They made one great album, Colossal Youth (1980), on Rough Trade, recorded very cheaply often using the first take. Extremely low-tech drum machine effects and home made synthesizers featured.
Alison Statton and Philip Moxham later worked as Weekend. Stuart Moxham formed The Gist. Statton also formed duos Alison Statton & Spike and Devine & Statton with ex-Ludus guitarist Ian Devine.
The original line-up reformed in 2007 (with Andrew Moxham on electronic drumkit) and have played occasional gigs since.
They disbanded in the summer 2016.
N.I.T.A.
Young Marble Giants Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Having a good time
But it still hurts ''cause you used to be mine
This doesn't mean that I possessed you
You're haunting me because I let you
Shape up your body "Let's be a tree"
Visual dynamics for you to see
Nature intended the abstract
For you and me
No rain outside but tears in my eyes
Out on the rooftop for a surprise
Call you at teatime
In off the street
Sit down at table, Mummy is neat
The opening lines "It's nice to hear you're having a good time, but it still hurts cause you used to be mine" from the song N.I.T.A. by Young Marble Giants, reveals a story of a past relationship. The singer seems to be talking to someone who was once their significant other and is now living a happy life outside of the singer's orbit. It is clear that this person has moved on, but the singer is still struggling to do the same. The lyrics hint at a sense of longing and pain for what once was.
The following lines "This doesn't mean that I possessed you, you're haunting me because I let you" suggest the idea that the singer feels haunted by this person because they allowed them to become such an important part of their life, perhaps to the point of dependence, but they couldn't keep them close. It is evident that the relationship amounted to something significant, but it didn't work out. The bridge "Shape up your body 'Let's be a tree', visual dynamics for you to see, nature intended the abstract, for you and me", is open to interpretation. It could be interpreted as perhaps how both people tried to grow together or sprout their relationship but ultimately fell short. The singer seems to suggest that the relationship was meant to be intricate and complicated in nature, similar to how nature is abstract and can often be hard to define.
Line by Line Meaning
It's nice to hear you're
I am glad to know that you are doing well
Having a good time
Enjoying your life and having fun
But it still hurts 'cause you used to be mine
But it still pains me to see you happy because you used to be with me
This doesn't mean that I possessed you
Just because we were together doesn't mean that I owned or controlled you
You're haunting me because I let you
You are still affecting me because I gave you the power to do so
Shape up your body 'Let's be a tree'
Let's stand tall and straight like a tree and have good posture
Visual dynamics for you to see
It's a sight to behold and appreciate
Nature intended the abstract
The natural world is full of unpredictable and mysterious things
For you and me
They are meant for everyone to experience
No rain outside but tears in my eyes
It's not raining outside, but I am crying
Out on the rooftop for a surprise
I am outside on the rooftop for a special, unexpected event
Call you at teatime
I will call you during the afternoon when we usually have tea
In off the street
I just came inside from being out on the street
Sit down at table, Mummy is neat
Let's sit down at the table, and everything is in order thanks to Mommy's efforts
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: STUART MOXHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind