Róisín Murphy (pronounced roe-sheen… Read Full Bio ↴Arklow, Wicklow, Republic of Ireland
Róisín Murphy (pronounced roe-sheen) gained fame with Mark Brydon as the lead vocalist for UK electronic duo Moloko.
In addition to her work with Moloko, Murphy has contributed her vocals to the works of other artists including Handsome Boy Modeling School and Boris Dlugosch, for whom she sang on the track, Never Enough, which became a huge club hit.
After three additional albums and a remix project with Brydon, Murphy recorded her first official solo material in 2004 with producer Matthew Herbert, who had previously done remixes for Moloko. She released her debut album, Ruby Blue, in June 2005 in the UK on Echo Records. "Ruby Blue" produced two singles "If We're In Love" and "Sow Into You"
She released her second album Overpowered, with 13 new songs on 15 October 2007. On 10 January 2008, Overpowered received a nomination for the Choice Music Prize in the Republic of Ireland; the award is given each year to an Irish artist who has proved to produce a critically acclaimed album. Also Overpowered ended at #30 on Metacritic Best of 2007 albums with a score of 82.
Her version of "Slave to Love" by Bryan Ferry is featured in the 2008 Gucci commercial starring actor James Franco. The single "Let Me Know" was produced by Groove Armada.
Overpowered produced four singles: "Overpowered," "Let Me Know," "You Know Me Better" and "Movie Star."
Rama Lama
Róisín Murphy Lyrics
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Be, be, be, be
Bang Bang
Could a body close the mind down
Stitch a seam across the eye
If you can be good you'll live forever
If you're bad, you'll die when you die
I'm the one and only sound
Unzip my body, take my heart out
Cause I need a beat to give this tune
Be, be, be, Be
Be, be, be, be
(Taking a picture of)
(Taking a picture of)
(Taking a picture of)
Bang Bang
Oh the body swayed to music
Oh the lightning glance
I would give it all, and all
Maybe you would give me less
For half a chance
Hearing only one root note
Planted firmly in the ground
Undo my heart unzip my body and
Lend to my ear a clear and a deafening sound
(Unzip my heart)
And if I need a rhythm
It'll be to my heart I listen
If it don't put me too far wrong
(And if I and if I)
And if I need a rhythm
It'll be to my heart I listen
If it don't put me too far wrong
Everybody smile, please
Nobody pay no mind to me
Finger in position on the switch
A little flash photography
Taking a picture of you
(To my heart)
Taking a picture of
Taking a picture of me
Taking a picture
Ramalama, bang bang
Flash bang
Big bang
Bing bong
Ding dong
Dom dom do dom dom
With a hammer bang bang
Flash bang
Press gang
Bing bong
Ding dong
Hum hum ho Hum Hum
With a system of a bang bang
Crash bang
Big bang
Boing boing
Boing boing
Dumb dumb do dumb dumb
With a system of a bang bang
(With a system of with a system of with a system of a big bang, Crash bang, Big bang, Big bang, Chash bang)
Bang bang
Crash bang
Big bang
Boing boing
Boing boing
Dumb dumb do dumb dumb
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
And if I and if I need a rhythm
(And if I need a rhythm)
Gonna be to my heart I listen
And if I and if I need a rhythm
(And if I and if I need a rhythm)
It's gonna be to my heart I listen
And if I and if I need a rhythm
(And if I and if I need a rhythm)
It's gonna be to my heart I listen
(Need a rhythm)
(Need a rhythm)
(And if I)
(And if I)
And if I and if I need a rhythm
Keep on, keep on
Keep on, keep on
The lyrics to Róisín Murphy's song "Rama Lama" are a whimsical and abstract meditation on the nature of sound, rhythm, and the body's relationship to both. The opening lines of "Be, be, be, be / Bang Bang" set the tone for the rest of the song, which playfully explores the connections between different sounds and rhythms, and the various ways in which they can be perceived and manipulated.
In the second verse, Murphy sings about the possibility of "closing the mind down" or "stitching a seam across the eye," suggesting that the body can be used as a means of accessing deeper truths or insights. She also hints at a dichotomy between good and bad, with the former leading to eternal life and the latter to mortal death.
Throughout the song, Murphy returns to the theme of using sound as a means of unlocking deeper realities or potentials within oneself. She encourages the listener to "unzip my body, take my heart out / Cause I need a beat to give this tune," emphasizing the intimate connection between the physical body and the rhythms of sound and music.
Line by Line Meaning
Could a body close the mind down
Is it possible for physical presence to entirely halt mental activity?
Stitch a seam across the eye
Close off one's ability to see or understand
If you can be good you'll live forever
If you live a morally correct life, your legacy will surpass your physical being
If you're bad, you'll die when you die
If you live a morally corrupt life, your legacy will not withstand the test of time
Hearing only one true note
Perceiving and accepting only one genuine aspect of life
I'm the one and only sound
I am shining through as the sole entity that truly matters
Unzip my body, take my heart out
Strip me down to my core self and heart
Cause I need a beat to give this tune
I require a solid foundation to build my creative expression upon
Oh the body swayed to music
The physical form moved to the melody
Oh the lightning glance
A rapid and sharp glance
I would give it all, and all
I would offer everything beyond one could comprehend
Maybe you would give me less
You may not reciprocate to the same degree
For half a chance
Under any given circumstance, there is still a possibility
Hearing only one root note
Perceiving and accepting only one fundamental aspect of life
Planted firmly in the ground
Rooted to the foundation of existence
Undo my heart unzip my body and
Strip me down to my core self and heart
Lend to my ear a clear and a deafening sound
Provide me with a loud and convincing signal
And if I need a rhythm, It'll be to my heart I listen
If I require inspiration, I'll look within myself
If it don't put me too far wrong
If it doesn't result in a significant detour from my path
Everybody smile, please
I ask everyone to display a pleasant face
Nobody pay no mind to me
I'd prefer others not to take notice of me
Finger in position on the switch
Ready to trigger the device
A little flash photography
A quick snapshot of life
Taking a picture of you
Capturing an image of someone else
Taking a picture of me
Capturing an image of myself
Ramalama, bang bang
Imitating percussive sounds
Flash bang
Sudden and blinding burst of light
Big bang
The beginning of the universe
Bing bong
Onomatopoeic imitation of a doorbell
Ding dong
Onomatopoeic imitation of a doorbell
Dom dom do dom dom
Imitating rhythmic sounds
With a hammer bang bang
Imitating percussive sounds
Press gang
A group of people brought together to accomplish a specific task
Hum hum ho Hum Hum
Imitating a humming sound
With a system of a bang bang
Imitating percussive sounds
Crash bang
Noisy collision
Boing boing
Onomatopoeic imitation of springing or bouncing
Dumb dumb do dumb dumb
Imitating rhythmic sounds
Keep on, keep on
Motivation to continue onward
Lyrics © THE ROYALTY NETWORK INC.
Written by: ROISIN MURPHY, MATTHEW HERBERT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind