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  1. Tracks
  2. alt-J
  3. An Awesome Wave
  4. Ms
Ms by alt-J

TRACK

alt-J

Ms

Release date: 27th May 2012

From An Awesome Wave
Track 9
3:59
RockMusicAlternativeIndie Rock
Spotify Apple Music More on alt-J

About This Track

'Ms' moves through alt-J's debut with the band's characteristic strangeness intact: Lego guns, ladybirds, and vowels made to vow. The song builds from intimate whisper to something darker, its repetition of the word "darker" becoming almost incantatory, a descent rather than a climb. There's a fragility to it, a sense of something precious being held at arm's length, kept clean and separate. The lyrics work in images rather than narrative. A glass of water holds compressed youth; shadows burn like embers across tide paper. It's the kind of writing that resists easy paraphrase, preferring suggestion to statement. Close your eyes, open them, close again, and somewhere in that rhythm the song finds its emotional weight, the body spelling something the mind cannot quite read.

"Ms" is a track by alt-J, from the album An Awesome Wave, released 27th May 2012. The track is 3:59 long. It's filed under Rock. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 20 articles about alt-J.

About the Artist

alt-J

alt-J

Lyrics

Ms

We can't lose touch but we can let go
Blue and white gun made from Lego
All the vowels vow to hold your name
Keep your estate clean of me
I've pillowed you so many times this week
Close eyes, open, close again, forget to fall asleep

The dark seeks dark
The dark seeks dark
Darker
Darker

The nights of all my youth pressed into one glass of water
Scattered truths, bewildered beast, boohoos
We have our weight—ten thousand ladybirds
All the vowels vow to guard your name
Keep your estate clean, happy
Some things lie too deep for tears to well
Close eyes open, close again, feel as my body spells

Dark seeks dark
Dark seeks dark
Darker
Darker

The shadow burns across like embers, tide paper

Darker, darker, darker, darker
Darker, darker, darker, darker
Darker, darker, darker, darker
Darker, darker, darker, darker

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From An Awesome Wave

3:592012
Listen
Album
An Awesome Wave
An Awesome Wave
alt-J
28th May 2012
Track number
9
Release year
2012
  1. 1Intro
    2:38
  2. 2Interlude I (The Ripe & Ruin)
    1:12
  3. 3Tessellate
    3:03
  4. 4Breezeblocks
    3:47

More from alt-J

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The Dream (CARBS Remix Edition)
2023
The Dream (Deluxe)
The Dream (Deluxe)
2022
The Dream
The Dream
2022
Reduxer
Reduxer
2018
Relaxer
Relaxer
2017
Deadcrushed
2017

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More tracks by alt-J

  1. BaneThe Dream (CARBS Remix Edition)
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  4. DeltaThe Dream (CARBS Remix Edition)
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  5. DeltaThe Dream (Deluxe)
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  6. Get BetterThe Dream (CARBS Remix Edition)
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  7. Happier When You're GoneThe Dream (CARBS Remix Edition)
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  8. Happier When You're GoneThe Dream (Deluxe)
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  9. Hard Drive GoldThe Dream (CARBS Remix Edition)
    2:38
  10. Losing My MindThe Dream (CARBS Remix Edition)
    4:42

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  • 5Interlude II (Guitar)
    1:17
  • 6Something Good
    3:38
  • 7Dissolve Me
    3:59
  • 8Matilda
    3:49
  • 9Ms
    3:59
  • 10Fitzpleasure
    3:39
  • 11Interlude III (Piano)
    0:54
  • 12Bloodflood
    4:09
  • 13Taro
    5:15
  • 14Hand-Made
    2:37
  • —❦ (Ripe & Ruin)
  • —❦ (Piano)
  • —❦ (Guitar)
  • —Fitzpleasure
    3:39

    • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Gus Unger-Hamilton, Gwilym Sainsbury, Joe Newman, Thom Sonny Green
    Producer
    Charlie Andrew, Mark Bishop
    Drums
    Thom Sonny Green
    Guitar
    Gwilym Sainsbury, Joe Newman
    Keyboards
    Gus Unger-Hamilton
    Vocals
    Gus Unger-Hamilton
    Bass Guitar
    Gwilym Sainsbury
    Lead Vocals
    Joe Newman
    Mastering Engineer
    Dick Beetham
    Mixing Engineer
    Charlie Andrew
    Strings Arranger
    Kirsty Mangan
    READ MORE ABOUT ALT-JREAD MORE ABOUT ALT-JREAD MORE ABOUT ALT-JREAD MORE ABOUT ALT-J
    READ MORE ABOUT ALT-JREAD MORE ABOUT ALT-JREAD MORE ABOUT ALT-JREAD MORE ABOUT ALT-J
    Alt-J have announced a seaside tour this September
    News

    Alt-J have announced a seaside tour this September

    Let's hope summer holds out, eh?

    30 May 2017 • 8:10 am
    Alt-J have dropped another new track, 'Adeline'
    News

    Alt-J have dropped another new track, 'Adeline'

    It's taken from the band’s new full-length 'Relaxer'.

    24 May 2017 • 3:33 pm
    Alt-J bring the grooves to US telly with ‘In Cold Blood’
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    Alt-J bring the grooves to US telly with ‘In Cold Blood’

    Backed by The Roots’ Questlove, it’s a captivating take that has us right ready for new album 'Relaxer'

    20 Apr 2017 • 12:32 am
    Alt-J share video for '3WW'
    News

    Alt-J share video for '3WW'

    It's black and white so you know it's srs stuff.

    13 Apr 2017 • 11:17 am
    alt-J have dropped another new track, 'In Cold Blood'
    News

    alt-J have dropped another new track, 'In Cold Blood'

    It's the second track to be taken from 'Relaxer'.

    29 Mar 2017 • 6:02 pm
    Alt-J to release first live album, film and... erm... necklace?
    News

    Alt-J to release first live album, film and... erm... necklace?

    Check out a live version of 'Left Hand Free' and start planning your accessories.

    18 May 2016 • 1:27 pm