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.
Microworlds
Momus Lyrics
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Never knew which way the wind was blowing
From pretty girl to pretty girl
None of them had any way of knowing
There were others in my life
But a vacuum at the centre
I was reaching for the love I couldn't know
When I met you and you redefined my feelings
I met you and I was suddenly alive
Like the fabulous exploding of asteroids in darkness
We collide
From microworld to microworld
How was I to know where I was going
From emptiness to emptiness
Somewhere in my spirit I was dying
There were many hidden valleys
But a vacuum at the centre
I was reaching for a light I couldn't know
When I met you and the galaxy went spinning
I met you and I was pulled into the light
With the rarefied experience to guide me to the light
We collide
There were many shooting stars
Many comets burning brightly
I was searching for the fire that wouldn't fade
When I met you and the galaxy went spinning
I met you and I was pulled into the light
With the matter that is constant in its density inside me
We collide
I met you and the galaxy went spinning
I met you and I was pulled into the light
Like the fabulous exploding of asteroids in darkness
We collide
I met you and I was pulled into the light
The song "Microworlds" by Momus talks about the journey of the singer through different relationships, or microworlds, where he never knew which way the wind was blowing. He goes from pretty girl to pretty girl, searching for love, but there was always a vacuum at the center of these relationships. He was reaching for something he couldn't grasp. However, when he finally meets his current partner, everything changes. She redefines his feelings, and suddenly he feels alive - the two of them collide like exploding asteroids in the darkness.
The singer uses celestial imagery to describe his experience of falling in love. The galaxy goes spinning, he's pulled into the light, and there are many shooting stars and comets burning brightly. Before he met this person, he was dying in a spiritual sense, but now he's found someone who guides him to the light.
Interestingly, the concept of "microworlds" is something that appears quite frequently in science. A microworld can mean an environment in which microscopic or molecular entities exist, such as a petri dish or a beaker. However, it can also refer to a hypothetical or imagined world, like a fantasy realm. It's unclear whether Momus is using the word to mean one of these things or something else entirely.
Line by Line Meaning
From microworld to microworld
Moving from one small or insignificant thing to another without any clear direction or purpose
Never knew which way the wind was blowing
Feeling directionless and unsure about life and its uncertain nature
From pretty girl to pretty girl
Going from one romantic partner to another without any real connection
None of them had any way of knowing
None of the partners were aware of the depth of the singer's feelings or intentions
There were others in my life
The artist had other people in his life, but they didn't fill the emotional void
But a vacuum at the centre
Despite having others, there was still a sense of emptiness within
I was reaching for the love I couldn't know
The singer was searching for a connection that he wasn't sure existed
When I met you and you redefined my feelings
Meeting the person who changed the way the artist thought and felt about everything
I met you and I was suddenly alive
Meeting this person brought the artist to life in a new way
Like the fabulous exploding of asteroids in darkness
Feeling the rush of emotions and newfound love in a dramatic and exciting way
We collide
The two people came together in a way that felt almost cosmic
From emptiness to emptiness
Feeling empty before and after each relationship or experience
Somewhere in my spirit I was dying
Lacking true fulfillment and purpose in life, causing the singer to feel like a part of him was slowly fading away
There were many hidden valleys
Opportunities and experiences that were missed or ignored due to the singer's emptiness
But a vacuum at the centre
Despite trying to fill the void with different experiences and people, the emptiness remained
I was reaching for a light I couldn't know
The artist was searching for something that he couldn't identify or understand at the time
When I met you and the galaxy went spinning
Meeting the person who changed everything and caused the world to seem brighter and more exciting
I met you and I was pulled into the light
Becoming fully immersed in the newfound love and light that the other person brought
With the rarefied experience to guide me to the light
Learning from the difficult experiences of the past to better appreciate and understand the current happiness
Many shooting stars were in my mind
Many fleeting and temporary moments of joy and excitement passed through the artist's mind
Many comets burning brightly
Many intense and passionate relationships that ultimately failed to fulfill him
I was searching for the fire that wouldn't fade
Looking for a love that was strong and dependable, rather than temporary or fleeting
With the matter that is constant in its density inside me
With the knowledge and understanding that true, consistent love was something that had to come from within
We collide
The artist and his true love came together in a powerful, transformative way
I met you and the galaxy went spinning
Meeting the one who made everything seem brighter and more magical
Like the fabulous exploding of asteroids in darkness
Feeling the rush of emotions and excitement that comes with meeting the right person
We collide
Coming together in a new, powerful way that changes everything
I met you and I was pulled into the light
Becoming fully immersed in the joy and love that the other person brought
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NICHOLAS JOHN CURRIE, NICK CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.