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.
Christmas on Earth
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I hope there'll be days in the snow
When I return many light years on
Though my friends will have died long ago
And the rain makes a sound like the asteroids
There are worlds made of ice in the clouds
I'm receiving transmissions they broadcast long ago
All the people and cities and crowds
Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them
Ring the bells, I can still hear them
Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them
Ring the bells, I can still hear them
Here on the way to the stars
About now back on earth it is Christmas time
There'll be logs in the grate, they will burn
I'm alone tape recording memories
For it all will have changed when I return
And the rain is so strange in the Milky Way
I see cloudscapes of purple and green
Candleabras are shooting off firework displays
And I'm writing the things I have seen
People shopping and sparks from a train
Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them
Ring the bells, I can still hear them
Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them
Ring the bells, I can still hear them
Here on the way to the stars
Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them
Ring the bells, I can still hear them
Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them
Ring the bells, I can still hear them
Here on the way to the stars
Well I know that on Earth it is Christmas now
But in space time goes by so slow
At the speed of light one single night
Is a year to the people back home
The lyrics of Momus's song "Christmas on Earth" describe the experience of an astronaut floating through space, far from home on Christmas Day. The astronaut acknowledges that on Earth, it is Christmas time, and hopes that when they eventually return, they will be able to experience days in the snow again, even though their friends will have long since passed away. As the astronaut floats through space, they describe the strange rain that sounds like asteroids hitting their ship, and the clouds that look like worlds made of ice. They mention receiving transmissions from Earth that remind them of the people and cities they've left behind.
The astronaut then reflects on the logs burning in fireplaces back on Earth, and how they are alone, recording memories to try and keep hold of the world they have left behind. They describe the strange rain they see in space, and the purple and green clouds they encounter. They mention "candleabras" that shoot off fireworks displays and how they are writing everything they see so they can remember it when they return to Earth.
The repeated refrain of "Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them" is a plea to connect to the Christmas traditions and memories that are taking place back on Earth, even from so far away. The song ends with a reminder of the vast distances the astronaut is traveling, where one night at the speed of light is a year to the people back home.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I know that on Earth it is Christmas now
I am aware that back on Earth, people are celebrating Christmas at the moment.
And I hope there'll be days in the snow
I am looking forward to spending time in the snow when I eventually return to Earth.
When I return many light years on
I anticipate being away from Earth for an extended period as I travel through space.
Though my friends will have died long ago
Despite the people I know passing away whilst I'm travel through space, I hope to reminisce on our memories.
And the rain makes a sound like the asteroids
The sound of rain in space resembles the sounds of asteroids colliding together.
There are worlds made of ice in the clouds
In space, there are planets covered in ice located in the clouds.
I'm receiving transmissions they broadcast long ago
I am receiving old transmissions that were sent out many years ago.
They remind me of things I have seen
These transmissions remind me of the people and places I have encountered during my travels.
All the people and cities and crowds
I reminisce on the places I've seen, the cities I've travelled to, and the crowds I've encountered.
Ring the bells, ring the bells, ring them
A call to ring the bells and celebrate the joyous occasion of Christmas.
Ring the bells, I can still hear them
I am still able to hear the bells ringing in my memories of Earth.
About now back on earth it is Christmas time
I am aware that at this precise moment on Earth, people are celebrating Christmas.
There'll be logs in the grate, they will burn
People will be lighting the fire and burning logs in their homes for warmth and comfort during the holiday season.
I'm alone tape recording memories
Whilst I am travelling through space, I am keeping a record of all my memories and experiences using a tape recorder.
For it all will have changed when I return
I am aware that by the time I eventually return to Earth, everything around me will have changed.
And the rain is so strange in the Milky Way
The rain in space has an unusual, strange quality to it, particularly within the Milky Way.
I see cloudscapes of purple and green
The clouds in space appear in various beautiful colors, including purple and green.
Candleabras are shooting off firework displays
Fireworks displays in space appear similar to candleabras, with dazzling sparks shooting out around them.
And I'm writing the things I have seen
Alongside my tape recorder, I am also documenting my experiences in writing to ensure I remember everything I have witnessed.
People shopping and sparks from a train
I remember seeing people shopping for gifts and sparks coming from a train whilst I was on Earth.
Well I know that on Earth it is Christmas now
I am reminded again that people back on Earth are celebrating Christmas whilst I am travelling through space.
But in space time goes by so slow
Due to the nature of space travel, time passes much slower than it does on Earth.
At the speed of light one single night
Traveling at the speed of light means that one night is equivalent to a whole year back on Earth.
Is a year to the people back home
Whilst I might only experience one night during my travels through space, a whole year will have passed on Earth in that time.
Contributed by Vivian B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.