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/
You Must Be Out Of Your Mind
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why would I want to talk to you?
I want you crawling back to me
Down on your knees, yeah
Like an appendectomy
Sans anesthesia
[Chorus]
You must be out of your mind
If you think you can simply press rewind
You must be out of your mind, son
You must be out of your mind
You want what you've turned off turned on
You call it sunset, now it's dawn
You can't go 'round just saying stuff
Because it's pretty
And I no longer drink enough
To think you're witty
[Chorus]
You want to kindle that old flame
I don't remember your real name
It must be something scandalous
Lurks in your shadows
If you need a Santa Claus
To buy your gallows
[Chorus]
The Magnetic Fields's "You Must Be Out Of Your Mind" is a sarcastic and bitter song that addresses an ex-lover who is trying to reconcile. The singer of the song is refusing any advances and stating that whoever is trying to come back is out of their mind. The song starts with a direct blow, affirming that the idea of getting back together is frivolous and illogical - "You think I'll run, not walk, to you, Why would I want to talk to you?" The singer states that he wants his former partner crawling back to him, begging for forgiveness, and he wants to watch them on their knees, as if they were undergoing surgery without anesthesia. The lyrics display a kind of power dynamic where the singer holds all the cards, and the ex-lover is at mercy, trying to convince the singer to take them back.
The chorus is a clever and ironic twist on the cliched theme of reconciliation, stating that the ex is out of their mind if they think that the singer will ever forget what has happened and simply start anew. The second verse is equally cynical, saying that the ex cannot change the past by calling it differently ("You call it sunset, now it's dawn"), and that they don't have the right to say anything they want because it sounds prettier. The singer then implies that they used to drink a lot, and now that they have stopped, the ex-lover no longer appears as charming or smart. The final verse sees the singer laughing outright at the idea that the ex-lover could rekindle the old flame, disappearing so much that the singer does not even remember their name.
Overall, "You Must Be Out Of Your Mind" is a viciously witty break-up song that takes on several of the established themes of reconciliation tunes and turns them upside down. The song is about power dynamics in relationships and emotional manipulation, and it showcases The Magnetic Fields's trademark ironic wit and sharp lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
You think I'll run, not walk, to you
You expect me to come to you very quickly without hesitation
Why would I want to talk to you?
I have no interest in communicating with you
I want you crawling back to me
I want you to come back to me humbly in a submissive way
Down on your knees, yeah
I want you to beg for my forgiveness
Like an appendectomy, sans anesthesia
I want you to feel the same intense pain and suffering as a patient undergoing an appendectomy without any pain relief
If you think you can leave the past behind, You must be out of your mind
If you believe that forgetting and ignoring the past is possible, then you are delusional
If you think you can simply press rewind, You must be out of your mind, son
If you believe that you can undo what has already happened, you are completely mistaken
You want what you've turned off turned on
You want to revive what you have already ended
You call it sunset, now it's dawn
You change your words and actions to manipulate the situation
You can't go 'round just saying stuff, Because it's pretty
You can't just say pleasing things without substance or meaning
And I no longer drink enough, To think you're witty
I am no longer intoxicated enough to find you clever or entertaining
You want to kindle that old flame
You want to rekindle a former romantic relationship
I don't remember your real name
I have forgotten your actual name
It must be something scandalous lurks in your shadows
There must be some shameful behavior or actions you are keeping hidden
If you need a Santa Claus to buy your gallows
If you still expect gifts from someone who will eventually cause your ruin
If you think you can leave the past behind, You must be out of your mind
If you believe that forgetting and ignoring the past is possible, then you are delusional
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind