Moss was born in Hong Kong to an English father and a Chinese mother and was into music from a young age. She emigrated with her family to London at the age of 12.
Moss started performing in 2005 and her first release was the Secret Circus EP the following year.
In 2007 Moss performed with Lightspeed Champion, alongside Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machine) . She has also played with Noah and the Whale. She has not been a permanent member of either line up.
After a series of further singles and EPs, Moss' début full album First Love (Close Harbour) was released in February 2009. The album was ranked by The New York Times at #7 in their list of "Best Albums of the Year 2009."
Moss' band has included Euan Hinshelwood (of Younghusband) and Tom Rogerson (of Three Trapped Tigers).
Moss' second album, Virtue, was released on 13 June 2011. It started out as a third person project, however, the religious conversion of her fiancé and their subsequent break-up inspired her to take a personal approach towards her song-writing.
Creation
Emmy the Great Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're the worrier, so worry over this
What's the thing that has you reaching out to it like a phantom limb?
And to the action comes a character
And he reveals a wish to see himself in ink
So you take a pen, you write a list called 'all the stages that the world begins'
And then the years relay the seasons
And then the tides relay the oceans
You give him reason for believing
That he's in some creation.
To make him grow you give him barriers,
To make him grow you give him barriers to fell
Now he wants to know if there's a narrator
You dry the riverbed, and so he builds a well
And when the woman comes, he marries her
And then the woman is another to himself
Now she wants to know if there's a narrator
She wants to know if there's a narrative to tell
And then the years relay the seasons
You fill the sky you give them means to lift their chins
And then the tides relay the oceans
You give them reason for believing
And then the years relay the seasons
You fill the sky you give her means to lift her chins
And then the tides relay the oceans
You give her reason for believing
That she's in some creation
Creation
The lyrics to Emmy the Great's song "Creation" depict the process of creating a story or a world, and the power that comes with being the creator. The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the line "And then the child becomes the worrier", suggesting a sense of responsibility that comes with creating something. The singer is addressing the creator, telling them to "worry over this", indicating that there are consequences to what they create. The next line, "What's the thing that has you reaching out to it like a phantom limb?", suggests an obsessive quality to the creating process.
The verse goes on to introduce a character who wants to be written about, and the creator takes on the task of writing "all the stages that the world begins". The second verse follows a similar theme, with the character growing and marrying, and other characters wanting to know if there's a narrator or a narrative to follow. The chorus repeats the idea that the creator gives the characters reasons for believing they are in some creation, emphasizing the idea of the power of the creator to shape the world they have made.
Overall, the lyrics of "Creation" convey a sense of the immense power and responsibility that comes with being a creator, and the importance of carefully considering the impact of what is created.
Line by Line Meaning
And then the child becomes the worrier
As time progresses, the child grows up and starts to worry about things.
And you're the worrier, so worry over this
As the creator of this world, it's natural for you to worry and stress over the events that happen within it.
What's the thing that has you reaching out to it like a phantom limb?
What is the driving force behind your need to create and shape this world, like a ghost limb that you can't ignore?
And to the action comes a character
As the story progresses, a character emerges and takes part in the events and actions of the world.
And he reveals a wish to see himself in ink
The character wants to be immortalized in the story by being written in ink, as if his existence is validated by being recognized in the world.
So you take a pen, you write a list called 'all the stages that the world begins'
As the creator, you start jotting down every detail, plot point and event of the story in order to give it a proper, ordered structure and a cohesive beginning.
And then the years relay the seasons
As time progresses in the story, the seasons change and time marches on with its own pace.
You fill the sky, you give him means to lift his chin
You create a world so vast and beautiful that the character is awed by it and feels the urge to look up and lift his chin to take it all in.
And then the tides relay the oceans
The ebb and flow of the tides and the vastness of the ocean represent the infinite possibilities of the world that are yet to be unfolded.
You give him reason for believing
You give the character a sense of hope and purpose, a reason to keep living and striving in this world.
That he's in some creation
Through all the events and experiences, the character starts to realize and accept that he is part of a larger story, a creation that is greater than himself.
To make him grow you give him barriers
In order for the character to develop and mature, he needs to face and overcome various obstacles and challenges that you put before him.
To make him grow you give him barriers to fell
The character needs to not only confront the obstacles, but also topple them and emerge as a stronger, more capable version of himself.
Now he wants to know if there's a narrator
The character starts to question if there is a higher power or force controlling and orchestrating the events of the world, and if he is just a mere pawn in a greater scheme.
You dry the riverbed, and so he builds a well
When you remove something from the world, you also open up the possibility for something new to be created in its place, like a dried up riverbed being transformed into a well.
And when the woman comes, he marries her
Love and companionship are also important parts of the character's journey, as he forms a connection and partnership with another person in the world.
And then the woman is another to himself
The woman becomes a part of the character's identity and sense of self, and her experiences and emotions are intertwined with his own.
Now she wants to know if there's a narrator
The woman also starts to question if there is a higher power or force behind the events of the world, and if there is a grander purpose for all the things they are going through.
She wants to know if there's a narrative to tell
The woman, like the character, is searching for a deeper meaning and purpose behind their experiences, wanting to understand the story and the world that they are a part of.
You fill the sky you give them means to lift their chins
Like before, you create a world so vast and beautiful that both the character and the woman are awed by it and feel the urge to look up and lift their chins to take it all in.
You give her reason for believing
You also give the woman a sense of hope and purpose, a reason to keep living and striving in this world.
That she's in some creation
Like the character, the woman comes to realize and accept that she is part of a larger story, a creation that is greater than herself.
Creation
The song talks about the process of creation and the nature of storytelling, where the characters and their experiences are shaped and molded by a creator. It also touches on existential questions and the search for deeper meaning and purpose in our lives.
Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.