For more than twenty years he has been releasing, to only marginal commercial and critical success, playful and transgressive albums on labels in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Japan. In his lyrics and his other writing he makes seemingly random use of decontextualized pieces of continental (mostly French) philosophy, and has built up a personal world he says is "dominated by values like diversity, orientalism, and a respect for otherness." He is also known in certain circles outside the U.S. as a producer. He is fascinated by identity, Japan, the avant-garde, time travel and sex. Live Momus shows are rare but when he does perform he often sings the crowd favourite 'maf' from the Stars Forever LP.
He wears a patch over his right eye because he lost the use of it after contracting acanthamoeba keratitis from a contact lens case washed with Greek tap water.
Nick Currie currently resides in Osaka, Japan.
Afterglow
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Welcome to the show
We welcome to the world
The flight just arrived at gate 17
We welcome to the world the ones who left to find
Other states of mind while others stayed behind
We welcome to the world the ones who couldn′t live it
For they are the returning generation
We welcome to the world
The flight just arrived at gate 17
Would all passengers who've been
In search of other ways of living
Check at information for debriefing
For they are the returning generation
Welcome to the world
Where shares can go down as well as up
Where words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
Plays on a remastered CD somewhere in Los Angeles
While seagulls wheel and the index drops
Research and development, I′m in my element
With the last of the elephants brainstorming
Never mind what's relevant and never mind selling it
While the power drains from the mainframes
I'm surfing on the brainwaves
Singing free the slaves, Jesus saves and other bullshit literature
Washed down in the rainstorm
Welcome to the afterglow
Welcome to the show
Welcome to the world
Check your hostility at gate 17
This is information
We eat, we sleep, we shit and fuck and die
We speak, we hope, we learn, we try
Welcome to the afterglow
Welcome to the show
For we are the returning generation
We welcome to the world
The flight just arrived at gate 17
Would all passengers who′ve been
In search of other ways of living
Check at information for debriefing
Welcome to the afterglow
Welcome to the show
Too late to enjoy it
Too soon to destroy it
Too dumb to invent it
Too smart to end it
Too late to enjoy it
Too soon to destroy it
Too dumb to invent it
Too smart to end it
Too late to enjoy it
Too soon to destroy it
Too dumb to invent it
Too smart to end it
Too late to enjoy it
Too soon to destroy it
Too dumb to invent it
Too smart to end it
The lyrics of "Afterglow" by Momus begins by welcoming the audience to the afterglow, possibly indicating the end of something, and the start of something new. The next line introduces the concept of a show, which could either refer to a literal performance or life itself, which may be considered a show. The lyrics then welcome those who left to find other states of mind and those who were unable to live it - essentially, those who have experienced life in a different way, and may have returned with new insights. The returning generation, as identified here, may belong to a certain age group or exist in a more metaphorical sense.
The lyrics continue by comparing life to something unpredictable where shares can go down as well as up, and words flow out endlessly. It then moves on to the idea of creation and development, where the singer indicates their comfort in being immersed in research and brainstorming. The lyrics then take a more sarcastic turn by talking about "bullshit literature" that is touted as saving people, though this is then "washed down in the rainstorm" - i.e., forgotten.
The song seems to invite everyone to the afterglow, claiming that this is where we all converge after the journey of life. It also suggests that people need to check their hostility at gate 17 - possibly the point of departure for the earlier part of their lives. It concludes by stating that life moves neither too slowly nor too quickly, and that it is essential to relish, experience, and learn from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Welcome to the afterglow
Welcome to the end of a significant event or experience, where the effects of it are still present and can be felt.
Welcome to the show
Welcome to the spectacle and grandeur of life, where every individual is the performer and the spectator.
We welcome to the world
We acknowledge and accept the arrival of new individuals in our society and community.
The flight just arrived at gate 17
A metaphorical reference to the arrival of new individuals in society, indicating that they have been journeying and have finally arrived at their destination.
We welcome to the world the ones who left to find other states of mind while others stayed behind
We embrace the ones who took a different path, followed their own intuition and chose a different way of life than the others who stayed behind.
We welcome to the world the ones who couldn't live it, too late to begin it and too soon to end it
We acknowledge and accept that some individuals could not fully experience life, either because it was too late to start or too soon to end, and we welcome them into our society.
For they are the returning generation
These individuals are the ones who have returned, who have come back to society after their journey and are contributing to their community.
Would all passengers who've been in search of other ways of living check at information for debriefing
A metaphorical announcement that invites and encourages individuals who explored different ways of living to come together and share their experiences.
Welcome to the world where shares can go down as well as up
Welcome to life, where ups and downs are inevitable; sometimes things work out, sometimes they don't.
Where words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
A poetic description of how words and communication are abundant, but some of them vanish like rain droplets on a paper cup.
Plays on a remastered CD somewhere in Los Angeles while seagulls wheel and the index drops
The reference to the remastered CD and the seagulls imply a sense of both modernity and nostalgia. The index dropping refers to the stock market losing points, which could be a reminder of how much change and fluctuation there is in the world.
Research and development, I'm in my element with the last of the elephants brainstorming
A metaphorical reference to being in one's zone, where the artist is talking about brainstorming with the last remaining, wise, and strong individuals in the community.
Never mind what's relevant and never mind selling it
A reference to not caring about following trends, being true to oneself, and not trying to make a profit from one's ideas.
While the power drains from the mainframes, I'm surfing on the brainwaves
A reference to innovation and creativity, where the individuals (like the songwriter) who do not conform to traditional beliefs, can leverage the power of the imagination and come up with new and exciting concepts.
Singing free the slaves, Jesus saves and other bullshit literature, washed down in the rainstorm
A disclaimer against the absurdity of religion and other propaganda. The phrase 'washed down in the rainstorm' could indicate that these are just fleeting thoughts and ideas that are not worth dwelling on for a prolonged period.
Check your hostility at gate 17, this is information
A reminder for everyone to leave behind their aggressive and confrontational attitudes and focus on the information and experience that they are about to receive.
We eat, we sleep, we shit and fuck and die, We speak, we hope, we learn, we try
A reminder of the fundamental nature of human life and the various experiences that come with it, from physical needs like eating and sleeping up to complex notions such as desire and learning.
Too late to enjoy it, Too soon to destroy it, Too dumb to invent it, Too smart to end it
A constant reminder of the dichotomy of human experience, where we are at once too late to bask in the present and too early to judge its worth. We are often too simple and inexperienced to suggest new ideas, but always too wise to let go of something of value.
Writer(s): Nick Currie
Contributed by Christopher O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.