Moriarty is a Franco-american music group founded in 1995. It is made up o… Read Full Bio ↴Moriarty is a Franco-american music group founded in 1995. It is made up of 5 artists of French, American, Swiss, and Vietnamese origins. The members of the group were mainly raised in France. The group named itself Moriarty in honor of Dean Moriarty, the hero of On the Road by Jack Kerouac. Previously, the groupe had three other members: the singer Charlène Dupuy, the drummer Médéric de Vanssay, and the saxophonist Davide Woods. Rosemary Standley, Arthur B. Gillette, Thomas Puéchavy, Charles Carmignac, and Stephan Zimmerli are the current group members. The group covers standards, sings the blues, and creates rock compositions.

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/

Private Lily
Moriarty Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My name is Lily
I'm 19 years old
No money to study,
No boyfriend,
I'm kind of bored
I went to the trade fair,
To find a job
There I found a few guys from the army

They told me that I was smart and pretty

I'm goin' to war I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war
She's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war

My name is Lily
They told me that I could make it
They'll pay for my studies,
So I will graduate
I went to the parking lot
To meet with my recruiters
I leave next week
Assigned out for four years
Six more months and I'll be ready
To drive machines and tow M16s

My name is Lily
I'm 19 years old
On my way to the black zones
Gonna do what I am told

I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war
She's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war
And she's too young

She's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Moriarty's song Private Lily tell the story of a 19-year-old girl named Lily who is bored and broke, with no boyfriend or opportunities to study. One day, she goes to a trade fair where she meets some guys from the army who tell her that she is smart and pretty and offer her the opportunity to go to war. Lily is initially hesitant, but they promise to pay for her studies so that she can graduate and provide her with four years of job experience.

Lily meets with her recruiters in the parking lot and is assigned to the army for four years. She is determined to make the most of her time there and wants to learn how to drive machines and tow M16s. As the song progresses, there is a sense of inevitability that Lily is heading toward a dangerous situation. The lyrics "On my way to the black zones, Gonna do what I am told" suggest that she is going to a warzone where she will have to follow rules and take orders.

The chorus repeats the line "I'm goin' to war", emphasizing the fact that Lily is leaving everything behind to seek adventure and fulfill her duties. The repetition of this line adds a haunting quality to the song, underscoring the harsh reality of war and the sacrifices that young soldiers like Lily make. Ultimately, there is a sense of sadness and irony in the song, as Lily is too young to understand the gravity of the situation she finds herself in and is forced to give up her future for a war she may not fully comprehend.

Line by Line Meaning

My name is Lily
Introducing herself to the audience

I'm 19 years old
Mentioning her age

No money to study,
Not enough money to afford education

No boyfriend,
Not in a relationship with anyone

I'm kind of bored
Feeling uninterested or uninspired

I went to the trade fair,
Visiting the fair for some purpose

To find a job
Searching for employment opportunities

There I found a few guys from the army
Meeting some army personnel at the fair

They told me that I was smart and pretty
Army personnel complimenting her for her intelligence and looks

I'm goin' to war I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war, I'm goin' to war
Excited and repetitive way of expressing her readiness to join the army

She's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war, she's goin' to war
Repeating her readiness to join the army

They'll pay for my studies,
Army offering to pay for her education

So I will graduate
Studying to complete graduation

I went to the parking lot
Going to the parking lot for some reason

To meet with my recruiters
Meeting with people who recruited her into the army

I leave next week
Leaving for the army next week

Assigned out for four years
Being assigned to work for the army for four years

Six more months and I'll be ready
Preparing for the duties assigned to her within six months

To drive machines and tow M16s
Being trained to operate machinery and use M16s

On my way to the black zones
Heading to the dangerous and hostile areas

Gonna do what I am told
Being obedient to the orders given by the superiors

And she's too young
Mentioning that Lily is too young to be sent to war