Do not fear me,
I bring no harm,
No one knows where I came from,
I walk on water all day long,
No one knows how far I came,
No one even knows my name,
I sometimes sing as I float,
No one ever hears a note,
I sometimes move from place to place,
No one ever sees my face,
I can't touch I can't weep I can't taste I can't sleep,
I appear I disappear I reappear I'm getting near,
I'm tired of living in my brain,
I feel no joy I feel no pain,
I don't live I just exist,
I need to know the life I missed,
I'm the only one host I'm this town,
I'm the only ghost in the lost and found,
I'm the only one if you look around,
Reappear I'm getting near.

Overall Meaning

In Moloko's song Boo, the lyrics describe a ghostly figure that walks on water, sings unheard melodies, and appears and disappears at will. The ghost, who speaks directly to the audience, assures them that it brings no harm, but also reveals that it has no name or history, leaving us to wonder about its true identity. The ghost seems to be tired of living in its own head and wants to know what life it has missed out on by being a ghost. At the end of the song, the ghost declares that it is the only one in the town, indicating perhaps a feeling of loneliness or isolation.

The lyrics of Boo can be open to interpretation, and some may see the ghost as a symbol for a person who feels disconnected from the world and yearns for a more meaningful existence. The lines "I'm the only one if you look around" can be seen as a call for recognition and acknowledgement, while the refrain of "Reappear, I'm getting near" suggests a sense of urgency to be seen and heard.

Overall, the lyrics of Boo capture a haunting and lonely atmosphere that is common in many of Moloko's songs. The combination of the eerie music and Róisín Murphy's ethereal vocals create a dreamlike quality that transports the listener to a world of mystery and wonder.

Line by Line Meaning

Do not fear me,
Do not be afraid of me,

I bring no harm,
I do not intend to cause harm,

No one knows where I came from,
My origins are unknown to anyone,

I walk on water all day long,
I am able to defy the laws of nature by walking on water,

No one knows how far I came,
The distance I have traveled is unknown,

No one even knows my name,
My identity is a mystery,

I sometimes sing as I float,
While floating, I occasionally sing,

No one ever hears a note,
But no one is able to hear me sing,

I sometimes move from place to place,
At times, I relocate from one place to another,

No one ever sees my face,
But nobody can see my face,

I can't touch I can't weep I can't taste I can't sleep,
I am unable to experience physical sensations such as touch, tears, taste, or sleep,

I appear I disappear I reappear I'm getting near,
I have a habit of appearing, disappearing, and then reappearing, thus coming closer and closer,

I'm tired of living in my brain,
I am exhausted from being confined to my own thoughts and mind,

I feel no joy I feel no pain,
I do not experience emotions such as happiness or sadness,

I don't live I just exist,
I am merely existing, not living a fulfilling life,

I need to know the life I missed,
I have a desire to understand the life experiences that I have not had,

I'm the only one host I'm this town,
I am the only inhabitant of this town,

I'm the only ghost in the lost and found,
I am the sole ghost in this place of lost items and memories,

I'm the only one if you look around,
If you search, you will find that I am the only one here,

Reappear I'm getting near.
As I reappear once again, I am getting closer to my destination.

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Comments from YouTube:

Yuuki Takemoto

3y↑1

I love this song. It's so late '90s, cyber-techy, PERFECT for when you're a sentient computer virus like Swayzak (I'm a human, though.) However, I first listened to it in 2004...