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.
Klaxon
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Je vais te claquer)
Dans les ruelles de Tripoli
(Tu va me claquer)
Klaxon, klaxon
Dans ce cloaque de la passion
(Je vais te claquer)
Et comme tu partage mes avis
(Tu va me claquer)
Claque moi, claque moi
Chacun qui claque doit frapper fort
Klaxon klaxon
Dans ce sieste de la raison
Comme je t'ai toujours bien aime
(Je vais te claquer)
Si tu m'aime bien, ah, ma cherie
(Tu va le payer)
Parce que claqueses
Claquent que ceux dont elles sont amoureuse
N'aie pas de peur, n'aie pas le trac
(Viens te faire claquer)
Il y a de l'amour, pas d'attaque
(Viens vite t'faire claquer)
Klaxon klaxon
Ca fait du bien de claquer quelqu'un
C'est bon de frapper, oui c'est bon
(Je vais te claquer)
Ma jolie cedre de Liban
(Viens te faire claquer)
Les belles claqueses
Ne claquent que ceux dont elles sont amoureuse
Klaxon, klaxon
Excuses je donne, mais aucun explication
Je ne veux plus conduire mon taxi
(Je vais te claquer)
Toute la journee et toute la nuit
(Je vais te claquer)
Un jour la chair
Que je claque fort ne sera plus que poussiere
Klaxon, klaxon
C'est un peu glauque, mais il y a de la passion
The lyrics of "Klaxon" by Momus are about a taxi driver in the alleys of Tripoli who is in love with his wife. The chorus repeats the words "klaxon, klaxon," which means "horn" in French, and may symbolize the chaotic and passionate nature of the relationship. The driver talks about how he and his wife share the same views and that he wants to "slap" her, but in a loving way. He also mentions that "slaps" are only given by those who are in love with each other. The driver assures his wife that there is nothing to fear and says that it feels good to slap someone.
The song's lyrics are interesting in their use of language and the theme of love and aggression intertwined. The repeated use of the word "klaxon" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the couple's relationship being loud and chaotic, yet passionate. The driver's desire to "slap" his wife, while unusual, shows a unique form of affection that is both intimate and intense. The chorus that says "claque moi, claque moi" translates to "slap me, slap me," which may indicate that the driver wants his wife to reciprocate his love in the same way.
Overall, "Klaxon" by Momus is a thought-provoking song that delves into unconventional themes of love, aggression, and passion.
Line by Line Meaning
Je suis conducteur de taxi
I am a taxi driver
(Je vais te claquer)
(I am going to slap you)
Dans les ruelles de Tripoli
In the alleys of Tripoli
(Tu va me claquer)
(You are going to slap me)
Klaxon, klaxon
Horn, horn
Dans ce cloaque de la passion
In this cesspool of passion
Tu es ma femme, moi ton mari
You are my wife, I am your husband
(Je vais te claquer)
(I am going to slap you)
Et comme tu partage mes avis
And since you share my opinions
(Tu va me claquer)
(You are going to slap me)
Claque moi, claque moi
Slap me, slap me
Chacun qui claque doit frapper fort
Everyone who slaps must hit hard
Klaxon klaxon
Horn, horn
Dans ce sieste de la raison
In this nap of reason
Comme je t'ai toujours bien aime
As I have always loved you well
(Je vais te claquer)
(I am going to slap you)
Si tu m'aime bien, ah, ma cherie
If you love me well, oh my darling
(Tu va le payer)
(You will pay for it)
Parce que claqueses
Because slaps
Claquent que ceux dont elles sont amoureuse
Slap only those whom they love
N'aie pas de peur, n'aie pas le trac
Don't be afraid, don't be nervous
(Viens te faire claquer)
(Come get slapped)
Il y a de l'amour, pas d'attaque
There is love, not attack
(Viens vite t'faire claquer)
(Come quickly get slapped)
Klaxon klaxon
Horn, horn
Ca fait du bien de claquer quelqu'un
It feels good to slap someone
C'est bon de frapper, oui c'est bon
It is good to hit, yes it is good
(Je vais te claquer)
(I am going to slap you)
Ma jolie cedre de Liban
My pretty cedar from Lebanon
(Viens te faire claquer)
(Come get slapped)
Les belles claqueses
The beautiful slaps
Ne claquent que ceux dont elles sont amoureuse
Only slap those whom they love
Klaxon, klaxon
Horn, horn
Excuses je donne, mais aucun explication
I apologize, but no explanation
Je ne veux plus conduire mon taxi
I don't want to drive my taxi anymore
(Je vais te claquer)
(I am going to slap you)
Toute la journee et toute la nuit
All day and all night
(Je vais te claquer)
(I am going to slap you)
Un jour la chair
One day the flesh
Que je claque fort ne sera plus que poussiere
That I slap hard will be nothing but dust
Klaxon, klaxon
Horn, horn
C'est un peu glauque, mais il y a de la passion
It's a bit grim, but there is passion
Contributed by Harper S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.