Moloko was a trip-hop / electropop band from Sheffield, UK, founded by Mark… Read Full Bio ↴Moloko was a trip-hop / electropop band from Sheffield, UK, founded by Mark Brydon (b. Sunderland, UK) and Róisín Murphy (b. Arklow, Ireland), in 1995. It debuted with the Moloko EP (May 1995, Echo) and later with Do You Like My Tight Sweater? (Sept 1995, Echo). Their latest and final studio album is Statues, released in 2003.

They met at a Sheffield party, when Murphy had no prior professional singing experience. Meanwhile, Brydon had a thirteen-year musical résumé, first with Chakk / Hula pioneering EBM (then, aka big beat). Subsequently, within dance music, he formed and produced various pop and house acts, e.g. producing Krush's hit "House Arrest" (1987, FON) and his 1993 Cloud Nine project. Murphy approached Brydon with the chat-up line "Do you like my tight sweater? See how it fits my body!", hence their debut album's title. Respectively, 'Moloko' originates from the Nadsat slang word for "milk" (from the Russian, молоко), in Anthony Burgess' novel "A Clockwork Orange".

Recorded while the pair were dating, Do You Like My Tight Sweater? gained notice on underground dance and trip-hop scenes, then more so with I Am Not a Doctor (Jul 1998, Echo). The latter yielded "Sing It Back", which broke Moloko into the mainstream. Remixed by house producer Boris Dlugosch, "Sing It Back (Boris Musical Mix)", was a massive Ibiza hit and entered the top-five of 1999 weekly UK singles charts, helped by a psychedelic video featuring Murphy in a very short metallic flapper dress and cap. "Sing It Back" was eventually featured on more than 110 music compilations. Dlugosch's remix also appears on faux radio station Rise FM in the action-adventure game "GTA: Liberty City Stories" (2005, Rockstar Games).

In 2000 Moloko started touring as a full band along with percussionist Paul Slowly, keyboardist Eddie Stevens, and guitarist Dave Cook.

The band also had chart success with "The Time Is Now", the first single from their third album, Things to Make and Do. This album had relied less on the leftfield beats of the previous albums, and featured more organic instrumentation.

Murphy and Brydon ended their relationship in 2001. After their breakup they recorded and released their fourth and final studio album, Statues, in 2003. Statues continued a segue into more traditional instrumentation, along with electronica elements from their earlier releases. The album majorly incorporated the theme of the couple's split: all of the songs deal with a troubled and/or ending romance.

In 2004 Moloko released a live DVD, 11,000 Clicks, recorded on stage at the Brixton Academy. It contained many of their well known songs including "Indigo", "Sing It Back", and "The Time Is Now".

After concluding the tour supporting Statues, Moloko mutually parted ways, with Róisín Murphy launching a solo career.

A "best of" album, Catalogue, was released in 2006. Murphy and Brydon, along with long-time Moloko guitarist Dave Cook, played a select number of acoustic radio performances to promote the album.

Since 2006 they have been on an indefinite hiatus.

Cannot Contain This
Moloko Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't put yourself down
Don't be hard on yourself
You didn't do wrong, baby don't
Blame yourself

I know how you feel
I've been there myself
It's what the devil my fare

What do you care
Can you control yourself?

I won't stick around
To watch you get colder
I know I couldn't be told,
Don't suppose
Now I'm a little older

The fault was all mine
I don't blame you if you blame me
I know I was wrong
I just cannot contain this

I just cannot, just cannot contain this
I just cannot, just cannot contain this
I just cannot, just cannot contain this
I just cannot, just cannot contain this
Just cannot contain this
Just cannot contain this
I just cannot contain this
Just cannot contain this
I just cannot contain this

And if it's a crime
Then can you explain to me
Where do I belong

I just cannot contain this

Can, not
Contain this
Just cannot contain this
Just cannot contain this

I just cannot, just cannot contain this
I just cannot, just cannot contain this
I just cannot, just cannot contain this
I just cannot, just cannot contain this
I just cannot contain this
Just cannot contain this
I just cannot contain this
Just cannot contain this
I just cannot contain this

Can, not

Contain this
Just can not

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Moloko's song "Cannot Contain This" convey a message of self-forgiveness and self-acceptance. The singer reassures the listener not to be hard on themselves and not to blame themselves for their mistakes. They acknowledge that they have been in the same situation before and that it is not easy to control oneself. The lyrics suggest that the singer understands the listener's struggle and they won't stay around to watch them suffer but instead offer their support and empathy.

Later in the song, the singer acknowledges their fault and does not blame the listener for holding them responsible. The repetition of the phrase "just cannot contain this" conveys a sense of intense emotions that cannot be controlled. It could refer to feelings of regret, frustration or sadness that the singer cannot keep contained within themselves. The song's ending lines, "Can, not, contain this, just cannot contain this," affirm this idea that the emotions of the singer cannot be contained.

Overall, the song is a meditation on the relationship we have with ourselves and how we can accept and forgive ourselves for our mistakes. It encourages us to embrace our emotions and acknowledge that it is okay to feel overwhelmed at times.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't put yourself down
Don't criticize or judge yourself too harshly.

Don't be hard on yourself
Don't be too tough on yourself, or expect too much.

You didn't do wrong, baby don't
You didn't do anything wrong, so don't blame yourself.

Blame yourself
Take responsibility for your actions.

I know how you feel
I understand your emotions, and can empathize.

I've been there myself
I have also experienced similar feelings or situations.

It's what the devil my fare
It's the challenge that I must face.

What do you care
Why do you worry or concern yourself with this?

Can you control yourself?
Are you able to manage your emotions and actions?

I won't stick around
I won't stay or remain in this situation.

To watch you get colder
To see you become distant or emotionally detached.