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/
We Are Having A Hootenanny
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We are havin' a hootenanny now
Do-si-do down
To our hoedown
Our rootin'-tootin' hootenanny
Havin' a hootenanny now
Come and take our personality quiz
Get the lowdown
On our hoedown
We'll tell you where it is,
If'n you take our personality quiz
There'll be somebody there who understands
There'll be somebody there who understands
They won't eat you
They will greet you
And gaze into your eyes and
There'll be somebody there who understands
We are havin' a hootenanny now
The Magnetic Fields's song We Are Having A Hootenanny is a catchy tune that celebrates the spirit of camaraderie and fellowship. The song begins with the repetition of the phrase "We are having a hootenanny now," which sets the mood for the festivities to come. The lyrics then suggest that everyone should participate in the hoedown, with lines like "Do-si-do down to our hoedown" and "Our rootin'-tootin' hootenanny." The song's lively and upbeat tempo complements the enthusiastic attitude of the lyrics, and listeners can easily imagine themselves dancing and singing along with the crowd.
The second verse of the song encourages people to take a personality quiz to join the hootenanny. This verse may refer to the idea of finding common interests and connecting with like-minded individuals. The lyrics suggest that if you take their quiz, they'll give you the lowdown on the hoedown and where to find it, making it easier for you to join in on the festivities. Finally, the last verse implies that there will be welcoming and understanding people at the hootenanny who will greet newcomers and make them feel comfortable. The line "And gaze into your eyes" may suggest a sense of intimacy and connection, as if the people at the hootenanny are all part of a larger community.
Line by Line Meaning
We are havin' a hootenanny now
We are currently in the middle of a fun social gathering
We are havin' a hootenanny now
We are currently in the middle of a fun social gathering
Do-si-do down
Perform a square dance maneuver of passing one another by the right shoulder
To our hoedown
To our country-themed dance party
Our rootin'-tootin' hootenanny
Our lively and energetic social gathering with a country-western flavor
Havin' a hootenanny now
Currently enjoying and participating in the fun social gathering
Come and take our personality quiz
Take our test which will provide insights into your character
Get the lowdown
Receive the details and information
On our hoedown
Regarding our country-themed dance party
We'll tell you where it is,
We will disclose the location of the event
If'n you take our personality quiz
As long as you complete our character assessment
There'll be somebody there who understands
There will be a sympathetic individual present
They won't eat you
They will not come after you
They will greet you
They will welcome you
And gaze into your eyes and
They will make eye contact
There'll be somebody there who understands
There will be a sympathetic individual present
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind