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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When You Were My Baby
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When you were my baby
So much in love it was almost frightening
When you were my baby
Everybody called you a fool
When you wouldn't play by the rules
Everybody was wrong. Oahu.
There was nowhere to run away to
Everybody began to hate you
When you were my baby
Time wasn't on our side
Me and my foolish pride
Then I said goodbye. Oahu.
Now you've gone away and left me on my own
Now I'm walking down the highway all alone
On a rainy night and crying out my eyes
We were young, yeah, but old enough to...
When you were my baby
And I just couldn't help but love you
When you were my baby
Just the way you wore your hair
And the way you just didn't care
And the wayyou danced do do do, etc.
When you were my baby
The Magnetic Fields' song When You Were My Baby is a bitter-sweet reminiscence about a past relationship. The song opens with the singer and his lover walking in the rain and lightning while they were still filled with love for each other. They were so in love that it was almost scary, but it seemed to be worth the risk. They were both outsiders, and society didn't approve of their unconventional behavior. They cheered each other on and didn’t let anyone else dictate how they should behave.
However, time was not on their side, and the singer's pride got the best of him. He said goodbye to his lover despite still being in love and being unable to imagine a life without her. Now he walks alone on the highway crying his eyes out. He remembers the days of their relationship with fondness when his lover had an unconventional haircut and didn't care about societal norms. He was smitten with her because she had a unique approach to life. Now he is left with the memories of when they were in love and happy.
Line by Line Meaning
We walked alone in the rain and lightning
We were together, braving whatever came our way, be it rain, lightning or anything else life threw at us
When you were my baby
I am referring to a time when you and I were together and you weren't as distant as you are now
So much in love it was almost frightening
Our love was intense and passionate, to the point where it almost scared us
Everybody called you a fool
People judged you for not conforming to their expectations and thought less of you
When you wouldn't play by the rules
You refused to abide by social norms and conventions set by people around us
Everybody was wrong. Oahu.
Despite what people thought, they were mistaken, and their judgments didn't matter
There was nowhere to run away to
We were stuck in a situation where it was impossible to escape or find refuge
When you were my baby
Again, I am referring to a time when you and I were together and you meant the world to me
Everybody began to hate you
People's animosity towards you increased as our relationship progressed
Time wasn't on our side
We didn't have enough time to enjoy our love to the fullest extent because of various external and internal factors
Me and my foolish pride
I let my ego and pride get in the way of our relationship, which led to our separation
Then I said goodbye. Oahu.
I made the hard decision of ending our relationship and moving on, even though it was painful and Oahu could be an indication of the emotion felt while doing so
Now you've gone away and left me on my own
You have moved on from me, and I am left alone, trying to cope with the pain of your absence
Now I'm walking down the highway all alone
I am wandering aimlessly, trying to make sense of my life without you
On a rainy night and crying out my eyes
I am in a state of despair, crying profusely, and the weather outside mirrors the way I feel inside
We were young, yeah, but old enough to...
We were young and naive, yet mature enough to understand the depth of our love for each other
When you were my baby
I am reminiscing about the past when you were with me, and we were in love, truly and deeply
And I just couldn't help but love you
No matter what, my love for you remained, and I could not unlove you, even if I wanted to
Just the way you wore your hair
You had a unique and distinct style that made you stand out from the crowd
And the way you just didn't care
You did not bother about what people had to say or what they thought of you; you lived life on your terms
And the way you danced do do do, etc.
Your dance moves were mesmerizing, and they had the power to captivate and transport me to a different world
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stephin Raymond Merritt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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This song was a soundtrack to my two biggest life moments: when I went on a road trip from Cleveland Ohio to Athens Georgia with someone I met in college and only knew for two weeks (I bought this CD in an Athens record shop), and, 3 years later when I went into labor with my first child (by the same person I went to Georgia with). It was a traumatic birth, and I was trapped at home, and so had to give birth there without help, just my partner and this Magnetic Fields CD . I haven't heard this song in over 12 years since that night, and, all the memories come flooding back.
Pete B
"so much in love it was almost frightening" always gets me.
MrBerenstain
such a great song. i love it.
CoinRotator
Just heard this in the new David Foster Wallace biopic, thought it was some obscure jesus and mary chain track I had forgotten about. What a genius he was and always has been. Have always loved Mr. Merritt even when I don't realize it's him.
Gonzalo Di Nasso
Almost the same for me, it sounds a lot like Happy when it rains from J&MC. First time i heard it i tough it was a cover from a song i cant recognize. Thanks for the clue.
porcupine cup
Everybody began to hate you, when you were my baby. now im walking down the highway all alone crying out my eyes. we were young yeah but old enough to. . just the way you wore your hair and the way you danced when you were my baby
Diana Taborda
This is just...too much :) <3
toopoable
Where it all began for me. Heard it on a college radio station, but didn't catch the exact title or name of artist. This was before Google. Drove me nuts for a while.
Malcolm
so beautiful and true.
Marc Turner
so wistful