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.
I Can't Help Myself
Moloko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am the doughnut
That you hold up
And I never sold up in a pie
The hoot boot's so fly
I always try to beat
The rest to impress
I put my tongue
I got the toots, baby
You got the fruits
Fruit got the loot, lady
You got the boots
Don't be a mook
Don't get the spook
Don't be a cry baby
I only said maybe,
Shmoozin I was pressuing
When like a catapult
I did a summersault
Going down the lazy river
three fingers deliver
I can't help myself
The reverb you just heard is resounding
In the surrounding area
It's getting scarier
I've got the amp damp mangled
Got my tingle in tangle
Let me see what I can wangle
In the Bermuda Triangle
Gravity will be the death of me
Terminal velocity follow
The follow the vaper
One hundred percent proof caper
Burst the barricades
But don't drink the lemonade
Martinis by beard man
An artisan down at the can can
And oh yes he can can fat
Fredies cat in seven lead boots
Whiskey for the whiskers
The shot sure shoots
She sells sea shells sea shells on the sea shore
Is it true what mummy said
You can't come back no more
Oh no no no no
Singing a song about nothing
Talk through my belly button
At the inn of seventh happiness
More or less
I found you on the floor
Saying more more more
Peel back the skin sonar
Beats like quaver
Small bananas selected for flavor
I can't help myself
Moloko's "I Can't Help Myself" is a song that is difficult to process at first listen. The words appear to be random and don't seem to connect with each other. But when analyzed carefully, the song is about a person who is smitten with another and can't help but love them. The singer likens herself to a doughnut that her love interest holds up, and she never sells up or gives up trying to be with him. She mentions trying to impress him and doing things she wouldn't normally do, like putting her tongue in her trouser press, for his attention.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's infatuation with her love interest, stating that she can't help herself from falling for him despite her better judgment. The second verse's lyrics continue with a stream of consciousness narrative of the singer's thoughts and experiences. She mentions a "Bermuda Triangle" and "terminal velocity" as if she is lost in a dream-world of obsession.
Overall, "I Can't Help Myself" is a fast-paced, quirky song about love and infatuation. The lyrics are filled with nonsensical phrases and metaphors, but they create an overall feeling of excitement and energy.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't help myself
I am unable to control myself
I am the doughnut
I am someone who is irresistible to others
That you hold up
That makes you want to keep me close
And I never sold up in a pie
And I have never been reduced to being just a part of something else
The hoot boot's so fly
The latest fashion is so cool
I always try to beat
I am always striving to outdo
The rest to impress
Others to make an impression on them
I put my tongue
I was so nervous that I accidentally put my foot in my mouth
In my trouser press
By making a silly mistake
I got the toots, baby
I am feeling nervous
You got the fruits
You are attractive
Fruit got the loot, lady
Beauty is an advantage
You got the boots
You are in control
Don't be a mook
Do not be foolish
Don't get the spook
Do not get scared
Don't be a cry baby
Do not be overly emotional
I only said maybe,
I am not certain
Shmoozin I was pressuring
I was trying to charm you
When like a catapult
Suddenly
I did a somersault
I was surprised
Going down the lazy river
Drifting aimlessly
three fingers deliver
A drink with three fingers worth of alcohol in it
The reverb you just heard is resounding
The echo of the sound is bouncing back
In the surrounding area
All around us
It's getting scarier
It is becoming more and more frightening
I've got the amp damp mangled
I have a problem with the equipment
Got my tingle in tangle
Feeling nervous and confused
Let me see what I can wangle
Let me see what I can do
In the Bermuda Triangle
In a place of mystery and danger
Gravity will be the death of me
I am worried about the effects of gravity
Terminal velocity follow
The speed at which something falls due to gravity
The follow the vaper
Follow the trail of smoke
One hundred percent proof caper
A drink that is very strong
Burst the barricades
Break through the barriers
But don't drink the lemonade
Do not be fooled by something that seems innocent
Martinis by beard man
Drinks made by a bartender with a beard
An artisan down at the can can
A craftsman working at a nightclub
And oh yes he can can fat
And he is very good at it
Fredies cat in seven lead boots
A cat wearing heavy shoes
Whiskey for the whiskers
A drink for the cat
The shot sure shoots
The drink is very strong
She sells sea shells sea shells on the sea shore
A tongue twister
Is it true what mummy said
Is it true?
You can't come back no more
You cannot return
Oh no no no no
Oh no
Singing a song about nothing
A meaningless song
Talk through my belly button
Speak nonsense
At the inn of seventh happiness
At a place that promises happiness
More or less
Just about
I found you on the floor
I saw you lying on the ground
Saying more more more
Asking for more
Peel back the skin sonar
Understand something by looking deeper
Beats like quaver
Beats irregularly
Small bananas selected for flavor
Carefully chosen
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK ERRINGTON BRYDON, ROISIN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind