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.
Strewf!
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What is it to ya
If it′s better all the time?
And strewf!
And wouldn't it kill ya
If you smiled from time to time?
God′s truth!
Ow yer fink that mog's a crime!
Gor yoof!
They wasted it on ya
It′s a bliimmy waste of mind
Ya poof!
I wouldn′t be flegged to see you
Drubbling down the tribby line!
Aw poof!
I wouldn't be begged to see you
Scrubbing down from time to time
Strewf!
Who′d put it past a plastic person
Tugging on the larmey jacket?
Gor strewf!
Spilled all yer elly kippens darlin
Porrocked 'em over yer ciggy packet
Strewf!
Gor strewf!
Bless!
Yer in for an orrocking barney
Golluming up like Puss-in-the-Mud
Gor bless!
A gizzard-faced kippery cop
A scatterin scump′ry billery cod
Bless!
Look out for the krovvy huts
That fritter the wakes of the trives away
Gor bless!
Look out of the Pearly Pranner
Who walks the Harringay
Strewf!
Devil take the hinderstocking
The bottom balloonery brack in the man
Gor strewf!
Away with the lot of the yer
And never come totterham back
Strewf!
Who'd put it past a plastic person
Tugging on the larmey jacket
Spilled all yer elly kippens darlin
Porrocked ′em over yer ciggy packet
The lyrics to Momus’s song “Strewf!” are filled with unusual phrases and slang that may not be immediately clear to the listener. The opening lines explore the idea of betterment- “What is it to ya/If it's better all the time?”- and the suggestion that smiling could be beneficial- “And wouldn't it kill ya/If you smiled from time to time?” The next lines criticize someone, perhaps a young person- “God’s truth!/It’s ruddy peculiar/Ow yer fink that mog’s a crime!/Gor yoof! They wasted it on ya/It’s a bliimmy waste of mind”- for their odd or unintelligent behaviour, using slang like “ruddy,” “mog,” “ow,” and “bliimmy” to convey a sense of working-class London vernacular.
Line by Line Meaning
Strewf!
Expression of surprise or confusion
What is it to ya
Why does it matter to you
If it’s better all the time?
If things are constantly improving
And strewf!
Expression of surprise or confusion
And wouldn't it kill ya
Wouldn't it be beneficial for you
If you smiled from time to time?
If you showed some happiness occasionally
God's truth!
Expression of affirmation or agreement
It's ruddy peculiar
It's quite strange
Ow yer fink that mog's a crime!
Why do you think that's a bad thing
Gor yoof!
Expression of surprise or amazement
They wasted it on ya
They didn't use your potential or talents properly
It's a bliimmy waste of mind
It's a terrible waste of intellect
Ya poof!
Expression of insult or disdain
I wouldn’t be flegged to see you
I wouldn't be surprised to see you
Drubbling down the tribby line!
Drifting and wasting your life
Aw poof!
Expression of insult or disdain
I wouldn't be begged to see you
I wouldn't be pleased to see you
Scrubbing down from time to time
Cleaning up yourself or improving your behavior
Strewf!
Expression of surprise or confusion
Who’d put it past a plastic person
Who wouldn't expect an artificial or superficial person
Tugging on the larmey jacket?
Pulling on the alarm jacket
Gor strewf!
Expression of surprise or confusion
Spilled all yer elly kippens darlin
Lost all your valuable possessions, my dear
Porrocked 'em over yer ciggy packet
Damaged them over your cigarette packet
Bless!
Expression of encouragement or support
Yer in for an orrocking barney
You're in for a violent argument
Golluming up like Puss-in-the-Mud
Getting dirty like a cat in the mud
Gor bless!
Expression of encouragement or support
A gizzard-faced kippery cop
A dishonest or untrustworthy cop
A scatterin scump’ry billery cod
A homeless and dirty person
Bless!
Expression of encouragement or support
Look out for the krovvy huts
Be careful of the dangerous places
That fritter the wakes of the trives away
That waste the time and lives of the poor
Gor bless!
Expression of encouragement or support
Look out of the Pearly Pranner
Look at the shining and beautiful scenery
Who walks the Harringay
Who enjoys the pleasures of life
Strewf!
Expression of surprise or confusion
Devil take the hinderstocking
Damn the bad luck
The bottom balloonery brack in the man
The worst thing that can happen in life
Gor strewf!
Expression of surprise or confusion
Away with the lot of the yer
Get rid of everything that's bothering you
And never come totterham back
And never return to this bad place
Strewf!
Expression of surprise or confusion
Who'd put it past a plastic person
Who wouldn't expect an artificial or superficial person
Tugging on the larmey jacket
Pulling on the alarm jacket
Spilled all yer elly kippens darlin
Lost all your valuable possessions, my dear
Porrocked ′em over yer ciggy packet
Damaged them over your cigarette packet
Writer(s): Currie Nicholas John
Contributed by Riley A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.