"Caution: to prevent electric shock do not remove cover
No user-serviceable parts inside Refer servicing to qualified
Service personnel"

Let this be the epitaph for my heart
Cupid put too much poison in the dart
This is the epitaph for my heart because it's gone, gone gone
And life goes on and on and on and death goes on, world without end

And you're not my friend
Who will mourn the passing of my heart
Will its little droppings climb the pop chart
Who'll take its ashes and,

Singing, fling them from the top of the Brill Building
And life goes on,
And dawn, and dawn and death goes on,
World without end and you're
Not my friend


Lyrics submitted by Anne Arbour

Epitaph for My Heart Lyrics as written by Stephin Merritt

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Epitaph For My Heart song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

13 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    "Caution: to prevent electric shock do not remove cover No user-serviceable parts insde Refer servicing to qualified service personnel" Let this be the epitaph for my heart.

    genius. utter and complete genius. Stephen Merrit is the man.

    basically this song means, dont fuck around with peoples emotions if you dont know what your doing.

    JackFredon February 12, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think it is about two friends of the same sex, and he falls in love with him, unintentionally. This is completely (beautifully) ambiguous, though, and I should not make such an assumption just because the writer of the song is gay.

    I can't pick a favourite Magnetic Fields song because the competition is so intense.

    Gonzo Soulon April 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is my favorite song by the Magnetic Fields...

    I think it is about two friends of opposite sex, and he falls in love with her, unintentionally.. which is why he referred to cupid "cupid put too much poison in the dart." And I am guessing he told her or she found out and their friendship fell apart because of it. "and you're not my friend." also, with the whole "Who will mourn the passing of my heart Will its little droppings climb the pop chart Who'll take its ashes and, singing, fling them from the top of the Brill Building" part is the base of him feeling alone, because he lost his friend and now who'll be there to "mourn the passing of heart" .... be there for him, comfort him, and reassure him... so he pretty much does it himself by this part "And life goes on, and on, and on and death goes on, world without end and you're not my friend"

    digitalloveon December 23, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Let this be the epitaph for my heart

    That part in the song is haunting. He sings it just as the phenomenal music begins. I cannot stop listening to this song. Utterly amazing. Stephen has a chilling voice, one that grabs hold of you when you're listening to this song. I can listen to it over and over again, and every time I feel like I connect and understand more and more.

    No one can copy them, they are the masters!

    lady kiddoon June 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    My favorite part of this song is the allusion to the songs he writes as "heart droppings."

    judahnielsenon November 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The Brill Building is in New York. It (used) to be a place where a songwriter could go with some material and find singers, musicians, and recording execs, all in the same building. Basicly you could take somthing you had written and turn it to a record all in one place.

    2wenty6ixon March 07, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The first part (the "Caution caution" part) was composed as a song by itself. Merritt decided the album had enough short songs so he used it as an introduction to this other song.

    PopMartyron May 22, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    wow thanks for the info about the brill building!! this song is about being dumped again after many many times, it feels like that's it. you can't take this anymore. and there's nothing left not even a friendship. stephin merritt is a genius!

    magnetic girlon June 11, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was recently at the dentist, and on the side of the X-ray machine it said, "Caution: To prevent electric shock do not remove cover..." It certainly made my root canal better. It's funny because I never thought about this in terms of best friend love, which is odd considering my current situation. I often wonder who will mourn the passing of my heart. "And you're not my friend..."

    GeorginaMansleyon July 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Steve's voice is just so piercing even at his bassist. I love how clever the lyrics are. It's basically telling his ex-friend/lover that the relationship is completely over. You broke my heart. You're not even a friend to me any more. And life goes on. I move on, kind of thing. Lovely.

    webmasterdeeon October 19, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.