Magnetic Fields - The Nun's Litany (live and acoustic in London, 2008)

Another old C4 video once-thought-lost. Not much to say about this one. It was filmed at the Royal Garden Hotel, in Kensington, I think. The track is from the Distortion album.
I remember there were quite a few takes because Stephin wasn't very happy with how he was singing it.

[@srenrimbaud6135]

Whenever we commit to one path in life, we close off millions of others. I feel like, in this song, the nun doesn't regret her vow to God, but there is a small part of her that mourns all the millions of paths she gave up. I think all people can relate to that sentiment. When you marry one person, you are giving up all the other people on Earth, yet if you don't ever marry, that is a choice you may end up regretting also. I relate to the nun in this song. She has chosen her path, and in her reflection, there is a melancholy to her regret that is nearly indescribable in it's beauty, yet Stephen captures it.

[@danburkett8877]

wow and people say I over-analyse stuff! (lol just taking the piss)

[@sunekoo]

I’d love to hear all of Distortion redone like this

[@tristansmith9950]

this made me cry.

[@the_luggage]

I can relate to this song so much. Best version ever.

[@tophergonzales6778]

How can anything be so sad so funny at the same time

[@fritzsalzmann]

this is brilliant!

[@MrLembeck17]

Beyond brilliant.

[@andrewhall6342]

I might be good at spin the bottle, while I've still got something left to sell...

[@lukeblaylock8815]

I love distortion as an album, one of the best by the magnetic fields but this song done solo and stripped down and by Merritt instead of Gonson is actually so much better than the distortion version
tugs at the heartstrings like rubber bands

[@sinnvollproductions]

Shirley Simms sings the album version.

[@platinumdynamite]

There is actually a version on the single with Stephin on vocls.

[@nid1600]

now i'm gonna stay up late and cry because i can't be loud singing it
sigh

[@malcolmhaynes2886]

Very clever song wonderful stuff

[@BethGoth15]

This is like a Disney "I want" song

[@khatiaiatashvili6852]

Yesss

[@monsieurlespaique2333]

Except a whole lot better.

[@ianisles2537]

Beautiful

[@TheMegumi1]

Awesome! I'd ove to see the other takes..

[@chrisrutledge8170]

I want to be a playboy's bunny
I'd do whatever they asked me to
I'd meet people with lots of money
And men would love me like I loved you
I want to be a topless waitress
I want my mother to shed one tear
I'd throw away this old sedate dress
Slip into something a tad more sheer
I want to be an artist's model
An odalisque, au naturel
I should be good at spin-the-bottle
While I've still got something left to sell
I want to be a cobra dancer
With Little Willy between my thighs
I may not find a cure for cancer
But I'll meet plenty of single guys
I want to be a brothel worker
I've always been treated like one
If I could be a back-street lurker
I'd make more money and have more fun
I want to be a dominatrix
Which isn't like me, but I can dream
Learn S&M and all those gay tricks
And men will pay me to make them scream
I want to be a porno starlet
For that I'll wait 'til Mama's dead
I'd see my name in lights of scarlet
And get to spend every day in bed
I want to be a tattooed lady
Dedicated, as I am, to art
Characters bold, complex, and shady
Will write my memoirs across my heart

[@SFRWood]

Brilliant.

[@anglicanbeachparty]

Wow.

[@pancakemaster8567]

what instrument is that?

[@timchipping]

An 8-String ukulele.