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 Lady of Shalott
Momus Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Behind a drawbridge, portcullis and a moat
I glide like a ghost in my boat
The white swan nobody can own
Why do they all try to kiss me?
Why do you try to release me?
Inside
If I gave you the key to my chastity belt
You could totally destroy my pride
I would turn to sugar, crumble
I would gaze and sigh and mumble
Like an idiot with a head full of flowers
You could undermine my pride
Do whatever you liked
We'd live the Duc De Berry's
'Very Rich Hours'
Then you would penetrate me
(From white night to first light)
From white night to first light
You can see why I have to hide
I'd only get hurt
You'd treat me like dirt
The moment I let you inside
I'll be your best, the best you never had
Your unicorn, your butterfly
Your falcon, your lad
I am a kind of Lady of Shallot
My drawbridge, portcullis and moat
The chastity belt round my throat
I am a kind of Lady of Shalott
The song "The Lady of Shalott" by Momus is a modern retelling of Alfred Lord Tennyson's poem by the same name. The singer identifies with the Lady of Shalott, a cursed figure who is confined to a tower and forbidden from looking outside. The Lady of Shalott in this song is identified as guarded and protected, constantly looking over her shoulder and hiding behind her defenses. She is also seen as a passive figure, waiting for someone to break down her barriers and penetrate her.
The lyrics suggest that the Lady of Shalott harbors a strong desire to connect with someone, but she is afraid of being vulnerable and exposed. She fears that if she were to let her guard down, she would "crumble" and be "undermined" by whoever penetrated her defenses. She is also skeptical of the motives of others who try to kiss her and release her from her isolation.
The Lady of Shalott represents a timeless archetype of the woman who longs for connection but is held back by societal expectations and fears of vulnerability. The song's message is that it is essential to overcome one's barriers to truly connect with others and experience intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Am a kind of Lady of Shalott
I am like the Lady of Shalott
Behind a drawbridge, portcullis and a moat
I am guarded from the outside world
I glide like a ghost in my boat
I move silently and unseen
The white swan nobody can own
I am free like the white swan
Why do they all try to kiss me?
Why do they all try to get close to me?
Why do you try to release me?
Why do you try to break down my defenses?
If I lowered my defenses you would know how I feel
If I let you in, you would understand me better
Inside
My true self
If I gave you the key to my chastity belt
If I allowed myself to be vulnerable
You could totally destroy my pride
You could hurt me deeply
I would turn to sugar, crumble
I would lose my strength and fall apart
I would gaze and sigh and mumble
I would be overwhelmed by my emotions
Like an idiot with a head full of flowers
I would be foolish in my love and dreams
You could undermine my pride
You could weaken me emotionally
Do whatever you liked
You would have control over me
We'd live the Duc De Berry's 'Very Rich Hours'
We would enjoy a life of luxury and pleasure
Then you would penetrate me
Then you would have me completely
(From white night to first light)
(From sunset to sunrise)
You can see why I have to hide
You can understand why I keep myself guarded
I'd only get hurt
I would be vulnerable to pain
You'd treat me like dirt
You would mistreat me
The moment I let you inside
The moment I allow you to get close
I'll be your best, the best you never had
I will give you all that I have
Your unicorn, your butterfly
Your ideal partner
Your falcon, your lad
Your loyal companion
I am a kind of Lady of Shalott
I am like the Lady of Shalott
My drawbridge, portcullis and moat
My defenses and barriers
The chastity belt round my throat
The control I have over my own vulnerability
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kyah Faria
derp why no comments I dig the absolute sh:-)t out of this song