The Cactus Where Your Heart Should Be

In the 69 Love Songs booklet, Stephin Merritt and Daniel Handler discuss how this song evokes the work of Ennio Morricone [biography] and George O'Keeffe [biography], and through them the desert spaces of Southwest USA.

LD Beghtol writes:

The prickly, dulcimer-like instrument you hear is my 1917 Marxophone. Stephin borrowed all of his friends' oddball instruments during the recording of 69 Love Songs, to augment his own vast collection, which is why the album has such a diverse sonic range.

• [Lyrics and guitar tab] from stephinsongs web site.