Yeah
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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Are you out of love with me?
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?
Yeah! Oh, yeah!

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!

Overall Meaning

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
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Comments from YouTube:

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.

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