Papa Was A Rodeo

"Papa Was A Rodeo" by The Magnetic Fields
from the album 69 Love Songs (1999)

I combined the beautiful Super 8 footage from the below link and the album version of the Magnetic Fields song, and was pleasantly surprised at how well they work together. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK7k4J...

LYRICS:
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

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

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
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,"

What a coincidence
Your papa was a rodeo, too

• Category

  Music

[Theo Henderson]

Stephin Merritt invented dubstep. As a vocal warmup.

[jpwriter]

This fantastic! The shaky movie, the planned "randomness" - everything! just works. I especially love the opening with the sunspot on the windshield. Great work. Very pleased to come across it - especially since it is one of my favorite love songs. I am also a bit envious. Thanks for sharing it.

[mrduffy1100]

Excellent ;filmed through a cheese grater. lol

[SheGatheredInMySoul]

"I see that kiss-me pucker forming but maybe you should plug it with a beer" class - just love this band. Nice Video.

[Circe213]

Gawd, this song is beautiful. Great find on the video! Perfect!

[JOOODYJOOODY]

i never would have listened to this song but with the movie it was a perfect experience

[JohnnyMarr85]

I really don't think Merritt's sexuality is key here; he plays around with gender roles all the time, so talking about this song isn't a case of labelling it 'gay' or 'straight'. I believe that in the past, Merritt has confirmed that 'Mike' is a girl. A boy named Sue, a girl named Mike...why not?

[ecopicable]

Damn you this song playing on repeat while I'm trying to study econometrics

[Souplesse000]

Yikes!

[edu8273]

actually Merrit is gay and i dont think any straight person could write "love was a truckers hand" and be serious about it

definetly a gay love song, even if straight people can enjoy it

[clarabellen]

 This song is amazing, I love it.