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.
Palm Deathtop
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the list of dead friends on my Palm increases
Though I don't believe in the permanent soul
I can't help asking, "But where do they go?"
And the love I invest
In my lovers deceased
Drains my love for those who exist
At an actual and earthly address
I update the database
Daily from my laptop
Using new vaporware:
Palm Deathtop
I'm starting to wish I could see my old friends again
At the glamorous party to which they've departed
Well, what do you know? I'm apparently invited
Look there, your name is also on the list
Sooner or later, we'll all be there I guess
All already no longer exist
Together with our friends again
Let's update the database
Daily from our laptops
Using new vaporware:
Palm Deathtop
In the song Palm Deathtop by Momus, the lyrics delve into the concept of mortality in the modern age of technology. The singer expresses their growing recognition of the reality of death as they add the names of their deceased friends onto their digital device, a Palm Deathtop. The singer acknowledges their lack of belief in a permanent soul but still finds themselves questioning where their loved ones go after death. The singer also acknowledges that their investment in the memory of their deceased lovers drains their love for those who are still alive and present in their physical lives.
The chorus of the song highlights the theme of technology supplementing traditional methods of dealing with loss. The singer updates the database on their Palm Deathtop daily using new software in order to keep track of their deceased friends. This device allows them to cope with the weight of their loss and the reminder of mortality in a digital and efficient way.
As the song progresses, the singer expresses a desire to reconnect with their deceased friends at a glamorous party which they are apparently invited to. The final lines in the song suggest that death and the loss of life is inevitable as we will all eventually no longer exist but that maybe in some way, we will all be reunited with our loved ones in the afterlife.
Line by Line Meaning
The house of the dead becomes more and more real to me
I am becoming increasingly aware of death and the fact that people I know are dying.
As the list of dead friends on my Palm increases
The number of friends who have passed away, which I keep track of on my electronic device, is growing.
Though I don't believe in the permanent soul
I do not believe in the idea of an eternal and unchanging essence of a person after they die.
I can't help asking, "But where do they go?"
Despite my disbelief, I still wonder about what happens to people after they pass away.
And the love I invest
The affection and esteem I hold for others
In my lovers deceased
In the ones who I have loved who have died
Drains my love for those who exist
My preoccupation with the departed has been causing me to neglect and lose affection for the people who are still alive and present in my life.
At an actual and earthly address
Who reside in this world and have a physical location where they can be reached.
I update the database
I add information to my list
Daily from my laptop
Every day, using my computer
Using new vaporware:
Through the use of new and untested software
Palm Deathtop
The name of the specific electronic device or program I am using to keep track of the dead.
I'm starting to wish I could see my old friends again
I am beginning to desire the opportunity to see and speak with my deceased friends once more.
At the glamorous party to which they've departed
At the extravagant and exclusive event where they have gone to after death.
Well, what do you know? I'm apparently invited
Surprisingly, it seems that I have also been invited to this imagined party in the afterlife.
Look there, your name is also on the list
I have found that you have also been included in the guest list for this imaginary event.
Sooner or later, we'll all be there I guess
Eventually, it seems that everyone will end up attending this event in the afterlife.
All already no longer exist
Despite this invitation, the fact remains that everyone on the guest list is already dead.
Together with our friends again
Reunited with our deceased friends at this imagined event.
Let's update the database
We should add more entries to our list
Daily from our laptops
Every day, from our computers
Using new vaporware:
Using this new and untested software.
Palm Deathtop
The specific electronic device or program we are using to keep track of the dead.
Contributed by Caden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.