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.
Where Is The What If The What Is In Why
Moloko Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where am I going with no destination,
What if the fish came from the sea,
What if my lover made me feel free,
What if my intake caused revelation,
What if the point was reincarnation,
What if my shoes do'nt match my jacket,
What if your mamma said you were fat,
If you are lost find where your at,
What is a number without any time,
You can't get higher with nothing to climb,
Why have a body if you ain't got a mind,
What is a searcher with nothing to find,
Why is the traffic refusing to stop,
Why climb the ladder if you can't reach the top,
Where is the what if the what is in why,
Where is the what if the what is in why
Where is the what if the what is in why,
What do you dream of when you sleep at night,
Wee how the blind man fills up with light,
What is a bird with nowhere to fly,
How can you leave and not say goodbye,
What is a hunter with nothing to find,
What is the goodness without the unkind,
When did the outfit fall out of fashion,
When did the lover run out of passion,
My reincarnation time a phoney creation rhyme,
With no destination mine my information's fine,
Why did the voice say don't step on the floor,
Why did the sign say so float through the door,
What is a god of phoney creation,
Where am I going with no destination,
What if the fish came from the sea,
What if my lover made me feel free,
What if my intake caused revelation,
What if the point was reincarnation,
What if my shoes don't match my jacket,
If it's not working why don't you smack it,
What if your mamma said you were fat,
If you are lost find where you're at,
Where is the what if the what is in why,
Where is the what if the what is in why,
Where is the what if the what is in why,
How did the loser get to be rich,
What is a saleman with nothing to pitch,
When did the fool het to be king,
Why did you leave when they asked you to sing,
Why loose belief if you got a dream,
What is a train that ran out of steam,
What is a spy with no-one to spy,
On who do you sleep with nothing to lie on,
What if the fruit don't fall from the tree,
What if these questions just won't let you be,
Why waste your time looking for proof,
What if the answer is never the truth.
The lyrics of Moloko's "Where is the What if the What is in Why" suggest a sort of existential contemplation about the purpose of one's existence and the meaning behind everything that happens in the world. The song presents a series of questions that don't necessarily have answers, and that go from the mundane to the profound. The first few lines seem to challenge the idea of god as a creator or a force that can intervene in the world. Then, the song moves onto questions about identity and relationships, suggesting that lovers and mothers can have a hand in shaping who we are.
The song then asks some more philosophical questions, such as what the point of reincarnation is or what the value of numbers is without context. It then moves onto more practical issues, like why one should bother doing anything if it's not going to work out. The questions then become more personal, as the song asks what we dream about and what kind of people we are. The chorus repeats the line "Where is the what if the what is in why," which could be interpreted as an invitation to keep questioning things and not settling for easy answers.
Overall, the song seems to be suggesting that there is no inherent meaning or purpose to life, but that creating our own meaning through relationships, dreams, and personal growth is what matters.
Line by Line Meaning
What is a god of phoney creation,
What kind of deity is merely a fabrication?
Where am I going with no destination,
What is the point of journeying if there is no end goal in sight?
What if the fish came from the sea,
What if the most obvious explanation is the correct one?
What if my lover made me feel free,
What if romantic affection truly brings liberation?
What if my intake caused revelation,
What if consuming something leads to a profound realization?
What if the point was reincarnation,
What if the purpose of existence is to be reborn in another form?
What if my shoes do'nt match my jacket,
What if my appearance is not consistent or well-coordinated?
If it's not working why don't you smack it,
Why persist with something if it clearly isn't functioning correctly?
What if your mamma said you were fat,
What if a parental figure specifically criticized your body weight?
If you are lost find where your at,
If you are feeling disoriented or stranded, locate your current position in relation to your intended destination.
What is a number without any time,
What is the meaning of a numerical value if no temporal context is given?
You can't get higher with nothing to climb,
You cannot advance or elevate yourself without encountering obstacles or challenges.
Why have a body if you ain't got a mind,
What is the purpose of physical existence without cognitive capacity?
What is a searcher with nothing to find,
What is the role of someone seeking knowledge or truth if there is nothing to discover?
Why is the traffic refusing to stop,
What is the reason for vehicular congestion failing to diminish?
Why climb the ladder if you can't reach the top,
What is the rationale for ascending a hierarchy or system if ultimate authority or success is unattainable?
Where is the what if the what is in why,
Where can the potential answer be found if the question itself contains the answer?
What do you dream of when you sleep at night,
What ideas or images arise in the mind during the state of unconsciousness known as sleep?
Wee how the blind man fills up with light,
Experience the wonder and amazement of a visually impaired person discovering illumination or understanding.
What is a bird with nowhere to fly,
What is the identity or significance of a winged creature that lacks the ability to soar or maneuver in the air?
How can you leave and not say goodbye,
What justification exists for departing without offering a farewell message?
What is a hunter with nothing to find,
What is the status or occupation of an individual whose quest or quarry does not exist?
What is the goodness without the unkind,
What is the value of benevolence or generosity without also opposing malevolence or stinginess?
When did the outfit fall out of fashion,
At what point in time did a particular style or garment cease to be trendy or popular?
When did the lover run out of passion,
At what moment did a romantic partner lose their fervor or desire?
My reincarnation time a phoney creation rhyme,
The cyclical nature of existence may be a contrived construct intended to match a particular rhythmic pattern.
With no destination mine my information's fine,
Even if there is no set objective, the data or knowledge collected is still valuable or noteworthy.
Why did the voice say don't step on the floor,
What is the reason behind a vocal admonishment to avoid a certain surface?
Why did the sign say so float through the door,
What is the intention behind a written directive to pass through an entryway without touching the ground?
How did the loser get to be rich,
What is the backstory or catalyst for an individual who failed to achieve success to suddenly become wealthy?
What is a saleman with nothing to pitch,
What is the role or purpose of a commercial or persuasive representative if they lack a product or message to promote?
When did the fool het to be king,
How did an apparently foolish or unwise person ascend to a position of authority or prominence?
Why did you leave when they asked you to sing,
What prompted your departure or evasion of a situation in which your participation or contribution was requested?
Why loose belief if you got a dream,
Why abandon faith or trust in something you passionately desire or hope for?
What is a train that ran out of steam,
What is the significance or condition of a locomotive that can no longer generate sufficient power or momentum?
What is a spy with no-one to spy,
What is the role or identity of an espionage agent with no target or objective to monitor or observe?
On who do you sleep with nothing to lie on,
What subject or item do you rest upon if there is no bed or mattress available?
What if the fruit don't fall from the tree,
What if the progeny of a particular lineage or heritage does not adhere to the traits or behaviors of their ancestors?
What if these questions just won't let you be,
What if a persistent sense of inquiry or uncertainty continues to plague your thoughts or conscience?
Why waste your time looking for proof,
What is the merit or motivation behind seeking evidence or confirmation of a claim or belief?
What if the answer is never the truth.
What if the ultimate response or solution to a question or problem is not actually the genuine or accurate one?
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: MARK ERRINGTON BRYDON, ROISIN MURPHY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-nn3nc6hd6q
"... Why waste your time looking for proof,
What if the answer is never the truth. "
sad, but true.
@ryanberg8965
That got me too
@jollyjack5856
no, the answer is in the question.
the what is in why.
this means, the question is its own answer.
an answer is never the answer, the question itself is the answer.
asking is receiving.
@viiajones
plays this song at my funeral. I was exposed to Moloko through So You Think You Can Dance and I’m so grateful.
@jamesrowden303
So you are a ghost? Neat.
@rachels30
THE BEST MUSIC AND LYRIC EVER!! -RH
@unwelldanny7108
THIS is the sequel to Fun for Me.
@modifiedcontent
I think this was actually their debut
@SkinnyEMedia
Moloko and puppets, animation seem to go hand-in-hand. That's why I was a fan of them when I was a child because the "Things To Make & Do" and "Do You Like My Sweater" album covers peaked my curiosity as a boy.
@Emgee78
First time I heard this track was after getting the Moloko Catalogue album. There's something hypnotic about it.