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.
Maf
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down the Grave Maurice
Maf, a star of Music Hall
Gunned down mid-song
By unknown assailants
So I confess I couldn't bear being less famous
Oh what misfortunes in this day and age
Befall the Whitechapel music hall stage!
There and then, when I gunned poor Matthew down
(Murder most 'orrible)
Maf had it all, the love of the public
The wit of Lennie Bruce, Bill Hicks, and Peter Cook
Beautiful women, a daughter called Ushka
A career in music hall, Bathshebas and babushkas
Oh what misfortunes occur in this age
You can never be sure you'll leave the stage
As you came on it
A fat Space Invader, I flattened his fame
That day I gunned poor Matthew down
(I 'ope you're ashamed of yourself)
Singer, philanderer, drinker and coprophile
Born in Batley, Leeds, adorned in orange rosary beads
'I am nobody' engraved on the bracelet
He wore around his wrist in Dickensian copperplate
I made my confession to Didsbury police
I'd hoped to kill Morrissey, but neither of us could get arrested
Oh what misfortunes, what sufferings and pain
I have brought upon the halls of old Brick Lane!
(Or could he be sane?)
(To my eternal shame)
Read all about it! Murder in Whitechapel
Down the Grave Maurice
Momus, star of Music Hall
Gunned down mid-song --
The song "Maf" by Momus tells a story of a famous music hall star named Maf who was gunned down mid-song by unknown assailants, leaving the singer with a sense of jealousy and regret. The singer confesses that he couldn't bear being less famous than Maf and had swallowed his fame like a PacMan. The song describes Maf as someone who had everything - the love of the public, the wit of famous comedians, beautiful women, and a successful career. The singer reflects on the misfortunes that can befall anyone in this age, no matter how successful or famous they may be, and how easily someone's life can be taken away.
The song also sheds light on the darker aspects of Maf's personality, describing him as a philanderer, a drinker, and a coprophile. The singer admits to making a confession to the police about the murder, hoping to kill Morrissey but unable to get arrested. The song ends with the singer expressing shame and regret for the suffering and pain he has brought upon the halls of old Brick Lane.
Line by Line Meaning
Read all about it! Murder in Whitechapel
Attention everyone! There has been a murder in the Whitechapel area.
Down the Grave Maurice
The victim's name was Maurice and he has been buried.
Maf, a star of Music Hall
The victim was a Music Hall star named Maf.
Gunned down mid-song
Maf was shot and killed while performing on stage.
By unknown assailants
The identity of the killer(s) is unknown.
So I confess I couldn't bear being less famous
The singer is admitting that they killed Maf because they were envious of Maf's fame.
Oh what misfortunes in this day and age
The singer is lamenting the unfortunate events that occur in modern times.
Befall the Whitechapel music hall stage!
Specifically, the artist is referencing the tragedy that occurred at the Music Hall in Whitechapel.
A variety PacMan, I swallowed his fame
The artist consumed Maf's fame, like PacMan does with dots in the video game.
There and then, when I gunned poor Matthew down
The artist killed Matthew (Maf) right then and there.
(Murder most 'orrible)
This is an interjection that emphasizes the horrific nature of the murder.
Maf had it all, the love of the public
Maf was beloved by the public.
The wit of Lennie Bruce, Bill Hicks, and Peter Cook
Maf was also clever and humorous like famous comedians Lennie Bruce, Bill Hicks, and Peter Cook.
Beautiful women, a daughter called Ushka
Maf had attractive romantic partners and a daughter named Ushka.
A career in music hall, Bathshebas and babushkas
Maf had a successful career in Music Hall, performing for audiences who wore Bathshebas and babushkas (likely meaning dresses and headscarves).
Oh what misfortunes occur in this age
The artist is once again bemoaning the hardships of modern times.
You can never be sure you'll leave the stage
The artist is acknowledging that performers can never be sure they will make it through a performance alive.
As you came on it
The singer means that performers are never guaranteed a safe exit off of the stage they entered on.
A fat Space Invader, I flattened his fame
The singer is comparing Maf's fame to the targets a player must shoot down in the video game Space Invaders. The singer destroyed Maf's fame as easily as shooting down targets in the game.
That day I gunned poor Matthew down
The artist reiterates that they killed Matthew (Maf) on that specific day.
(I 'ope you're ashamed of yourself)
This is an interjection from an unknown person directed at the artist, criticizing them for their actions.
Singer, philanderer, drinker and coprophile
These are personality traits describing the victim, Maf. He was a singer, womanizer, alcoholic, and had an interest in coprophilia (excrement fetish).
Born in Batley, Leeds, adorned in orange rosary beads
This line refers to Maf's birthplace (Batley) and his penchant for wearing orange rosary beads.
'I am nobody' engraved on the bracelet
Maf wore a bracelet with the words 'I am nobody' engraved on it.
He wore around his wrist in Dickensian copperplate
The singer is describing the font style of the engraving on Maf's bracelet, which was done in a harkening style to the author Charles Dickens.
I made my confession to Didsbury police
The singer admits to confessing to the police in Didsbury.
I'd hoped to kill Morrissey, but neither of us could get arrested
The singer confesses that they initially planned to kill Morrissey, but for some reason, neither the singer nor Morrissey could be arrested.
Oh what misfortunes, what sufferings and pain
Once again, the artist laments the many hardships of life.
I have brought upon the halls of old Brick Lane!
The artist acknowledges the negative impact their actions have had on the Music Halls in Brick Lane.
(Or could he be sane?)
This is an interjection that questions the sanity of the singer or the victim.
(To my eternal shame)
This final interjection expresses the singer's guilt and regret over their actions.
Contributed by Luke G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.