Moby plays keyboards, guitar and bass guitar. He took his performing name from the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville, who is his great-great-granduncle. His work, while focused in general on various forms of electronic music, have explored many other styles.
Early years
Moby used to be in a punk rock band called the Vatican Commandos, which was formed in 1980. The group evolved away from punk in 1989 for electronic music. He realized his music tastes and growth were going in a different direction than his previous band's vibe, and he broke off on his own.
His first album "The Story So Far (aka Moby)" featured the single "Go", which gained popularity in many discos, and earned a spot on the UK charts. The song is so popular that Moby still plays "Go" regularly in his sets. "Go" is a progressive track using the string line from "Laura Palmer's Theme" from the TV drama Twin Peaks.
1994-1998
His first album for the UK based MUTE Records was Everything Is Wrong (which had US distribution via Elektra) , which earned early critical praise and minor commercial success. He followed that up with a hard rock/electronic album called Animal Rights in 1996. In 1997, he released I Like to Score, a collection of music included in movies. Among those tracks was an updated version of the James Bond theme used for the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies. However, both Animal Rights and I Like to Score had only limited success and Moby and Elektra parted company however he remained signed to MUTE.
1999-2004
After a decade's worth of music, Moby's breakthrough album was 1999's Play. Mainstream reviewers raved about his talents on the album (released on V2 Records) though some early fans were let down. The album has 18 tracks and was the first album in history to have all of its tracks commercially licensed: "Porcelain," for instance, appeared on TV commercials for Bailey's Irish Cream, Hong Kong's PCCW and Nordstrom, and Volkswagen's MKIV Jetta; "Find My Baby" was on a commercial for American Express featuring golfer Tiger Woods. The album's tracks eventually were accepted in various radio formats, but because of Play's extensive licensing, the album could have been financially successful even without radio play. In addition to fame garnered through its licensing, Play is also notable for its extensive sampling of old blues recordings collected by Alan Lomax. In a 2005 posting on his web site, Moby theorized that his eagerness to license his music is a result of "growing up in poverty."
In 2001, Moby founded the Area:One Festival. It was a popular touring rock festival that featured an eclectic range of musical genres. A second tour was organized for the following year.
In 2001 Moby also earned the ire of Eminem after calling his music misogynistic and homophobic; Eminem later satirized Moby (among others) in "Without Me," calling him a "fag" and questioning his relevance with the claim "Nobody listens to techno." Moby replied that he hadn't played techno since 1992. The two were in a confrontation at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, though Moby expresses respect for Eminem as an artist.
In 2002, Moby briefly had a television show on MTV, Señor Moby's House of Music, which focused mostly on more obscure electronic music. Also in 2002, Moby released 18, an album that had 18 tracks. The most popular song on the album was "We Are All Made of Stars". Moby says he wrote "We Are All Made of Stars" because of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks, which happened on his birthday.
2005
In 2005 Moby released "Lift Me Up", a single from his album Hotel, which featured, in addition to numerous remixes, UK company Digimpro's software. The program allows users to remix the song - using any or all of the samples included—and save it as an MP3 file. Thus unlimited, personalized versions of the title track were possible. Digimpro had previously seen exposure with group Erasure's single "Breathe," allowing users the same ability. Instead of his usual usage of samples, all of the vocals and instruments on "Hotel" were performed live in the studio by Moby and vocalist Laura Dawn, who is the Cultural Director of MoveOn.org.
For certain dates on Moby's 2005 European tour, Liveherenow provided concert goers with CDs of the show 10 minutes after the show finished. Other Mute Records artists like Erasure and Client have previously used this company for similar reasons.
2006
Moby has recently scored the soundtrack for Richard Kelly's upcoming movie 'The Southland Tales'. Whilst he is generally against composing music for films, he was a huge fan of Kelly's previous film 'Donnie Darko' and could not resist the offer the director gave him.
ITV in the United Kingdom use Moby's song "Lift Me Up" for their coverage of Formula One racing by using the song as the intro. and also snippets to segues for interviews and advertisements.
Also, Moby had one of his older songs used in a Original HBO series, The Sopranos. This song, "When its Cold I'd like to Die" was used in the last scene in which Tony was in his dream state.
Besides music
Moby is a vegan, non-denominational Christian and self-proclaimed "simpleton" (for his often sincere and idealistic political assessments).
Moby lives in New York City. Until recently he co-owned a small restaurant and coffee shop called TeaNY, where he occasionally waited tables. He also organized the Little Idiot Collective, a group of artists that also includes cartoonist and musician James Kochalka. He's a huge fan of the TV series "The Simpsons".
Moby's official website is at moby.com.
Activism
Moby is a well known advocate for a variety of progressive causes, working with MoveOn.org, and PETA, among others. He created MoveOn Voter Fund's "Bush in 30 Seconds" contest along with singer Laura Dawn and MoveOn Executive Director Eli Pariser.
He also actively engages in nonpartisan activism. He has performed benefit concerts for the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function, promoting music therapy. Moby also serves on the Board of Directors of Amend.org, a nonprofit that implements injury prevention programs in Africa.
He is an advocate of network neutrality and he testified before the US House committee debating the issue in 2006.
Natural Blues (Troubles with G
Moby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Went down the hill, the other day
My soul got happy and stayed all day
Went down the hill, the other day
My soul got happy and stayed all day
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Went in the room, didn't stay long
Looked on the bed and brother was dead
Went in the room, didn't stay long
Looked on the bed and brother was dead
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Moby's "Natural Blues" is a melancholic reflection on life's hardships and the struggle to find happiness amidst adversity. The opening lines, "Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard / Don't nobody know my troubles but God," express the feeling of being all alone in one's sorrow. The repetition of this phrase throughout the song highlights the desperation and hopelessness that can accompany difficult times. It suggests that sometimes it feels like no one can truly understand what one is going through, except for a higher power.
The singer's experience in the second verse offers a brief glimmer of hope. They describe going down a hill and feeling happy, only for the troubles to reemerge later. This fleeting moment of joy reinforces the idea that happiness can be elusive, and one must hold onto it when it appears. However, there is an underlying hint of sadness because that happiness did not remain.
The final verse takes a darker turn as the singer enters a room to find a dead person. The image of a lifeless body offers a harsh reminder of the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. This moment is arguably the climax of the song, and it intensifies the previous feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. There is no solution offered for the troubles, no way to escape them. They are a natural part of life that we have to endure.
Taken as a whole, the song is a poignant and powerful exploration of the human condition. It is a reminder that everyone goes through trials and tribulations, and that finding peace and contentment is a journey, not a destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, Lordy, troubles so hard
Life is difficult and challenging
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
No one else can understand the depth and breadth of my hardships except for God
Went down the hill, the other day
I experienced a moment of joy and peace
My soul got happy and stayed all day
I felt a sense of contentment and satisfaction that lasted throughout the day
Went in the room, didn't stay long
I encountered a difficult situation but did not linger there
Looked on the bed and brother was dead
I found someone I cared about had passed away
Contributed by Kennedy N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Suckmyjagon
I lost my son 25
1/6/2021
It crushed me his mom went 8 years ago
That's what killed him he thought he had something to do with it
You can be alone in an instant.
Treasure every second
Don't forget thank him every day for our debt he paid in full
JESUS CHRIST
@vm8912
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Went down the hill, the other day
Soul got happy and stayed all day
Went down the hill, the other day
Soul got happy and stayed all day
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Went in the room, didn't stay long
Looked on the bed and brother was dead
Went in the room, didn't stay long
Looked on the bed and brother was dead
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Oh Lordy, Lord, trouble so hard
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
Don't nobody know my troubles but God
@runozwritu
Mr. Moby, if you ever read this please understand you that you earned another fan today. I'm just a man, age 64, and rarely weep anymore, yet found my face wet. I may just understand. This is an incredible creation. Thank you very much. Whether here or the next life, I hope to meet one day.
@ProfessorChernobyl
Christina Ricci's angel-of-death meets Fairuza Balk's devil-of-life in "American History XXX"
@coshi1894
Lmao
@jonathanweber7143
You have no idea
@jonathanweber7143
You have no idea
@rockpacino9135
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻☮️
@Glaedrein
"Don't nobody know my troubles but God...."
Thank you Vera Hall for the vocals. Old Blues tune. Play had so many good remixes of old blues tunes. Play actually got me into the Blues. So thank you moby. And all the blues artists ♥
@user-pw1wv2he6p
Да. Точно!
Хорошо написал!
@ogghostprepper9138
Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn... Pink Floyd remembers.
@josecamacho3435
This music video really hits home especially the older that I get. The people, places, and events in my life that I share with so many people will one day only exist in my memories. The older you get the sadder life becomes when your loved ones are no longer here and the generations before you start to disappear. Treasure your life and the people in it, because one day we will all be just a faded memory. 😔❤️😎