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.
On the Museum Island
Emmy the Great Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the end of the day,
We had travelled for miles,
We had come to escape
All the space on the page
That the newspapers gave
Up to pictures and pictures of us.
As we followed the coffin
Adjusting our skirts
As we turned at the altar.
And within every word
That they'd written, was spelt out
You'd taken your last ever bus.
So skimming the surface
Of all your new money,
We skimmed the surface
Of the air as we flew.
We were out of the rain,
We were thinking that maybe
Berlin was the place to renew.
Well you know what they say
About terrible hate
It will breed something good
When it's through.
At the end of the day,
By the Potsdamer Place
And the Brandenburg Gate,
It was you.
You have hardened completely
By the end of this story,
You have learned to look clear
Through the flash of a bulb,
When you hear your own name
From the back of a crowd,
You just straighten your gaze,
No you don't turn around.
Oh but there was a time
At the end of the day,
We were both stood in line
At the museum display,
And you outshone the light
Under which you were bathed,
You could outshine the sky
With the look that you gave,
Oh so don't be afraid
To look back and wave,
Now that waving is all that you do.
At the end of the day,
By the Potsdamer Place,
I am waving back at you.
So don't be afraid
To look back and wave,
Now that waving is all that you do.
At the end of the day,
By the Potsdamer Place,
I am waving back at you.
The song "On the Museum Island" by Emmy the Great takes us on a journey through a series of events, emotions, and conversations between two people. The setting is Berlin, apparently in the aftermath of a funeral that the two have attended, as they are following the coffin of someone's famous father. The singer is fascinated by Berlin, perhaps because it offers an escape from the media circus that has been surrounding someone's life. There is a sense that she finds refuge in the clean and ordered surroundings of this cultural district. The singer then muses on how wealth can make people superficial, and how she longs for the days when the man she is talking to was not famous, and effortlessly charming.
The final verse pulls us back into the present, where the man she was talking to is now famous, and has learned to steel himself from the attention. The singer has come to terms with the distance between them and looks back fondly at their time together. The phrase "don't be afraid to look back and wave" is the message of the song, encouraging us to remember the past and to honor the memories that we have.
Overall, "On the Museum Island" is an intimate song that manages to invoke great feeling with a simple, yet poetic, use of language. The lyrics employ themes of love, loss, fame, and self-discovery, giving the song broad appeal. Emmy the Great's soothing voice and the simple musical arrangement serve the song well, creating a reflective atmosphere that lingers even after the song is over.
Line by Line Meaning
On the museum island,
We find ourselves on the Museum Island, a place dedicated to art and culture, surrounded by beauty and history.
At the end of the day,
After a long journey, at the close of day, we arrive at our destination, tired but hopeful.
We had travelled for miles,
We had come from far away, a journey that took us across great distances to reach this place.
We had come to escape
We had left our troubles behind and sought refuge in this place, hoping to find solace and comfort.
All the space on the page
The newspapers were filled with pictures of us, invading our privacy and creating a false narrative that did not reflect who we truly are.
That the newspapers gave
The newspapers used our image and personal stories for their own gain, without any consideration for our feelings or well-being.
Up to pictures and pictures of us.
We were consistently portrayed in a shallow and superficial way, stripped of our humanity and reduced to mere objects of fascination.
As we followed the coffin
We were in mourning, following the coffin of someone who was important to us, someone who had left a lasting impact on our lives.
Of your famous father.
The person whose funeral we were attending was someone famous, someone who had achieved great success and public recognition in their lifetime.
Adjusting our skirts
Even in our grief, we were mindful of our appearance, making sure that our clothes were neat and tidy.
As we turned at the altar.
We were at a religious service, turning towards the altar as a sign of respect and reverence.
And within every word
Every single word that was written or said about the deceased contained a deeper truth, a hidden message that could only be deciphered by those who knew them well.
That they'd written, was spelt out
The words that were written and spoken at the funeral revealed the essence of the person who had passed away, their legacy and their impact on the world.
You'd taken your last ever bus.
The person we were mourning had left this world, taking their final journey to a place of eternal rest.
So skimming the surface
We were only scratching the surface of what this place had to offer, unable to fully appreciate its richness and complexity.
Of all your new money,
We were surrounded by symbols of wealth and power, but those symbols could not mask the underlying emptiness and despair that often accompanies success.
We skimmed the surface
We were only able to scratch the surface of our own lives, unable to delve deeper and discover our true selves.
Of the air as we flew.
As we travelled through the air, we were weightless and free, but also disconnected from the world around us.
We were out of the rain,
We had escaped the stormy weather that often surrounds us in life, finding shelter and safety in a new place.
We were thinking that maybe
We were optimistic, hoping that this new beginning would bring us closer to what we truly desire in life.
Berlin was the place to renew.
We believed that Berlin, with all its history and vibrancy, was the perfect place for us to start anew and revitalize our lives.
Well you know what they say
As the saying goes, there is often a silver lining in even the darkest of circumstances.
About terrible hate
Despite the pain and suffering caused by hate, it can sometimes lead to unexpected growth and positive change.
It will breed something good
In the wake of hate, there is often a transformative power that can create something beautiful and meaningful.
When it's through.
After the hate has run its course, there is often a sense of renewal and hope that emerges.
And the Brandenburg Gate,
The Brandenburg Gate is a symbol of resilience and hope, standing tall and proud despite a tumultuous history.
It was you.
Despite all the obstacles we faced, we were able to find our true selves and embrace our individuality in this new place.
You have hardened completely
After experiencing life's challenges and setbacks, you have become stronger and more resilient, able to face whatever comes your way.
By the end of this story,
As we reach the end of this narrative, we are left with a sense of closure and understanding, having unraveled its deeper meaning.
You have learned to look clear
You have acquired the ability to see through the distractions and misconceptions that often cloud our view of the world, gaining clarity and insight.
Through the flash of a bulb,
Despite the glare of the media and the public eye, you are able to remain true to yourself and not be swayed by the demands of others.
When you hear your own name
When you are called out in public, recognized for your achievements or your presence, you are able to maintain your composure and grace.
From the back of a crowd,
Even when you are hidden from view, surrounded by others, you are still able to find your own voice and shine through.
You just straighten your gaze,
You hold your head up high, looking towards the horizon with a sense of purpose and determination, refusing to be deterred by setbacks or obstacles.
No you don't turn around.
You never look back, always moving forward towards your goals and dreams, regardless of what may be left behind.
Oh but there was a time
Looking back on our journey, we remember a time when we were more innocent and carefree, unburdened by the weight of the world.
At the museum display,
In a moment of quiet reflection, we found ourselves lost in the beauty and wonder of a museum exhibit, allowing ourselves to be transported to another world.
And you outshone the light
In this moment of grace and beauty, you shone brighter than the brightest light, radiating with a luminous energy that touched everyone around you.
Under which you were bathed,
Your beauty and radiance were enhanced by the soft glow of the light, illuminating your features and highlighting your unique qualities.
You could outshine the sky
Your inner beauty was so bright and shining, it rivaled the beauty of the natural world, outshining even the sky itself.
With the look that you gave,
You had a knowing look that conveyed wisdom, understanding, and compassion, touching the hearts of all who gazed upon you.
Oh so don't be afraid
As we move forward in life, we should never be afraid to be ourselves, to embrace our true nature and shine brightly in the world.
To look back and wave,
As we move forward, we should never forget our past or the people who helped us get to where we are, always taking time to acknowledge and appreciate them.
Now that waving is all that you do.
In the end, all that really matters is the connections we build with others, the love and support we give and receive, waving goodbye to those we have lost, and waving hello to new beginnings.
I am waving back at you.
In this moment of connection, we embrace our humanity and acknowledge the beauty and wonder of the world, waving back with love and gratitude.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: EMMA MOSS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind