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/
motel
Moriarty Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
he said twenty miles from the airport is the promised land
a night in detroit he perfumed my ear
come into my spot no reason to fear
I'm inside the postcard and soon I can smell
The spell of the Motel
The lying man was standing deep in the shade
singing a sweet serenade
hell's angels parade
we were surrounded by graveyards and american flags
it was the end of the day
we walked to the room and started to pray
So hungry I went out to find a sushi
the avenue was vast - a desert
nothing but a pale girl staring at me
I'd rather meet a pervert or a human sushi
she asked me for a nickel
I ask her for a piece
misunderstanding
no reason for a battle
I went back to the motel
the only light i could see
I needed a bath and bubbles around me
I vanished into the water and gently smiled
I sniffed my baby's pants and lied on her sidewalk's
Tomorrow we'll be in Mexico
The lyrics of "Motel" by Moriarty paint a vivid picture of a strange, otherworldly experience. The singer begins with a long-distance call with a "lying man" who promises a paradise twenty miles from the airport. Upon arrival, the singer finds themselves in a motel, where they can smell the spell woven by the place. They meet the lying man, who sings sweetly of the past, specifically the 1960s and the Hell's Angels. They are surrounded by graveyards and American flags, which sets a somber tone, as if the motel is a place of death and forgotten memories.
The singer goes out to look for sushi, but instead finds a "pale girl staring" at them. This sets an eerie and uncomfortable feeling. They return to the motel and take a bath while smelling their baby's pants, possibly indicating a longing for familial connections or a desire to regress into childhood. The song ends by stating that they will be in Mexico tomorrow, implying a sense of longing for escape and change.
Overall, this song is a beautifully haunting depiction of loneliness, longing, and a desperate search for something more. The setting of a forgotten, rundown motel adds to the feeling of desolation and sadness, while the lying man and pale girl add a subtly spooky element that leaves listeners feeling uneasy and on edge.
* The song "Motel" was released in 2007 as a part of Moriarty's debut album, "Gee Whiz But This Is A Lonesome Town."
* The band is French-American and composed of five members.
* Moriarty is named after the villain in Sherlock Holmes, Professor Moriarty.
* The band's music is a blend of Americana, folk, and blues.
* They are known for using unusual instruments, such as the saw, washboard, and kazoo in their music.
* Moriarty has won multiple awards, including the "Best Live Band" award at the Les Victoires de la Musique in 2009.
* The band has performed all over Europe and the United States.
* "Motel" has been covered by other artists, such as Marianne Dissard.
* The album "Gee Whiz But This Is A Lonesome Town" was produced by Ian Caple, who has worked with artists such as Kate Bush and Tindersticks.
* Moriarty's music has been featured in various movies and TV shows, such as "Breaking Bad" and "Crossing Lines."
Chords (as provided by Ultimate Guitar):
Verse:
Am (x02210), Fmaj7 (xx3210), Cmaj7 (x32000), G (320003)
Chorus:
Am, Fmaj7, Cmaj7, G
Line by Line Meaning
Long distance call with the lying man
Talking to a dishonest person on the phone who is far away
he said twenty miles from the airport is the promised land
The liar claimed that a location twenty miles from the airport is a desirable place
a night in detroit he perfumed my ear
The liar spoke sweetly to me in Detroit
come into my spot no reason to fear
The liar invited me to his place without any danger
I'm inside the postcard and soon I can smell
I feel like I am in a picturesque scene and can smell it
The spell of the Motel
The mysterious charm of the motel
The lying man was standing deep in the shade
The dishonest person was standing in a dark place
singing a sweet serenade
Singing a pleasant melody
he's back in the sixties
The liar is reminiscent of the 1960s
hell's angels parade
There was a procession of 'Hell's Angels' motorcycle club
we were surrounded by graveyards and american flags
The surroundings had graveyards and American flags
it was the end of the day
The day was ending
we walked to the room and started to pray
We went to our room and began to pray
So hungry I went out to find a sushi
Feeling famished, I went to find sushi
the avenue was vast - a desert
The street was empty and deserted
nothing but a pale girl staring at me
I saw only a pale girl looking at me
I'd rather meet a pervert or a human sushi
I'd prefer to encounter a pervert or a person who makes sushi
she asked me for a nickel
The girl requested a nickel from me
I ask her for a piece
I asked her for something in return
misunderstanding
There was a miscommunication
no reason for a battle
There was no cause for conflict
I went back to the motel
I returned to the motel
the only light i could see
The only source of illumination that I could see
I needed a bath and bubbles around me
I wanted to take a bath and have bubbles around me
I vanished into the water and gently smiled
I immersed myself in the water and smiled contentedly
I sniffed my baby's pants and lied on her sidewalk's
I smelled my child's leftover clothes and rested on her walkway
Tomorrow we'll be in Mexico
The plans were to travel to Mexico the next day
Contributed by Sadie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Julianne Pinheiro
Caraca, fino!
Richard Soulier
merci pour cette magnifique reprise de TOM WAITS, gun street girl, ça fait plaisir
clarkw
dope
Claudia Yannucci
rosemarys voice is so perfect ugh
Juan Felipe Holguin Vargas
UFFF!!!!! como pa' ir la roca jaja
Claudia Yannucci
gosososshsh her