Moby found commercial and critical success with his fifth album Play (1999), which, after receiving little recognition, became an unexpected global hit in 2000 after each track was licensed to films, television shows, and commercials. It remains his highest selling album with 12 million copies sold. Its seventh single, "South Side", featuring Gwen Stefani, remains his only one to appear on the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching No. 14. Moby followed Play with albums of varied styles including electronic, dance, rock, and downtempo music, starting with 18 (2002), Hotel (2005), and Last Night (2008). His later albums saw him explore ambient music, including the almost four-hour release Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep. (2016). Moby continues to record and release albums; his twenty-first studio album, Resound NYC, was released in May 2023.
In addition to his music career, Moby is known for his veganism and support for animal rights and humanitarian aid. He was the owner of TeaNY, a vegan cafe in Manhattan, and Little Pine, a vegan restaurant in Los Angeles, and organized the vegan music and food festival Circle V. He is the author of four books, including a collection of his photography and two memoirs: Porcelain: A Memoir (2016) and Then It Fell Apart (2019).
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moby
Discography
Moby (1992)
Ambient (1993)
Everything Is Wrong (1995)
Animal Rights (1996)
Play (1999)
18 (2002)
Hotel (2005)
Last Night (2008)
Wait for Me (2009)
Destroyed (2011)
Innocents (2013)
Long Ambients 1: Calm. Sleep. (2016)
These Systems Are Failing (2016)
More Fast Songs About the Apocalypse (2017)
Everything Was Beautiful, and Nothing Hurt (2018)
Long Ambients 2 (2019)
All Visible Objects (2020)
Live Ambient Improvised Recordings Vol. 1 (2020)
Reprise (2021)
Ambient 23 (2023)
Resound NYC (2023)
That's When I Reach for My Revolver
Moby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Once I had my dreams
But all of that is changed now
The truth begins again
The truth is not that comfortable, no
Mother taught us patience
The virtues of restraint
Father taught us boundaries
I'm trying to protect my unity
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit passes by this way
A friend of mine once told me
His one and only aim
To build a giant castle
And in it sign his name
Sign it with complete community
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit passes by this way
Now that the sky is empty
And that is nothing new
Instead they look upon us
When they tell me
That we're nothing
I say!
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit passes by this way
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit passes by this way
The lyrics of Moby's "That's When I Reach For My Revolver" speak to a sense of disillusionment with once-held ideals and the desire to protect oneself and one's beliefs. The opening lines of the song set the stage for this theme, with Moby reminiscing on a time when he had heroes and dreams. However, these aspirations have been replaced by a new truth that is uncomfortable. The following lines reference the teachings of Moby's parents, who instilled in him and his siblings the values of patience, restraint, and boundaries. Moby then explains that in the face of this new reality, he is trying to protect his unity.
The chorus of the song is where the meaning becomes more apparent. Moby sings, "That's when I reach for my revolver/That's when it all gets blown away/The spirit passes by this way." The repeated line, "That's when I reach for my revolver," suggests that when one's beliefs or sense of self are threatened, there is a tendency to lash out or take an aggressive stance. Moby is saying that he is willing to defend what he believes in, no matter the cost. The mention of the spirit is interesting because it implies that there is something intangible about what is being defended. It is not just a physical castle or possessions, but something deeper and more spiritual.
The third verse of the song speaks to the idea that even when the sky is clear and uncluttered, people still judge and belittle those with differing opinions or beliefs. Moby rejects this notion, declaring that "we're nothing" is not an accurate representation of his worth or the worth of anyone. The final repetition of the chorus brings the song to a close, with Moby proclaiming that when faced with adversity, he will defend what is important to him no matter the cost.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I had my heroes
I used to have people who I admired and looked up to.
Once I had my dreams
I used to have aspirations and goals for the future.
But all of that is changed now
Things have changed and I no longer have those heroes and dreams.
The truth begins again
Now I am facing the reality of my situation and it is starting over from scratch.
The truth is not that comfortable, no
It's not a pleasant experience to come face-to-face with the truth.
Mother taught us patience
My mother taught me to be patient and restrained.
The virtues of restraint
She taught me that it was important to show self-control and abstain from acting impulsively.
Father taught us boundaries
My father taught me about the limits and rules that needed to be respected.
The knowledge we must go
He also taught me that at some point we must leave our comfort zones to grow.
I'm trying to protect my unity
I am trying to maintain my sense of self and protect my identity.
That's when I reach for my revolver
When everything seems to be falling apart, I feel the need to take drastic action.
That's when it all gets blown away
Everything I thought I knew or held to be true is destroyed.
The spirit passes by this way
In these moments of crisis, I feel a higher power or divine presence making itself known.
A friend of mine once told me
I once had a friend who shared something important with me.
His one and only aim
His ultimate goal in life was to achieve one thing.
To build a giant castle
He wanted to create something grand and impressive.
And in it sign his name
He wanted to put his signature on his creation as a symbol of his achievement.
Sign it with complete community
He wanted to involve everyone and create something that would benefit everyone in his community.
Now that the sky is empty
Now that everything feels empty and meaningless.
And that is nothing new
This feeling of emptiness is not a new phenomenon.
Instead they look upon us
Others view us with disdain or disregard.
When they tell me
When others try to bring me down or devalue me.
That we're nothing
When they imply that we are worthless or insignificant.
I say!
I refuse to accept their negativity and choose to rise above it.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: RICHARD MELVILLE HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gergelypasztorkicsi7854
Once I had my heroes
Once I had my dreams
But all of that is changed now
They've turned things inside out
The truth is not that comfortable, no
And mother taught us patience
The virtues of restraint
And father taught us boundaries
Beyond which we must go
To find the secrets promised us, yeah
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit fights to find its way
A friend of mine once told me
His one and only aim
To build a giant castle
And live inside his name
Cry and whispers sing in muted pain
A friend of mine once told me
His one and only aim
To build a giant castle
And live inside his name
Cry and whispers sing in muted pain
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when it all gets blown away
That's when I reach for my revolver
The spirit fights to find its way
Tonight the sky is empty
But that is nothing new
Its dead eyes look upon us
And they tell me we're nothing but slaves
That's when I reach for my revolver
(...but slaves)
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
That's when I reach for my revolver
And in it sign his name
@yathinkinc
Moby asked the crowd what song he should play next at this show in Ohio and a friend of mine shouts out the name of this song. Moby replies, "oh really?, ok" and proceeded to blow the roof off the place.
@RockandrollNegro
And then everyone clapped?
@chaddeez8446
They don't call him Moby for nothing cuz there she blows😋
@ricardo3221
He's named after his great-grandfather Melvin book Moby Dick
@robmcafee9162
That whole album was incredible....I like all moby but that one was so different. Couldn't believe his evolution as a musician
@weSteh
@@robmcafee9162 it was the only good album... he just became a woke loser beta after that ...
@omarvgarcia
This song never gets old.
@ethansloan
Animal Rights is still my favorite Moby album!
@tingelingn3242
100%
@ProgBartleby
Excellent cover. Moby delivers the angst.