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London 1888
Momus Lyrics


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Cellophane grandfather clock
I hope your hands will never stop
Rescue me from my ugly block
In Tokyo, 21st century
To London, 1888
I am descended from a great
Clan of the Meiji shogunate
And I am travelling extensively

It's London 1888
I sit here drinking nettle wine
My family is in decline
And I confess the fault is mine
The doorman's sure to sit and wait
To see who I'll bring home tonight
I'll pay him cash to keep him quiet
I am a libertine

Cellophane grandfather clock
You've got my conscience on the trot
You've got me walking round the block
You've got me searching for experience
Cellophane grandfather clock
I am a Buddhist, I am not
Victorian, I love your shops
But your morality is meaningless

It's London 1888
And I have learned the game of chess
I have a club, it's on the Strand
I'm a dishonourable man
And Tokyo is far away
The English wear a poker face
The latest craze is called 'Croquet'
I am a stranger here

I am the Marquis Matsugae
And I came questioning through time
But is the grave my sole reply?

And Sherlock Holmes is my good friend
I have a trust fund I can spend
And I am ready to defend
My immorality to anyone
And Whistler painted me in grey
I had his mother round to stay
And she sat knitting in her chair
And staring through me disapprovingly

And Aubrey Beardsley sketches me
And Oscar Wilde comes round for tea
But I still feel so Japanese
When I'm alone on Piccadilly
And in Green Park there is a band
Medieval lillie in my hand
I watch the sailors on the bus
A little lustfully

I am the Marquis Matsugae
I came adventuring in time
But is the grave my sole reply?

Cellophane grandfather clock
I hear you ticking while I talk
In my apartment on Pall Mall
To stable boys of easy provenance
Cellophane grandfather clock
The incense on my mantelpiece
Covers the reek of smelly socks
As I prepare them to be compromised

It's London 1888
It's 6 o'clock and I am late
For some disreputable date
With sordid appetites I hate
I hope these crimes will never stop
And like the hands upon the clock
My hands will touch and he'll respond
And go beyond

I am the Marquis Matsugae
And I came questioning through time
But is the grave my sole reply?

It's London 1888
I am the Marquis Matsugae
And I came questioning through time
And is the grave my sole reply?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Momus's song London 1888 are a combination of historical elements, cultural clashes, and personal desires. The Marquis Matsugae is a time traveler from 21st century Tokyo who is descendent from a prestigious Meiji shogunate clan. He finds himself in Victorian London, where he is faced with an internal conflict between his traditional Japanese values and the libertine culture of the city. He speaks to a cellophane grandfather clock, which represents his conscience, and expresses his longing for experiences and his frustrations with the social and moral norms of Victorian society.


The Marquis is a man who enjoys the company of stable boys and engages in disreputable activities. He pays off the doorman to keep his affairs hidden from the public eye. He's also friends with Sherlock Holmes, Aubrey Beardsley, and Oscar Wilde, all of whom are known for their unconventional lifestyles. Throughout the song, he questions whether his experiences in London are worth the price he might pay for them in the end.


Overall, London 1888 is a poignant commentary on cultural dislocation, social mores, and personal desires. It highlights the tension between tradition and modernity, individuality and conformity, and east and west.


Line by Line Meaning

Cellophane grandfather clock
The persona describes a see-through grandfather clock, which symbolizes transparency or openness.


I hope your hands will never stop
The persona expresses his wish that the clock's hands, which signify time, will never cease moving.


Rescue me from my ugly block
The persona wants to escape from his mundane life and seeks excitement and adventure.


In Tokyo, 21st century
The persona is from present-day Tokyo, Japan, and is modern and up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies.


To London, 1888
However, the persona is currently traveling back in time to Victorian-era London, specifically in the year 1888.


I am descended from a great
The persona comes from a notable family lineage in Japan.


Clan of the Meiji shogunate
He is specifically from the Meiji period Shogunate, which indicates his family's role as leaders and protectors of Japan during that time.


And I am travelling extensively
The persona frequently travels and is exploring new places and cultures.


It's London 1888
The persona reminds listeners of the setting and time period of the song.


I sit here drinking nettle wine
The persona is enjoying a beverage that contains herbs known for their medicinal properties.


My family is in decline
Despite his family's notable history, they are currently in a state of decline or deterioration.


And I confess the fault is mine
The persona acknowledges that he is partly responsible for his family's decline. His actions and lifestyle may have contributed to this situation.


The doorman's sure to sit and wait
The doorman is anticipating the arrival of the persona's guest, as he is accustomed to intercepting and withholding information about questionable visitors.


To see who I'll bring home tonight
The persona often engages in promiscuity and potentially brings back strangers for romantic encounters.


I'll pay him cash to keep him quiet
The persona is willing to bribe the doorman to ensure that his actions remain hidden from others.


I am a libertine
The persona describes himself as someone who is free-spirited and unrestrained, often acting in ways that are considered outside of conventional societal norms.


You've got my conscience on the trot
The cellophane grandfather clock now embodies the persona's conscience, persistently reminding him of his actions.


You've got me walking round the block
The clock's presence and the persona's guilty conscience are causing him to wander aimlessly, reflecting on his behavior and decisions.


You've got me searching for experience
The persona continues to seek new adventures and experiences, despite potential consequences or judgement from others.


I am a Buddhist, I am not
Despite being Japanese, the persona now identifies as someone who is not necessarily adherent to traditional Japanese values and beliefs, such as Buddhism.


Victorian, I love your shops
Despite coming from a different culture and time period, the persona appreciates the unique qualities and offerings of Victorian-era London's shopping districts.


But your morality is meaningless
The persona, despite being enamored by his surroundings, does not adhere to traditional Victorian morality and finds it irrelevant to his lifestyle and practices.


And I have learned the game of chess
The persona has acquired knowledge about and appreciates the strategy of chess, a game that requires forethought and planning, even if it is seen as a trivial pastime by others.


I have a club, it's on the Strand
The persona belongs to a club that is situated in a prominent street, suggesting it being a well-established and well-regarded institution.


I'm a dishonourable man
Despite his prestigious background, the persona's lifestyle and actions have discredited his reputation and honor in the eyes of others.


And Tokyo is far away
The persona is aware of the physical and cultural distance between his current location and his home country of Japan.


The English wear a poker face
The persona observes that the English are stoic and reserved in their mannerisms, potentially masking their true thoughts and feelings.


The latest craze is called 'Croquet'
The persona takes note of a popular activity in London, which involves hitting wooden balls through hoops on a lawn, highlighting social trends and interests of the time period.


I am a stranger here
Despite his love of London and its offerings, the persona remains an outsider and foreigner, with a different background and perspectives from those around him.


And I came questioning through time
The persona acknowledges that he is a time traveler and explores his surroundings with a sense of curiosity and inquiry.


And Sherlock Holmes is my good friend
The persona mentions a famous literary character, suggesting he is familiar with popular culture and literature of the time.


I have a trust fund I can spend
The persona has financial resources at his disposal to support his extravagant and indulgent lifestyle.


And I am ready to defend
The persona is prepared to justify his actions and choices to others who may question or criticize his lifestyle.


My immorality to anyone
Specifically, the persona is willing to defend his lack of conformity to traditional Victorian morality and values to anyone who may be critical of his choices.


And Whistler painted me in grey
The persona is proud of his appearance being captured by the famous artist, James McNeill Whistler, even if it is in a neutral or unremarkable color.


I had his mother round to stay
The persona hosted Whistler's mother in his home, indicating potential social connections or influence within London's artistic circles.


And she sat knitting in her chair
Whistler's mother was known to paint and pose for her son's artworks. In this instance, she instead engages in a mundane activity of knitting, emphasizing the social expectations and gender roles of her time period.


And staring through me disapprovingly
Despite the persona's social status and artistic connections, Whistler's mother still disapproves of his actions and morality, as indicated by her unimpressed gaze.


And Aubrey Beardsley sketches me
Another famous artist, Aubrey Beardsley, has drawn the persona, solidifying his connections within artistic circles and acknowledging his impact on contemporary culture.


And Oscar Wilde comes round for tea
The persona also socializes with famous author and playwright, Oscar Wilde, highlighting his involvement with prominent figures in literature and the arts.


But I still feel so Japanese
Despite immersing himself in Victorian English culture and society, the persona still identifies fundamentally with the values and expectations of his Japanese background.


When I'm alone on Piccadilly
The persona still feels detached and isolated from his surroundings, experiencing a sense of loneliness and homesickness despite the lively atmosphere of the popular street.


And in Green Park there is a band
The persona observes the lively activities of a band playing music in Green Park, a public park in central London, indicating an appreciation of the vibrant and social atmosphere of the time period.


Medieval lillie in my hand
The persona holds a flower, likely a lily associated with royalty and purity, that signifies his appreciation for traditional European aesthetics despite his foreign background.


I watch the sailors on the bus
The persona observes and finds interest in the behaviors and appearance of the sailors, implying his attraction to men and willingness to act on his desires.


A little lustfully
The persona admits to having some desires for the sailors, implying his attraction to men and willingness to act on his desires.


The incense on my mantelpiece
The persona uses incense in his home to cover up unpleasant smells, indicating his efforts to appear cultured and distinguish himself from lower classes.


Covers the reek of smelly socks
The incense is specifically meant to cover up the unpleasant odor of unwashed socks, which could indicate the persona's disregard for conventional hygiene practices.


As I prepare them to be compromised
The persona is making arrangements for potential romantic encounters with stableboys of lower social status, suggesting his willingness to exploit others for his own pleasure and excitement.


It's 6 o'clock and I am late
The persona is running behind schedule for an appointment with someone, indicating his promiscuous and spontaneity-driven lifestyle.


For some disreputable date
The appointment is geared towards potentially illicit or non-traditional behavior, indicating the persona's disregard for societal norms and values.


With sordid appetites I hate
Despite his hedonistic and promiscuous lifestyle, the persona regrets and dislikes his desires and wishes he could be more conventional.


I hope these crimes will never stop
The persona admits to his actions being potentially immoral or criminal, but revels in the excitement and pleasure it brings him.


And like the hands upon the clock
Similarly, he hopes that his lifestyle and actions will continue to be indulgent and hedonistic, enjoying his life to its fullest potential as the clock's hands continue to tick by.


My hands will touch and he'll respond
The persona plans to engage in physical intimacy with his appointment, indicating his willingness to engage in non-traditional relationships and desires.


And go beyond
He hopes that their encounter will go beyond conventional boundaries and expectations, indicating his desire for adventure and excitement, and his disdain for societal norms.


I came adventuring in time
Throughout the song, the persona's time-traveling has been an ongoing theme, indicating his sense of curiosity and desire to explore different cultures and time periods.


But is the grave my sole reply?
Despite the excitement and indulgent lifestyle he leads, the persona reflects on the ultimate nature of his existence and the consequences of his actions.




Contributed by Camilla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

K tiffy

one of the best !

Dimitris Koromilas

strange, atmospheric, wonderfull!!!

Benjamin Peterson

This is... it is, isn't it?  Yes.

Post Indie rock

Voice reminds me of Nick Drake.

djugel

daniel johnston meets the pet shop boys...

ÅᑎƬwΛN ᗩNᗪƦΞϟƠИ

so, tha marquis matsugae was havin an intertemporal homosexual love affair wit jack tha ripper, no?

sirkastic

Err, youtube?