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/
Yeah
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Are you longing to be free?
Do I drive you up a tree?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
Do I drive you up the wall?
Do you dread every phone call?
Can you not stand me at all?
Though I need you more than air
Is it true you just don't care?
Are you having an affair?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
When we met I thought
Money was everything
So I let you buy the house,
The car, the ring
But I can't take your perpetual whining
And you can't sing
I though if we live apart
We could made a brand-new start
Do you want to break my heart?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
I've enjoyed making you
Miserable for years
Found peace of mind in
Playing on your fears
How I loved to catch your gold
And silver tears, but now my dear
What a dark and dreary life
Are you reaching for a knife?
Could you really kill your wife?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
Of, I die, I die, I die!
So it's over, you and I
Was my whole life just a lie?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
The Magnetic Fields' song "Yeah" is a sarcastic take on a dysfunctional relationship that has reached its end. The lyrics capture the frustration and resentment that both partners feel towards each other, with the repetition of "yeah" adding a sense of bitterness and defiance to the song. The opening lines ask if the other person is out of love and longing for freedom, questions that are sarcastically answered with "Yeah! Oh, yeah!" The questions continue, with accusations such as driving the other up the wall and not caring about the relationship, all with the same sardonic response of "Yeah! Oh, yeah!"
The song takes a sharp turn when the perspective shifts to the singer, who admits to enjoying making the other person miserable and finding peace of mind in playing on their fears. They express their desire to break away and start anew, suggesting that their whole life has been a lie. The final lines are a dramatic plea for the relationship to end, with the singer questioning if the other person is reaching for a knife and if they truly could kill their spouse. The song ends with a repeated "yeah" that feels more uncertain and less confident, suggesting a lack of closure.
Overall, "Yeah" is a raw and bitter critique of a relationship that has reached its end. It highlights the toxic behaviors that both partners have exhibited and the skewed perceptions they have held about each other throughout the relationship. The lyrics are a mix of sarcasm, resentment, and desperation, making for a powerful and emotional listening experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Are you out of love with me?
Do you still have feelings for me or have you lost love for me?
Are you longing to be free?
Are you wishing to escape from this relationship?
Do I drive you up a tree?
Do I frustrate you beyond your limits?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
Affirmative answer to all previous questions
Do I drive you up the wall?
Do I irritate you to the highest degree possible?
Do you dread every phone call?
Do you fear talking to me over the phone?
Can you not stand me at all?
Can you tolerate nothing about me?
Though I need you more than air
Despite my heavy reliance on you for emotional stability
Is it true you just don't care?
Are you indifferent or apathetic towards this relationship?
Are you having an affair?
Are you engaging in romantic or sexual activity outside of our relationship?
When we met I thought
At the start of our relationship, I believed that
Money was everything
Financial wealth had the most significance or importance
So I let you buy the house,
Therefore, I allowed you to purchase the house,
The car, the ring
As well as the car and engagement ring
But I can't take your perpetual whining
However, I cannot endure your continuous complaining
And you can't sing
You cannot sing well
I thought if we live apart
I believed that if we lived separately
We could made a brand-new start
We could have a fresh beginning
Do you want to break my heart?
Do you wish to cause emotional pain to me intentionally?
I've enjoyed making you
I have taken pleasure in causing you to feel
Miserable for years
Unhappy and distressed for a prolonged period of time
Found peace of mind in
Gained satisfaction or tranquility through
Playing on your fears
Exploiting your personal anxieties
How I loved to catch your gold
How I used to enjoy capturing your precious
And silver tears, but now my dear
And valuable tears, but currently, my love
What a dark and dreary life
Existence filled with sadness and gloominess
Are you reaching for a knife?
Are you attempting to harm yourself with a weapon?
Could you really kill your wife?
Would you actually murder your spouse?
Of, I die, I die, I die!
Exclamation of extreme distress or frustration
So it's over, you and I
Our relationship has come to an end
Was my whole life just a lie?
Has everything I believed up to this moment been untrue?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!
Affirmative answer to previous question
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Evan Edelman
this is actually the coolest band of all time
Goreygalx
I was at this show! Thanks so much for posting this! He is such a genius.
BlackFoIiage
Love to hear people laughing--this is a really funny song! They sound great live!
vicko5000
awesome .. hope they tour again soon! new album this years supposedly
ForcedLaughter
this is one of my favorite TMF songs. And the performance was a bit corny but I liked it.
Alucard80
Where can i find more magnetic fields live ?? Im dying to see more. especially tracks from 69 love songs. there's not much on youtube..
Amanda Olsen
I love how this song creepes into your body and makes you close your eyes and laugh and listen and kinda forget everything.
Jemzo Maclain
I know, I think it's the reverb effect and the chords that give it a sort of eerie and peaceful feel
Lola Tong
I love stephin songs!
ljonesvc
She looks just like how I imagined she would, from hearing her on the CD. I'm weird.