Drawing comparisons with the Human League, Wire, the Buzzcocks and early Adam and the Ants, the Moths! made poetic indie, new wave, post-punk pop with the emphasis on clever lyrics and instantly memorable guitar riffs.
Their first single ‘Games’ was released as a triple A-side (with ‘Wild Birds’ and ‘Valentine‘) by cult indie label Club Fandango. It was hailed by ARTROCKER and received critical acclaim from NME, as well as gaining extensive radio support from Radio One (Zane Lowe) and XFM. It was also named single of the week by Steve Lamacq and the band were invited to record live sessions with John Kennedy (XFM) and Marc Riley (BBC 6 music)
The Moths! spent most of 2007 touring the UK, supporting bands including Foals, Good Shoes and the 1990s, recording new demos and turning themselves into one of the most exciting live bands in the country.
After never having the opportunity to release an album due to splitting up, the Dead Moths (a change of name because of an 80's rock/pop band called the Moths disputing it) are here to put that right by releasing these excellent and otherwise wasted songs.
Valentine
The Dead Moths Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It isn't everyday that someone unbuckles my belt
and whispers in my ears four letter words
Says the filthiest things I think I've ever heard
I haven't come prepared there aren't many moments like this
She doesn't seem to care so we'll probably end up with kids
But I could spend my life with her and she feels the same
Least that's what she's screaming over and over again
Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life
Oh valentine, oh valentine
Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life
Oh valentine, oh valentine
We'll move back to the countryside mistake the abattoir machines
For ordinary tractor sounds and live a life of artifice
and you can read me Oscar Wilde and I can read your horoscope
I'll write lines to break your heart every other week or so
'Cause what we've got they can never take away from us
Not in a million years
Even when the initial flames of love have gone
Our souls are fingertip to fingertip
Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life
Oh valentine, oh valentine
Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life
Oh valentine, oh valentine
Valentine
Valentine
Been waiting a long time
For someone like you
Maybe we'll settle down
In a quiet little seaside town
An electric fire
A broken black and white tv
The giro's in tomorrow's post
and what we can't afford we'll steal
and when we have children
They'll be just like us
They'll be curious
and with any luck look just like you
I'll take the photographs
'Cause when they're old enough they'll ask
what was it like in the day
When it was possible to fall in love?
Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life
Oh valentine, oh valentine
Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life
Oh valentine, oh valentine
Valentine
The lyrics of The Dead Moths's song "Valentine" explore themes of love, passion, and the idea of finding someone who can save and change one's life. The song begins by addressing the singer's "dearest valentine" and confessing that this person has unlocked a side of them that is not often seen. The lines "It isn't everyday that someone unbuckles my belt and whispers in my ears four letter words" suggest a sense of vulnerability and intimacy between the singer and their valentine. The valentine is described as saying "the filthiest things," indicating a deep level of trust and comfort where personal desires and fantasies can be openly expressed.
The lyrics also express the idea that the singer feels unprepared for this intense connection but doesn't seem to mind. There is a hint that their relationship may lead to starting a family, despite any lack of planning. The line "But I could spend my life with her and she feels the same" suggests a strong emotional bond and a shared desire for a long-term commitment.
The chorus of the song reflects on the impact that the valentine has had on the singer's life. The repeated phrase "Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life" conveys a sense of gratitude and the belief that this person has brought newfound meaning and purpose. It implies that they have rescued the singer from a mundane or unfulfilling existence.
Moving on, the lyrics paint a picture of a different lifestyle the singer envisions with their valentine. They talk about living in the countryside, mistaking the sounds of abattoir machines for ordinary tractor sounds, and embracing a life of artifice. This imagery suggests a desire to escape from the realities of the world and create their own romantic and imaginative world together.
The lyrics also suggest a shared intellectual and literary bond between the singer and their valentine. They mention reading Oscar Wilde and reading horoscopes together. The singer even suggests a commitment to writing poetry or heartfelt lines to break their loved one's heart, indicating a willingness to both challenge and deeply connect with each other emotionally.
The song concludes with a vision of a simple and content life together. The idea of settling down in a quiet seaside town, relying on stolen items and the government benefit ("giro") to make ends meet, emphasizes the importance of the relationship and the willingness to make do with what they have. The birth of children is mentioned, with a hope that they inherit their parents' curiosity, resemblance, and ability to ask about the past and the love that was possible "in the day."
Overall, the lyrics of "Valentine" reflect a deep and intense connection between two individuals, emphasizing their mutual impact on each other's lives. It portrays the idea of love as transformative and highlights the importance of finding someone who can bring meaning and purpose into one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
My dearest valentine there's something I must confess
My beloved Valentine, there is something I need to reveal
It isn't everyday that someone unbuckles my belt
It is not a common occurrence for someone to undress me
and whispers in my ears four letter words
and softly speaks explicit language in my ear
Says the filthiest things I think I've ever heard
Expresses the most vulgar statements I have ever encountered
I haven't come prepared there aren't many moments like this
I am not fully ready as such occasions are rare
She doesn't seem to care so we'll probably end up with kids
She seems unconcerned, so it is likely that we will have children
But I could spend my life with her and she feels the same
Nevertheless, I am willing to spend my entire life with her, and she reciprocates
Least that's what she's screaming over and over again
At least, that is what she is repeatedly shouting
Oh valentine I think you might have saved my life
Oh Valentine, I believe you may have rescued me from despair
We'll move back to the countryside mistake the abattoir machines
We will relocate to rural areas and mistakenly associate slaughterhouse machinery with ordinary tractor sounds
For ordinary tractor sounds and live a life of artifice
Mistaking typical tractor noises and embracing a life of deceit
and you can read me Oscar Wilde and I can read your horoscope
You can recite Oscar Wilde's works to me while I interpret your astrological predictions
I'll write lines to break your heart every other week or so
I will compose verses that will deeply sadden you approximately every two weeks
'Cause what we've got they can never take away from us
Because what we possess cannot be stolen from us by anyone
Not in a million years
Not even in the span of a million years
Even when the initial flames of love have gone
Even after the initial passion of love has faded
Our souls are fingertip to fingertip
Our souls remain connected, as if touching fingertips
Been waiting a long time
I have been waiting for a significant duration
For someone like you
For someone similar to you
Maybe we'll settle down
Perhaps we will establish a stable life
In a quiet little seaside town
In a peaceful coastal community
An electric fire
An electric heater
A broken black and white tv
A dysfunctional black and white television
The giro's in tomorrow's post
The unemployment benefit will arrive in tomorrow's mail
and what we can't afford we'll steal
And whatever we cannot afford, we will take unlawfully
and when we have children
And when we have offspring
They'll be just like us
They will resemble us
They'll be curious
They will possess a sense of curiosity
and with any luck look just like you
And, if fortunate, they will resemble you
I'll take the photographs
I will capture the moments through photography
'Cause when they're old enough they'll ask
Because when they mature, they will inquire
what was it like in the day
what it was like during that era
When it was possible to fall in love?
When falling in love was a feasible possibility?
Valentine
Valentine
Lyrics © Global Talent Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES FOX, DAVID RYAN LIGHTFOOT, JONATHAN VICK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind