Moving On

Album: La Petite Morte (2014)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The lead single from James' La Petite Morte album, this was inspired by the death of lead singer Tim Booth's mother in 2012 as well as the loss of his best friend, Gabrielle.
  • The video was animated by Ainslie Henderson, who uses something as simple as ball of yellow wool to great effect. The animator was inspired by a phone conversation with Booth, when the singer described his mother's death as a birth. The animator recalled: "Some days later this conversation echoes around my mind while I'm listening to 'Moving On' I walk past a typical Scottish woollen knitwear shop. My eyes flit over a ball of wool in the window while the word 'unwinding' is sung."
  • Asked by HMV.com where the album title came from, Tim Booth replied: "My mum had died, who was one of the people I was closest to in the world, and a close friend had died in a short space of time, so the lyrical theme is around death and rebirth. Although the record is very uplifting, but death is the defining theme."

    "We wanted a title that reflected that but didn't sound too depressing," he continued. "We went through everything from 'Die!' to 'Death!', none of them sounded very appetising. I think this title was my suggestion, just because it had the pun on sexuality (La Petite Mort is also a French euphemism for an orgasm), so it sounded a bit more fun and not so depressing."

Comments: 1

  • Jimmy from ScotlandSongs a work of art well done
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Julian Lennon

Julian LennonSongwriter Interviews

Julian tells the stories behind his hits "Valotte" and "Too Late for Goodbyes," and fills us in on his many non-musical pursuits. Also: what MTV meant to his career.

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Janet Jackson

Janet JacksonFact or Fiction

Was Janet secretly married at 18? Did she gain 60 pounds for a movie role that went to Mariah Carey? See what you know about Ms. Jackson.

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?

Which Restaurants Are Most Mentioned In Song Lyrics?Song Writing

Katy Perry mentions McDonald's, Beyoncé calls out Red Lobster, and Supertramp shouts out Taco Bell - we found the 10 restaurants most often mentioned in songs.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.