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.
The Building Song
Momus Lyrics
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Where the people work all day I will meet you
Out across the river in the park at midday
In the park at midday I'll be there
And it'll be like TV when they set the guy free
And he sees how things are for the first time
And if you find you're like me, trying so hard to see
You're in a misty state of mind, those sunny days so far behind
Those sunny days, so hard to find, so far away
But when you start to ease away the pain from your sad and weary brain
Your city life seems much more sane, like a bright sun ray
And it'll be like TV when they set the guy free
And he sees how things are for the first time
And if you find you're like me, trying so hard to see
You must only believe it's all there
The Building Song by Momus is a song that talks about a city life, and it is about meeting someone by the building where people work all day, in the park at midday. The first verse talks about where the singer will meet the other person. He acknowledges that it is where people work all day, which gives the impression that the city is a place of hard work and hustle. The second verse paints the picture of how when we are trying hard to find something that we can't see, we only need to believe that it's there, and it'll be like TV when they set the guy free he now sees how things truly are for the first time. The following verse talks about how a city life can be hectic, and people can be lost in a mist of confusion. However, when we start to ease away the pain from our tired brain, city life becomes more bearable - like a bright sun ray.
The overall theme of the song is that the city is a busy, often overwhelming place. Still, the people can find hope and solace in simple things, like meeting someone in the park at midday. The song embraces a sentiment of disillusionment, acknowledging that life can be hard, but still holding out hope that things will get better. The song's lyrics remind us that sometimes we need to take a step back and try to find the light in the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Over by the building where the people work all day
I'll meet you at the building where people work, all day
Where the people work all day I will meet you
I'll meet you at the place where people work all day
Out across the river in the park at midday
We'll meet at the park located across the river at noon
In the park at midday I'll be there
I'll be at the park at noon
And it'll be like TV when they set the guy free
It will feel like a scene from TV when someone is finally free
And he sees how things are for the first time
And he experiences a new perception of everything around for the first time
And if you find you're like me, trying so hard to see
If you're like me, struggling to see beyond the world's facade
You must only believe it's all there
You need to believe that everything you seek is right there
You're in a misty state of mind, those sunny days so far behind
You are in a state of confusion, with sunny days of the past seemingly distant
Those sunny days, so hard to find, so far away
Those joyful days are lost, and it's hard to find them again
But when you start to ease away the pain from your sad and weary brain
But once you start healing your pained and tired mind
Your city life seems much more sane, like a bright sun ray
Your urban life appears more rational, like a ray of sun in dark clouds
And it'll be like TV when they set the guy free
It's how it will feel like in a movie when someone is finally free
And he sees how things are for the first time
And he perceives reality for the first time without any filter
And if you find you're like me, trying so hard to see
And if you also struggle to see what's real
You must only believe it's all there
You must make yourself believe that everything you search for is present right there
Contributed by Jackson W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.