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 Charm of Innocence
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On my back like a cross
Thorns upon my forehead
Round my neck I wore it
Sometimes a rabbit's claw
Sometimes an albatross
It began at a school that turned boys into gentlemen
I was forced to my knees in front of these gentlemen
If I refused they would torture me
On Sundays I'd stalk the Botanical Garden
And under my uniform something would harden
Whenever I passed a girl of my own age
Or did it begin with au pair girls from Germany
Paid by the hour to look after us?
Did it begin with that first opportunity
To corner a stranger with nakedness?
Maybe the clinical way they undressed me
Stayed with me and deeply distressed me
I think, at heart, I'm something of a prude
I was born with the charm of innocence
On my back like a cross
Thorns upon my forehead
Round my neck I wore it
Sometimes a rabbit's claw
Sometimes an albatross
Then at eighteen I decided I wanted
To be a commercial photographer
I rented a studio down by the docks
Which I shared with a friendly pornographer
I photographed models in fluorescent light
Whose veins were so blue and whose breasts were so white
I assumed, like the moon, women were blue cheese
When I left home I already had five years
Of self abuse under my belt
I found certain women who'd let me try anything
Just to find out how it felt
In some garish hotel room with vile decoration
The wallpaper witnessed my first pollination
The paisley patterns witnessed an abortion
I was born with the charm of innocence
On my back like a cross
Thorns upon my forehead
Round my neck I wore it
Sometimes a rabbit's claw
Sometimes an albatross
In the army they taught me to share the abuse
That I'd kept up 'til then to myself
There's nothing like killing
For coaxing a shy boy of twenty-one out of his shell
In the dark continent with a peace-keeping force
I fell in with a bunch of Algerian whores
And promised them I'd try and keep in touch
We met up again in the eighteenth arrondisement
I remember them well
Their lank stringy hair and their big bulbous noses
Their unmistakable smell
I'd approach all the ugliest, seediest jerks
And ask them to keep a young model in work
Some men, thank Christ, don't discriminate at all
I was born with the charm of innocence
On my back like a cross
Thorns upon my forehead
Round my neck I wore it
Sometimes a rabbit's claw
Sometimes an albatross
I will pass my old age by a pale two-bar fire
Patiently waiting to die
Twitching the lace as the schoolgirls go past
Tracing a page of Bataille
And if you catch sight of my secondhand coat
Leaving behind it a faint whiff of goat
Remember both of us are naked underneath
I thought it would end with the first obscene phone call
The second professional kill
But somehow detached from my actual behavior
This innocence burdens me still
Up in the attic I pick up the brush
Paint in the crow's feet, paint out the blush
The face this portrait is of is still capable of
The face this portrait is supposed to be of is still capable of
The face this portrait is of is still capable of (Paint out the blush of shame)
The face this portrait is supposed to be of is still capable of (Paint out the blush of shame)
The face this portrait is of is still capable of (Paint out the blush of shame)
The face this portrait is supposed to be of is still capable of (Paint out the blush of shame)
The face this portrait is of is still capable of (Paint out the blush of shame)
The face this portrait is supposed to be of is still capable of (Paint out the blush of shame)
(Paint out the blush of shame)
(Paint out the blush of shame)
(Paint out the blush of shame)
The Charm of Innocence by Momus is a haunting and deeply personal exploration of the effects of abuse on an individual's psyche. The lyrics describe the burden of innocence that the singer carries with him throughout his life, as a result of the traumatic experiences he endured in his formative years. He recounts being forced to his knees and subjected to torture by older boys when he was still a child. He also reflects on the au pair girls from Germany who were paid to look after him and his siblings, and the sexual experiences they exposed him to. The portrayal of his initiation into the adult world is one of discomfort and pain.
As he grows older, the singer becomes a commercial photographer, working out of a studio that he shares with a pornographer. He continues to explore his sexuality, experimenting with women who allow him to try anything he desires, no matter how depraved. This continues when he joins the army and travels to Africa, where he falls in with a group of Algerian prostitutes. Despite all of these experiences, however, the singer is burdened by his "innocence," a sense of shame and guilt that he carries with him throughout his life.
The singer's voice is weary and almost wistful, as though he cannot quite believe the life he has led. The repetition of the phrase "I was born with the charm of innocence," serves to underline the central theme of the song, the idea that the scars of abuse cannot be erased. The sense of burden and resignation that pervades the lyrics is almost overwhelming. Ultimately, the song is a powerful meditation on the nature of trauma and the human capacity for resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born with the charm of innocence
From birth, I possessed an inherent naivete and purity.
On my back like a cross
This quality was also an innate burden.
Thorns upon my forehead
Throughout my life, I struggled with the effects of this burden on my identity, causing me pain.
Round my neck I wore it
This burden was a constant reminder of my innocence.
Sometimes a rabbit's claw
At times, my innocence was a powerless and weak quality.
Sometimes an albatross
In some situations, my innocence weighed heavily on me and was detrimental.
It began at a school that turned boys into gentlemen
My loss of innocence began at a school that promised to cultivate respectable character.
Then turned them on to debauchery
However, the ordeals that followed, instead of building character, led to immoral behavior.
I was forced to my knees in front of these gentlemen
I was subjected to humiliating physical abuse at the hands of authority figures.
If I refused they would torture me
I was put in a situation where I had to submit to the abuse, or face even more severe consequences if I resisted.
On Sundays I'd stalk the Botanical Garden
As an escape from my daily life, I would wander the gardens on weekends.
And under my uniform something would harden
However, even in peaceful settings, my innocence left me grappling with sexual impulses.
Whenever I passed a girl of my own age
In particular, the sight of young girls my age stirred within me shameful desires.
Or did it begin with au pair girls from Germany
Perhaps my loss of innocence started with the hired foreign ladies who cared for me from a young age.
Paid by the hour to look after us?
These women were compensated for their child-rearing duties, but this was often their only means of financial support.
Did it begin with that first opportunity
Maybe it happened when I was first given a chance to explore sexual situations.
To corner a stranger with nakedness?
I found myself in situations where I was able to expose others, and even myself, to inappropriate sexual situations.
Maybe the clinical way they undressed me
The dehumanizing method by which I was stripped bare had a profound effect on me.
Stayed with me and deeply distressed me
The impact of this treatment traumatized me and left me with lasting emotional pain.
I think, at heart, I'm something of a prude
Despite my experiences, I have always had a fundamentally modest and conservative nature.
Then at eighteen I decided I wanted
As I became an adult, I chose a career path in photography.
To be a commercial photographer
I took up the trade for professional purposes.
I rented a studio down by the docks
I found a place to work near the waterfront.
Which I shared with a friendly pornographer
I shared this space with an amicable man in the porn industry.
I photographed models in fluorescent light
I took pictures of subjects in a sterile, artificial setting.
Whose veins were so blue and whose breasts were so white
The models had striking, vivid features that were highly contrasted in my shots.
I assumed, like the moon, women were blue cheese
My perspective on women was highly objectifying and reductive, likening them to a mere type of food.
When I left home I already had five years
From the time I left for my career, I had spent half a decade engaging in unhealthy practices.
Of self abuse under my belt
This period was characterized by indulging in harmful behaviors.
I found certain women who'd let me try anything
I actively sought out women who would allow me to act out my fantasies, no matter how transgressive.
Just to find out how it felt
I acted out of a profound sense of curiosity and lack of impulse control.
In some garish hotel room with vile decoration
Many of these encounters took place in unappealing, cheap accommodations.
The wallpaper witnessed my first pollination
One of these locations was the site of my first sexual experience.
The paisley patterns witnessed an abortion
I was also involved in an experience that led to a termination of pregnancy, and this occurred in another one of these depressing rooms.
In the army they taught me to share the abuse
When I enlisted, I was trained to inflict abuse onto others in the division.
That I'd kept up 'til then to myself
Before joining the military, I had kept these harmful tendencies to myself.
There's nothing like killing
In particular, the act of taking another human's life opened me up to new levels of brutality.
For coaxing a shy boy of twenty-one out of his shell
This kind of violence allowed me to indulge my suppressed aggressive tendencies and brought out a more extroverted side of me.
In the dark continent with a peace-keeping force
As part of my duty, I was deployed to a location in Africa where conflict had broken out.
I fell in with a bunch of Algerian whores
While there, I met with women who offered themselves up for sexual encounters.
And promised them I'd try and keep in touch
Even though our interactions were brief, I committed to keeping some kind of contact with these women after leaving Africa.
We met up again in the eighteenth arrondisement
In Paris, after our initial meeting in Africa, I reconnected with these women.
I remember them well
These women have a notable, lasting impact on my memory and thoughts.
Their lank stringy hair and their big bulbous noses
These women had distinct physical appearances that stood out to me.
Their unmistakable smell
Their unique aroma was particularly memorable and evocative.
I'd approach all the ugliest, seediest jerks
To help these women continue to work, I reached out to the lowest, most depraved people I could find.
And ask them to keep a young model in work
I did this to keep the flow of work coming for these women who I felt needed it.
Some men, thank Christ, don't discriminate at all
I looked to men who were willing to engage in the underhanded and illicit dealings I required to support these women.
I will pass my old age by a pale two-bar fire
As I age, I will be doing so in relative isolation and with very little to my name.
Patiently waiting to die
I am resigned to the fact that my days are numbered and I'm merely waiting for that end to come.
Twitching the lace as the schoolgirls go past
I am still a deeply sexual person, and even as I grow old, I am still tempted by young girls who cross my path.
Tracing a page of Bataille
At this point in my life, I find myself more interested in philosophical pursuits than anything else.
And if you catch sight of my secondhand coat
My appearance and outward possessions will give you a surface-level look into my status as a poor, aging man.
Leaving behind it a faint whiff of goat
My coat has taken on a distinct, less-than-pleasant smell.
Remember both of us are naked underneath
At our most basic level, we are all helpless and exposed to what life may throw at us.
I thought it would end with the first obscene phone call
I once thought that just experiencing sexual encounters would lead me past my guilt and shame.
The second professional kill
But this was not enough, and even after committing acts of violence, I still carry this burden with me.
But somehow detached from my actual behavior
This sense of innocence haunts me, despite the fact that I have fully participated in so many negative things in my life.
This innocence burdens me still
Even though I have made many choices in my life and have left behind any semblance of youthfulness or naivete, I still feel this weight on me.
Up in the attic I pick up the brush
Now, in the twilight of my life, I find myself in the position of an artist, trying to express my experiences through painting.
Paint in the crow's feet, paint out the blush
When painting portraits of people, I attempt to capture the uniqueness of their individuality.
The face this portrait is of is still capable of
Each portrait is a reflection of the subject's continued vibrance in spite of the trials and tribulations they have faced.
Paint out the blush of shame
My artistic goal is to render the person as they are, but leave behind the negative feelings that come with our life experiences.
Paint out the blush of shame
I hope to capture the essence of the person, while somehow downplaying any shame or guilt they may or may not feel about their past.
Paint out the blush of shame
In essence, I seek to create a more universally positive representation of humanity through my artwork.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NICHOLAS CURRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Aldo Charles
on Morality Is Vanity
I’ve been listening to this song last two weeks.