LD Beghtol writes that, "This song is also heavily influenced by The Three O'Clock, an LA 'paisley underground' band Stephin and Claudia loved in the 80s, whose terrific first two albums have just recently been released on CD".
Also from the booklet: Daniel Handler: "I think there will be people who hear this song think that '...and he's going to be my wife' is a gay marriage statement". Stephin Merritt: "Well, I suppose it is".
When My Boy Walks Down the Street
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat
Everyone sings hallelujah when my boy walks down the street
Life just kind of dances through ya from your smile down to your feet
Amazing he's a whole new form of life
Blue eyes blazing and he's going to be my wife
The world does the hula-hula when my boy walks down the street
Butterflies turn into people when my boy walks down the street
Maybe he should be illegal he just makes life too complete...
Amazing he's a whole new form of life
Blue eyes blazing and he's going to be my wife
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories
Oh, things that he brings that he found in the sea
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories of songs
Oh, how could he know that it won't be long...
Grand pianos crash together when my boy walks down the street
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat
Everyone sings hallelujah when my boy walks down the street
Life just kind of dances through ya from your smile down to your feet
The Magnetic Fields' "When My Boy Walks Down the Street" is a whimsical ode to the transformative power of love. The song describes the effect the singer's beloved has on the world around them, from the crashing of grand pianos to the sudden appearance of people out of butterflies. The lyrics suggest that the singer is so enraptured with this person that they feel like they are discovering a "whole new kind of weather" when they are around.
The song's opening lines are particularly striking, as they use a somewhat surreal image to convey the strength of the singer's feelings. The idea of grand pianos crashing together suggests a dramatic collision of sound and emotion, while the follow-up line about "new kinds of weather" reinforces the idea that the singer feels like their life is changing dramatically in the presence of this person.
The song's closing lines hint at a sense of anticipation or even foreboding, with the suggestion that the happy times may come to an end. This idea is reinforced by the repeated refrain about "echoes of memories" and the question of how long the good times will last.
Overall, "When My Boy Walks Down the Street" is a playful and catchy love song that captures the feeling of being head over heels in love in a lighthearted, whimsical way.
Line by Line Meaning
Grand pianos crash together when my boy walks down the street
His presence is so electrifying that even inanimate objects seem to move in harmony
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat
With him, life seems more vibrant and the world feels like a constantly changing entity
Everyone sings hallelujah when my boy walks down the street
His energy is infectious and people can't help but celebrate his presence
Life just kind of dances through ya from your smile down to your feet
Being around him is like being in the midst of a grand dance party, filling you with happiness and joy
Amazing he's a whole new form of life
He is unlike anything that has ever been experienced before
Blue eyes blazing and he's going to be my wife
His stunning blue eyes captivate and fascinate, and the singer is deeply in love with him
The world does the hula-hula when my boy walks down the street
The world comes alive and dances a joyous dance just to be in his presence
Everyone thinks he's Petula so big and yet so petite
He is both powerful and delicate, commanding attention and admiration from all around him
Butterflies turn into people when my boy walks down the street
His power of transformation and influence is so great that it feels like anything is possible when he is around
Maybe he should be illegal he just makes life too complete...
His presence is so transformative and powerful that it feels like he shouldn't even be allowed to exist in this world
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories
The singer thinks about the past and the memories that might have led them to this moment
Oh, things that he brings that he found in the sea
He has a mysterious and awe-inspiring quality that seems to come from the depths of the ocean
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories of songs
The singer is reminded of songs and memories from the past that seem to have led them to this moment
Oh, how could he know that it won't be long...
The singer reflects on the fleeting nature of life and their time together, knowing that it will not last forever
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
drgrangs
Grand pianos crash together when my boy walks down the street
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat
Everyone sings hallelujah when my boy walks down the street
Life just kind of dances through ya from your smile down to your feet
Amazing he's a whole new form of life
Blue eyes blazing and he's going to be my wife
The world does the hula-hula when my boy walks down the street
Everyone thinks he's Petula so big and yet so petite
Butterflies turn into people when my boy walks down the street
Maybe he should be illegal he just makes life too complete...
Amazing he's a whole new form of life
Blue eyes blazing and he's going to be my wife
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories
Oh, things that he brings that he found in the sea
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories of songs
Oh, how could he know that it won't be long...
Grand pianos crash together when my boy walks down the street
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat
Everyone sings hallelujah when my boy walks down the street
Life just kind of dances through ya from your smile down to your feet
drgrangs
Grand pianos crash together when my boy walks down the street
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat
Everyone sings hallelujah when my boy walks down the street
Life just kind of dances through ya from your smile down to your feet
Amazing he's a whole new form of life
Blue eyes blazing and he's going to be my wife
The world does the hula-hula when my boy walks down the street
Everyone thinks he's Petula so big and yet so petite
Butterflies turn into people when my boy walks down the street
Maybe he should be illegal he just makes life too complete...
Amazing he's a whole new form of life
Blue eyes blazing and he's going to be my wife
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories
Oh, things that he brings that he found in the sea
Oh, shadows of echoes of memories of songs
Oh, how could he know that it won't be long...
Grand pianos crash together when my boy walks down the street
There are whole new kinds of weather when he walks with his new beat
Everyone sings hallelujah when my boy walks down the street
Life just kind of dances through ya from your smile down to your feet
Django J.F Shafer
Thank you!
Sally Bowles
Stephen Meritt is seriously my favourite poet
Gray Rhapsody
This is one of the few songs I could actually imagine playing at my wedding if I ever get married.
catapimba
Cute
n o
Straight dude here. Gonna convince my fiancee to do just that.
PrivateSchemers1
Really captures those feelings of early-stage love.
avalanchealonso
Steve Merritt's interpretation of the sound of the Jesus and Mary Chain turned out to be great with this awesome and catchy song!
Francisco Franco
69 Love Songs is maybe the best record of the last 21 years.
Fin O'Suilleabhain
Weirdly, I just said exactly that to someone in the blessed state of not knowing it (the album) yet.