On 5 January 2010, after finding out about the recent "leaking", Murphy commented on it saying, via FaceBook "I hear there has been a leak of 'Momma's Place'. Oh dear, I am all for the freedom of the internet, it’s just that the quality control is sometimes a little amiss… and I’m funny about stuff like that. The rip that is available is not up to scratch." She later uploaded the track onto her own MySpace and Facebook page, making its official premiere.
Momma's Place
Róisín Murphy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But that's just the arrogance of youth
I've been there and I've done it, baby
I'm tellin' you the truth
Your Momma was a tear away
I used to think I knew it all
Thought I could play the game and not get played, no
But then the fall.
Don't you go pull a fast one
I used to be an awful rascal
Do you think you invented being bad?
I used to be a real rough-hewn
But had to become a tough one
Do you think you invented being bad?
(repeat)
I bet you think I look respectable
You should've seen me in my prime
You'd have thought that I was headed for, oh yeah
I life of crime.
I bet you think that you're the clever one, clever one
The one that got away.
Well, I've seen them come and seen them go, oh yeah
But I have it made.
I'm as sweet as I can be
I've earned respectability.
Do you know I have a history?
You won't get to pull the wool over my eyes
Fool, if you think you'll make a fool of me
Nothing you do remotely new.
It all been done, when I was young
In younger days I went astray
You mighta say, it's all a haze
It's all been done, your brand new craze
It all begun at Momma's place
Don't you go pull a fast one
I used to be an awful rascal
Do you think you invented being bad?
I used to be a real rough-hewn
But had to become a tough one
Do you think you invented being bad?
(repeat)
Róisín Murphy's "Momma's Place" is a song that speaks about how the younger generation tends to think that they have invented all the rebellious things that they do, when in reality, those things have been done before by their parents or even grandparents. The song begins with Murphy telling the listener that they think they know everything, but this is just the arrogance of youth. She goes on to say that she has been there and done it all and that she is telling them the truth. Murphy's point is that the younger generation should not think that they have invented being rebellious or going against the norm, as this has been done before.
Murphy then continues to sing about her past, highlighting how her mother was a tearaway and she used to think she knew it all until she fell. This line shows that Murphy is not trying to lecture the younger generation, but instead, she is speaking from her own experience. She then tries to make the younger generation realize that they have not invented being bad or rebellious, and that everything they do has been done before. She reminds them that she used to be an awful rascal and that she had to become a tough one, implying that she too had to learn from her mistakes and become stronger.
The chorus repeats the same lines twice, emphasizing that the younger generation should not think that they have invented being bad, and that it has all been done before. Murphy then asserts that she may look respectable now, but if they had seen her in her prime, they would have thought that she was headed for a life of crime. This line is significant because it shows that just because someone looks respectable does not mean that they have not done things in the past. Murphy is trying to show the younger generation that appearances can be deceptive and that they should not believe everything they see.
Line by Line Meaning
So you think you know it all
You're young and you think you're wise, but you still have much to learn.
But that's just the arrogance of youth
Your confidence is just youthful arrogance.
I've been there and I've done it, baby
I've experienced what you're going through and can offer wise advice.
I'm tellin' you the truth
I'm not going to sugarcoat it, I'll tell you how it is.
Your Momma was a tear away
Your mother was wild and rebellious in her younger days.
I used to think I knew it all
When I was young, I too thought I had all the answers.
Thought I could play the game and not get played, no
I thought I could play the system and avoid getting hurt, but I was wrong.
But then the fall.
But then reality hit and I experienced failure and disappointment.
Don't you go pull a fast one
Don't try to deceive me or take advantage of me.
I used to be an awful rascal
I too used to be a troublemaker and rule-breaker.
Do you think you invented being bad?
Your misbehaving is nothing new or original.
I used to be a real rough-hewn
I used to be tough and streetwise.
But had to become a tough one
I had to develop a thick skin and be strong to survive.
I bet you think I look respectable
You probably see me as a respectable adult now.
You should've seen me in my prime
But if you saw me in my younger days, you'd be surprised by my behavior.
You'd have thought that I was headed for, oh yeah
I life of crime.
You would have thought I was destined for a criminal life.
I bet you think that you're the clever one, clever one
The one that got away.
You think you're smarter than me and can get away with anything.
Well, I've seen them come and seen them go, oh yeah
But I have it made.
I've seen many young people like you come and go, but I've made a successful life for myself.
I'm as sweet as I can be
I've earned respectability.
I'm now a respectable and kind person, but I had to work for it.
Do you know I have a history?
I have a past that you know nothing about.
You won't get to pull the wool over my eyes
Fool, if you think you'll make a fool of me
You won't be able to deceive me, so don't even try.
Nothing you do remotely new.
It all been done, when I was young
Your actions are not original, they've all been done before when I was your age.
In younger days I went astray
You mighta say, it's all a haze
When I was young, I went off the rails and it's all a bit of a blur now.
It's all been done, your brand new craze
It all begun at Momma's place
Your latest trend is nothing new, it all started at your mother's wild hangout spot.
Don't you go pull a fast one
Don't try to deceive me or take advantage of me.
I used to be an awful rascal
I too used to be a troublemaker and rule-breaker.
Do you think you invented being bad?
Your misbehaving is nothing new or original.
I used to be a real rough-hewn
I used to be tough and streetwise.
But had to become a tough one
I had to develop a thick skin and be strong to survive.
Do you think you invented being bad?
Your misbehaving is nothing new or original.
Contributed by Anthony N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.