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.
The ID
Moloko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(You see, it goes like this)
Momma, don't you turn away
Just because I've gone astray
Out of the fire, into the frying pan, this is the story of a sorry man
I have been known to deviate myself from the path that is set
He is now just a shadow of his former self
And dark clouds hover overhead
The living dead, move over, you see it goes like this
I could be a mover, I could be a shaker, don't you try to get in my way
I'm the heart breaker, the money maker, this will all be mine one day
Well
I myself do not think that such a raw ambition, his disposition
To be a sin in itself, though
Should we not forget about the mess that he got himself in
Where now stands this meek and empty man, there once was a typhoon
Earthquaking, a phenomena, higher than the rest of us
'Cause he was steppin' on us, steppin' over people
And this is how the story goes, folks
I will go undefeated, I'll be protected
You think you're big time, I'll show you big time
Hollerin' and swallowin' air, crawling in the pit of despair
Once he got his foot in the door,
well you know he was a fast stepper, a bad taste in the mouth kind of guy,
funny fella though, always had a joke or two,
but be careful, the joke could be on you
Did you ever hear the one about the id, the ego, the super ego,
the monumental man sat back to watch his automobile grow
He was a Lamborghini kind of guy, got so high
He would swear he could touch the sky
But the sky was the limit
He was calling, he was crawling, riddled by the immensities of life,
ladies of the night would call all hours of the day, every day, all day,
calling for his mommy when the day was done
Yes, he was moving, he was shaking, so lonesome tonight,
And his eyes belied his smile awhile,
Calling for his mummy but his mummy didn't come
Once he got his foot in the door,
well you know he was a fast stepper, a bad taste in the mouth kind of guy,
funny fella though, always had a joke or two,
but be careful, the joke could be on you
Did you ever hear the one about the id, the ego, the super ego,
the monumental man sat back to watch his automobile grow
He was a Lamborghini kind of guy, got so high
He would swear he could touch the sky
But the sky was the limit
I could be a mover, I could be a shaker, don't you try to get in my way
I'm the heart breaker, the money maker, this will all be mine one day
I will go undefeated, I'll be protected
You think you're big time, I'll show you big time
Hollerin' and swallowin' air, crawling in the pit of despair
The song "The ID" by Moloko is a reflection on the highs and lows of ambition and success. The song starts with the singer addressing their mother, pleading with her not to turn away because they've gone astray. They recount how they have deviated from the path that has been set, but they also highlight the man who decided to dedicate his life to the jet set. However, this man is now just a shadow of his former self, as dark clouds hover overhead. The song then delves into the singer's personal ambitions of becoming a mover and shaker, a heartbreaker and a money maker. They are determined to be undefeated and protected, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their dreams.
As the song progresses, the singer starts reflecting on the mess that comes with success. The man who was once a typhoon, higher than the rest of us, is now a meek and empty shell of his former self. He used to step over people and was always a fast stepper, but now finds himself calling out for his mommy when the day is done. He was a Lamborghini kind of guy, who thought he could touch the sky, but the sky was the limit, and he found himself crawling in the pit of despair. The song ends with the singer confidently stating that they will go undefeated, they'll be protected, and they'll show everyone what big time really means.
Overall, this song is an insightful commentary on the price of ambition and success. It highlights the fact that climbing the ladder of success can be a double-edged sword. While it can lead to fame, fortune and power, it can also lead to loneliness and emptiness. The song advises us to be careful what we wish for and to remember that success comes at a cost.
Line by Line Meaning
Momma, don't you turn away
Please do not ignore my mistakes and turn your back on me
Just because I've gone astray
Just because I have lost my way
Out of the fire, into the frying pan, this is the story of a sorry man
Moving from one difficult situation to another, the tale of a remorseful person
I have been known to deviate myself from the path that is set
I am known to stray from the expected direction
But let us not forget about the man who decided to dedicate his life to the jetset
Let's not forget about the man who chose to live a luxurious life
He is now just a shadow of his former self
He is no longer the same person he used to be
And dark clouds hover overhead
A feeling of gloom looms
The living dead, move over, you see it goes like this
Those who are unfeeling step aside as I tell the story
I could be a mover, I could be a shaker, don't you try to get in my way
I am capable of being successful, do not hinder my progress
I'm the heart breaker, the money maker, this will all be mine one day
I am the one who breaks hearts and makes money, someday everything will be mine
I myself do not think that such a raw ambition, his disposition
I do not believe that his unrefined ambition is a character trait
To be a sin in itself, though
However, it may be a sin
Should we not forget about the mess that he got himself in
We should not overlook the problems he created for himself
Where now stands this meek and empty man, there once was a typhoon
The man who is now timid and hollow, was once an unstoppable force
Earthquaking, a phenomena, higher than the rest of us
He was powerful, significant and superior compared to others
'Cause he was steppin' on us, steppin' over people
He dominated and walked all over others
And this is how the story goes, folks
This is how the story unfolds
Once he got his foot in the door, well you know he was a fast stepper, a bad taste in the mouth kind of guy, funny fella though, always had a joke or two, but be careful, the joke could be on you
Once he got his opportunity, he quickly took advantage, a little distasteful but amusing, but don't let his humor fool you
Did you ever hear the one about the id, the ego, the super ego, the monumental man sat back to watch his automobile grow
Have you heard the joke about psychology, a self-absorbed man watched his wealth multiply
He was a Lamborghini kind of guy, got so high, He would swear he could touch the sky
He was into opulent, fast cars and felt as if he could do anything
But the sky was the limit
However, he was not invincible and there were things he could not achieve
I will go undefeated, I'll be protected
I will be unbeatable and safeguarded
You think you're big time, I'll show you big time
You may believe you are influential, but I will prove that I am the greatest
Hollerin' and swallowin' air, crawling in the pit of despair
Screaming and gasping for air, sunk in a deep state of depression
Calling for his mommy when the day was done
Crying out for his mother at the end of each day
Yes, he was moving, he was shaking, so lonesome tonight
Indeed, he was active and productive, yet felt extremely lonely
And his eyes belied his smile awhile
His eyes revealed the truth behind his facade of happiness
I could be a mover, I could be a shaker, don't you try to get in my way
I am capable of achieving great things, do not stand in my path
But the sky was the limit
However, there were limitations on what I could do
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Mark Brydon, Roisin Murphy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind