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 Only Ones
Moloko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thoughts turn out twisted
Well unwind
Uncurl and lay the worries of the world
By any fire you find
Dreamers only believers in their sleep
Under archievers take a leap
So close and yet too far out
Maybe someday you'll hear
Sweet somethings whispered softly
Into your ear
To those with afflictions
Prone to addictions
To users and to losers
Doubters and their daughters and sons
Your Angel will come
Maybe she's come and gone
Already lost the one
What have you done
You lost the only one
If you came from something
And you're headed nowhere
Out on the run
Allow this thought to crystallise
It is better in the long run
To never get there
And let the journey decide
In all this doom and this gloom
And pessimistical visions
Came all condemned men
All fatalists in metaphysical fear
How could love be here
To those with afflictions
Prone to addictions
To users and losers
Doubters and their daughters and sons
Your Angel will come
And to those with intentions
In all three dimensions
To jokers and to the joke
Doubters and their daughters and sons
(maybe you've found the one)
Maybe she's come and gone
The song "The Only Ones" by Moloko sends out a message of hope and reassurance to those who may be struggling with their afflictions, addictions, doubts or fears. The song starts with addressing the night time, when thoughts tend to get twisted, and suggests unwinding the worries of the world by any fire that can be found. The lyrics talk about the power of dreams, and how dreamers, who are believers in their sleep, are different from underachievers who need to take a leap. The song then addresses the loss of a person who might have been the only one for someone, and how it may be better to never get to the destination and let the journey decide. Throughout the song, it is emphasized that an angel will come for everyone, and guidance and hope can be found in the journey of life.
The song showcases the band's versatility in terms of style, as it combines electronic, jazz, and rock music elements. The singer Roisin Murphy's unique voice and the band's experimental use of different sound effects to create an overall mood, make this song stand out from their other works. The themes of the song are relatable and universal, as they address mental health issues and the search for love and hope in difficult times. The lyrics use metaphors and vivid images to create meaning and depth, which is what makes it a timeless classic.
Line by Line Meaning
If often in the still of night
During the peaceful night hours,
Thoughts turn out twisted
The mind becomes filled with complicated, uncertain thoughts.
Well unwind
Release these worries and let them go.
Uncurl and lay the worries of the world
Relax and set aside all the burdens and concerns weighing heavily on your shoulders.
By any fire you find
In any setting that brings you comfort and peace.
Dreamers only believers in their sleep
People who dream can only have faith in what they see in their dreams.
Under archievers take a leap
Those who have not succeeded should take a chance.
Tell her the secrets that you keep
Confide in someone, reveal your deepest thoughts and feelings.
So close and yet too far out
A situation that is technically within reach but impractical or impossible to achieve.
Maybe someday you'll hear
Perhaps someday, fate will be kind and bring you happiness.
Sweet somethings whispered softly
Tender words spoken in hushed tones.
Into your ear
In a very personal and intimate way.
To those with afflictions
To those who suffer difficulty or pain.
Prone to addictions
Vulnerable to becoming heavily dependent on something, whether physical or psychological.
To users and to losers
To those who exploit others and to those who have failed to make the most of their potential.
Doubters and their daughters and sons
Those who are skeptical or lack confidence, as well as their children.
Your Angel will come
A guardian, whether metaphorical or literal, who will offer guidance and support when it is most needed.
Maybe she's come and gone
Perhaps the right person for you has already entered and exited your life.
Already lost the one
You may have already let go of the perfect partner for you.
What have you done
Why did you let that opportunity slip away?
You lost the only one
You have let the person you were meant to be with slip away forever.
If you came from something
If you originated from a particular background or belief.
And you're headed nowhere
If you don't have a clear direction or goal in your life.
Out on the run
Fleeing from something, whether metaphorical or literal.
Allow this thought to crystallise
Let this idea or concept become clearer and more defined.
It is better in the long run
It is ultimately more beneficial in the grand scheme of things.
To never get there
To never reach the ultimate destination or end goal.
And let the journey decide
Allow the path you are on to guide you, rather than trying to plan or control everything.
In all this doom and this gloom
Despite all the negative and depressive feelings.
And pessimistical visions
And seeing the world through a negative, hopeless lens.
Came all condemned men
All men are faced with inescapable, inevitable fates.
All fatalists in metaphysical fear
All those who believe in life's predetermined course are filled with fear and trepidation.
How could love be here
How can there still be room for love in a hopeless, doomed world?
And to those with intentions
And to those who have specific aims or goals in mind.
In all three dimensions
In every aspect of their life, not just one.
To jokers and to the joke
To those who are the butt of a joke or who use humor to deflect from their problems.
Maybe you've found the one
Perhaps you have finally found your true love.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Eddie Stevens, Mark Brydon, Roisin Murphy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind