Nick Currie (born February 11, 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK)… Read Full Bio ↴Nick Currie (born February 11, 1960 in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, UK), more popularly known under the artist name Momus (after the Greek god of mockery), is a songwriter, writer, blogger and artist. Most of his songs are self-referential or postmodern.

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.

Lovely Tree
Momus Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Keep, lovely tree, your leaves in wintertime
Stand strongly in your bark of love
Make shelter for the lion and the lamb
Keep every tender beast safe from the butcher's knife

Mothers are giving birth in wintertime
Miners find copper in the mine
And in a palace made of dangling icicles

Grapes of ice are hanging dangling on the lovely vine

Last night I wandered in a wasteland
I was abandoned to the snow
You came through forests thick with tangled undergrowth
With chicken soup, a Twix bar and some winter clothes

(Keep, lovely tree, your leaves in wintertime)

Overall Meaning

The song "Lovely Tree" by Momus is a powerful ode to resilience, perseverance, and protection. The title is suggestive of nature, which represents a fundamental connection to the world around us, a recurring theme within the lyrics. In the first verse, the lyrics seem to speak directly to a tree, urging it to hold onto its leaves even in the face of winter's harsh conditions. The metaphor of the tree is then extended to signify a place of safety and protection for animals, including both the feared lion and fragile lamb, as they seek shelter from the butcher's knife.

The second verse brings a human dimension to the song, featuring mothers giving birth and miners finding precious metals in the depth of winter. The imagery in the third verse is particularly vivid, as a wasteland serves as a metaphor for feeling lost and abandoned, but the tree is still there - offering sustenance, warmth, and comfort. The chicken soup, Twix bar, and winter clothes symbolize caring and nurturing, qualities that the tree embodies in its own way.

Line by Line Meaning

Keep, lovely tree, your leaves in wintertime
During the harsh winter season, the tree should still maintain its leaves and show resilience and resistance to adversity.

Stand strongly in your bark of love
The tree should be rooted in love and kindness which will help it stand strong, and all those who seek shelter under it will also feel this love.

Make shelter for the lion and the lamb
The tree should offer refuge and protection to all creatures big and small, regardless of their nature, just like a mother would.

Keep every tender beast safe from the butcher's knife
The tree should shield all animals from cruel and harmful acts. It should be a symbol of hope and protection for sentient beings.

Mothers are giving birth in wintertime
Winter can be difficult and challenging for all living beings, and giving birth during this time is a testament to the endurance and resilience of mothers.

Miners find copper in the mine
In the depths of winter, there can still be discovery and hope. Through determination and hard work, treasures can be found even in the harshest of conditions.

And in a palace made of dangling icicles
Winter can be a beautiful and enchanting season, where even the most simple things like stalactites can be seen as magnificent wonders.

Grapes of ice are hanging dangling on the lovely vine
Even in the coldness of winter, there can be hints of beauty and grace, like ice-crusted fruits and glittering branches.

Last night I wandered in a wasteland
The artist is describing a time when they felt lost and alone in a desolate place, perhaps a metaphor for a difficult moment in life.

I was abandoned to the snow
The artist was left to face the harsh realities of life alone, engulfed by the cold and unforgiving elements without anyone to protect them.

You came through forests thick with tangled undergrowth
Someone, maybe a friend or a loved one, came to the singer's rescue in a challenging time, navigating through the challenging and complex times to reach out to them.

With chicken soup, a Twix bar and some winter clothes
The rescue came not only emotionally but also materially. They brought things that would physically aid the artist, showing that support can come in all forms.

Contributed by Alyssa H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS