Parades Go By

The Magnetic Fields · 69 Love Songs Pt. 1 [1999]

I'll linger here your ring upon my finger dear

And sing 'till dawn

A song of you and me

And what and why for time is all I have to keep

Between these walls and half asleep

The days go by a million little

Nights and days go by

And I don't mind parades go by

So many beautiful parades go by

Leave me behind I'll sit and stare how could I venture

Anywhere and let the centuries fall

Where they may but never die

For I have loved and so I lost the world

Above beyond the moss...

Parades Go By

The Magnetic Fields' "Parades Go By" stands as a quintessential example of their unique blend of indie rock and theatrical pop. Recorded for the 1999 compilation "69 Love Songs Pt. 1," the track captures the band's signature sound, characterized by intricate guitar work, atmospheric textures, and a distinct sense of theatricality. The song reflects the group's exploration of urban life and emotional complexity, themes that permeate their broader discography from "Realism" to "Love At The Bottom Of The Sea." As a key component of their catalog, the recording showcases their ability to merge melodic accessibility with a more experimental edge, cementing their status as a pivotal force in the alternative music scene of the late 1990s and early 2000s.