Papa Was A Rodeo
The Magnetic Fields · 69 Love Songs Pt. 2 [1999]
I like your twisted point of view, Mike
I like your questioning eyebrows
You've made it pretty clear what you like
It's only fair to tell you now
that I leave early in the morning
and I won't be back till next year
I see that kiss-me pucker forming
but maybe you should plug it with a beer, cause
Papa was a rodeo - Mama was a rock'n'roll band
I could play guitar and rope a steer before I learned to stand
Home was anywhere with diesel gas - Love was a trucker's hand
Never stuck around long enough for a one night stand
Before you kiss me you should know
Papa was a rodeo
The light reflecting off the mirror ball
looks like a thousand swirling eyes
They make me think I shouldn't be here at all
You know, every minute someone dies
What are we doing in this dive bar
How can you live in a place like this
Why don't you just get into my car
and I'll take you away I'll take that kiss now, but
(boy) Papa was a rodeo...
And now it's 55 years later
We've had the romance of the century
After all these years wrestling gators
I still feel like crying when I think of what you said to me
Papa was a rodeo...
Before you kiss me you should know - Papa was a rodeo
What a coincidence, your Papa was a rodeo too
I like your questioning eyebrows
You've made it pretty clear what you like
It's only fair to tell you now
that I leave early in the morning
and I won't be back till next year
I see that kiss-me pucker forming
but maybe you should plug it with a beer, cause
Papa was a rodeo - Mama was a rock'n'roll band
I could play guitar and rope a steer before I learned to stand
Home was anywhere with diesel gas - Love was a trucker's hand
Never stuck around long enough for a one night stand
Before you kiss me you should know
Papa was a rodeo
The light reflecting off the mirror ball
looks like a thousand swirling eyes
They make me think I shouldn't be here at all
You know, every minute someone dies
What are we doing in this dive bar
How can you live in a place like this
Why don't you just get into my car
and I'll take you away I'll take that kiss now, but
(boy) Papa was a rodeo...
And now it's 55 years later
We've had the romance of the century
After all these years wrestling gators
I still feel like crying when I think of what you said to me
Papa was a rodeo...
Before you kiss me you should know - Papa was a rodeo
What a coincidence, your Papa was a rodeo too
Papa Was A Rodeo
The Magnetic Fields' 1999 recording of 'Papa Was A Rodeo' stands as a defining moment in post-punk and shoegaze history. Released on the album 69 Love Songs Pt. 2, this track exemplifies the group's signature blend of ethereal vocals, distorted guitars, and melancholic storytelling. The song captures the band's unique ability to merge folk sensibilities with modern electronic textures, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and expansive. As a cornerstone of their discography, the recording has influenced countless artists in indie rock and dream pop, cementing The Magnetic Fields' legacy as pioneers of atmospheric soundscapes during the late 1990s.