely road
When I discovered a solitary path
Off I walked for good
I decided to venture along it and never look back
Walk a lonely road with me
Join me on this journey with no one else accompanying us
I will walk with you
I will be your companion
Half as lonely we will be
Although we will still be alone, our loneliness will be lessened by each other's presence
When we walk as two
When we journey together
If the road goes straight uphill
If the path we take becomes difficult and challenging
We'll admire the view
We will still appreciate the beauty and wonder around us
When I was a little girl
As a young girl
On the lonesome plain
In an isolated, barren area
I had neither pal nor pearl
I had no friends or valuable possessions
Mostly wind and rain
The main elements I encountered were harsh weather conditions
One day I set out along
One day, I embarked on a journey
A little winding lane
A small, twisting path
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind