After a concert in 2005, the group was spotted by Jérôme Deschamps and Macha Makeïeff, who would later co-produced their first album with Naïve Records. At the same time, they won the Prix Paris Jeunes Talents.
The group was noticed during a concert at the Printemps de Bourges in 2006 and 2007. Jimmy, the first single from their first album Gee Whiz But This is A Lonesome Town (2007), was a success which allowed Moriarty to play at La Cigale. The album sold more than 50,000 copies in a few months and was certified gold a year after its release. The group went on a long tour that took them to Canada, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, and England.
In 2008, Moriarty performed at the Soliday festival, Eurockéennes de Belfort, Francofolies de La Rochelle, and Fête de l'Humanité.
The group takes its inspiration from traditional Celtic music, country, and blues.
The group plays around one microphone during their concerts.
En 2008, Moriarty was one of 10 artists nominated for the Constantin prize.
https://moriartyland.net/
Long Is the Night
Moriarty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long as the shame of the man
Who can′t manage to die long
Under the lamppost his naked eye swing
And his eye, blind with the breath of Gin
And the smell of a blond girl's wet flesh under his nails
Oh God, how long is the night
Must they drag the sky away
Let the earth not lead me on
Must they drag the sky away
And lay me long in stillness
Long in stillness for night
Oh how long is the night
Deliver me from this night
It happened on a Friday
My life ran on with fasting
The air oozed vapours of lemon
And the fishbone stuck into my craw
When out of the gutted fish I lifted
A ring which cast for at the time of my birth
Fell in river at night
Fell in river at night
Where it sank I threw it back to the night
Copy paste is a sin, always on the run is better
Must they drag the sky away
Let the earth not lead me on
Must they drag the sky away
And lay me long in stillness
Long in stillness for night
Oh how long is the night
Deliver me from this night
Moriarty's "Long Is the Night" delves into themes of shame, existential dread, and a profound longing for release from the burdens of life. The opening lines encapsulate the pervasive heaviness of the night, which serves as a metaphor for the inner turmoil experienced by the singer. The "shame of the man" alludes to a sense of failure or inadequacy, suggesting that the individual feels trapped in a cycle of despair. The imagery of a drunken man under a lamppost emphasizes his vulnerability and isolation, heightened by the sensory details like the "breath of Gin" and the raw, visceral mention of human intimacy gone awry. It highlights the physical evidence of past encounters lingering on him, which compounds his shame and sorrow, forcing the listener to ponder the weight of unfulfilled desires and regrets.
The repetition of the phrase "Must they drag the sky away" illustrates a yearning for liberation from the overwhelming darkness represented by the night. There is a deep desire for stillness and a respite from the chaos of existence, as the singer grapples with the metaphorical weight of the sky being too heavy to bear. This tension between yearning for peace and the unbearable burden of existence creates an emotional gravity that resonates throughout the song. The duality of wanting to escape and simultaneously mourning the life that must be surrendered is palpable, and it resonates with anyone who has faced their own midnight moments of despair. The plea to be "delivered" from this night underscores the singer's desperate search for solace amid a seemingly unending struggle.
As the narrative progresses, the lyrical content shifts to a more reflective state. The mention of "a Friday" and the elements of fasting and the pungent "vapours of lemon" ground the listener in a more tactile reality, bringing forth the mundane aspects of life that contrast sharply with the heavier emotional themes. The symbolism of a fishbone stuck in the throat signifies the discomfort that comes with facing harsh truths; it reflects a moment of painful realization where something unyielding prevents the singer from speaking or expressing his true feelings. In this context, the act of lifting a ring from the gutted fish evokes a sense of retrieving something vital from the depths of despair, suggesting that amid the chaos, there exists a reminder of life – perhaps even a token of fate intertwined with one’s beginnings.
The final lines echo the recurring themes of entrapment and the cyclical nature of despair, where the imagery of the ring sinking into the river at night further amplifies the unresolved questions of existence. Throwing the ring back into the night can be seen as an act of relinquishment or a futile attempt to reclaim something lost. The phrase "copy paste is a sin" reflects the struggle against monotony and the desire for authenticity in one's experiences, emphasizing that living in a perpetual state of flight – running away from one's circumstances – may be preferable to stagnation. The cyclical repetition of questioning the nature of the night reinforces the deeply existential undertones of the song, suggesting that the journey through darkness is both individual and universal, echoing a shared human longing for meaning and respite amid life’s oppressive shadows.
Line by Line Meaning
Long is the night
The duration of darkness feels endless and oppressive.
Long as the shame of the man
The guilt and regret burdening the man stretch on comparably to this eternal night.
Who can't manage to die long
He struggles with the desire for release from life, yet cannot find a way to escape it.
Under the lamppost his naked eye swing
Beneath the lonely streetlight, his unguarded gaze sways, revealing vulnerability.
And his eye, blind with the breath of Gin
He is intoxicated to the point of being oblivious, his vision clouded by alcohol.
And the smell of a blond girl's wet flesh under his nails
Memories of fleeting encounters linger palpably, adding to his despair and longing.
Oh God, how long is the night
In deep anguish, he calls out for divine intervention, emphasizing his feeling of entrapment.
Must they drag the sky away
He questions whether his struggles will lead to the loss of hope and the beauty of the world.
Let the earth not lead me on
He wishes not to be misled by earthly desires and false promises.
Must they drag the sky away
He repeatedly wonders about the futility of existence in a world devoid of meaning.
And lay me long in stillness
He yearns for a quiet, eternal rest from the turmoil of life.
Long in stillness for night
He craves an extended period of tranquility, away from the chaos of his reality.
Oh how long is the night
His lamentation for the relentless passage of time in this dark period continues.
Deliver me from this night
He seeks liberation and solace from his current state of suffering.
It happened on a Friday
The onset of his burdensome experience is distinctly marked by a specific day.
My life ran on with fasting
His existence deteriorates, characterized by deprivation and longing.
The air oozed vapours of lemon
The atmosphere around him is filled with vivid, yet bittersweet memories.
And the fishbone stuck into my craw
An unresolved issue or painful memory is lodged deep within him, causing distress.
When out of the gutted fish I lifted
From a place of emptiness and loss, he discovers a significant relic of his past.
A ring which cast for at the time of my birth
He finds an emblem of fate, linked to the moment of his entry into life.
Fell in river at night
This emblem was lost, symbolizing forgotten hopes, drowned in obscurity.
Fell in river at night
The ring's descent into darkness reflects his own descent into despair.
Where it sank I threw it back to the night
In surrender, he releases this reminder of his past back into the depths of obscurity.
Copy paste is a sin, always on the run is better
He reflects on the need for authenticity and originality in life, even while evading pain.
Must they drag the sky away
His lament repeats, revealing his relentless struggle against existential despair.
Let the earth not lead me on
He resolves to not be deceived by the superficial allure of worldly attachments.
Must they drag the sky away
His tormented mind grapples with doubt, uncertain about truths and the limits of life.
And lay me long in stillness
His desire for peace swells, longing for an end to his inner strife.
Long in stillness for night
The pursuit of serene silence amidst the chaos of night becomes all-consuming.
Oh how long is the night
He reiterates his anguish, the torment of waiting seemingly never-ending.
Deliver me from this night
In desperation, he pleads for liberation from the suffering that blankets his existence.
Writer(s): Rosemary Standley, Arthur Gillette, Thomas Puechavy, Stephan Zimmerli, Charles Carmignac, Vincent Talpaert, Ingeborg Bachman
Contributed by Luke C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@s7ven48
Beautiful and strong voice.
@feliperomanza5080
Im Love
@feliperomanza5080
♡♡♡♡♡
@leaonascimento
Muito bom!
@Eris123451
Well that was really pretty crap, pretentious crap; but crap nonetheless.