Allegedly, Costello wrote the song while sitting on the fire escape of the Newcastle Hotel during his 1977 tour.
In his 2015 autobiography Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink, Costello acknowledged that the song owed an inspiration to Bob Dylan:
"“Pump It Up” obviously took more than a little bit from “Subterranean Homesick Blues”. One night, many years later, Bob Dylan said to me: ‘U2! How could they do that to you? How could they take your song like that?’ It took me a moment to know what he was talking about, and a moment more to realise that he was putting me on. But then, U2’s “Get On Your Boots” was probably to “Pump It Up” what “Subterranean Homesick Blues” is to Chuck Berry’s “Too Much Monkey Business”."
In 2021 some controversy was swirled up, linking the song to plagiarism. In a tweet from Billy Edwards, Olivia Rodrigo was called out for plagiarism on her track “Brutal”, the opening to her debut album Sour.
Edwards tweeted:
"First song on the album is a pretty much direct lift from Elvis Costello."
Edwards was referring to Elvis Costello’s song “Pump It Up” and the similarities of the opening riff found on “Brutal.” However, Costello dismissed the claims at plagiarism through Twitter, saying “That’s how rock and roll works.”
Pump It Up
Elvis Costello & The Attractions Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Escuchando música, alucinando con tu boca
Ella dice, eso es, bájalo un poquito más
Ya no quiere más hablar, es mejor olvidarlo
(Pump it up) When you don't really need it
(Pump it up) Until you can feel it
El cielo y el infierno ves
Se pone el mundo al revés
Mentiras en mis ojos ves
No hay un misterio que no pueda resolver
(Pump it up) When you don't really need it
(Pump it up) Until you can feel it
!Hey!
Aroma de tabaco, condimento químico
Tratas de decirle stop, ¿eres un narcótico?
Te hace alucinar, reir y volar
Todo los puedes perder, cuando esto empiece a arder
(Pump it up) Until you can feel it
(Pump it up) When you don't really need it
Ella tiene su show
Pero su energia en low
Ella pone la pasión
Yo le doy corazón
No hay sumisión
Vengo a relajarme
Tentación sin remordiendo
(Pump it up) When you don't really need it
(Pump it up) Until you can feel it
(Pump it up) Until you can feel it
(Pump it up) When you don't really need it
(Pump it up) When you don't really need it
(Pump it up) Until you can feel it
Don't really need it
No quiero que te olvides
Don't really need it
No quiero que te olvides
Don't really need it
No quiero que te olvides
These lyrics are the Spanish translation of Elvis Costello's classic song "Pump It Up." The lyrics convey a message of indulgence, pleasure seeking, and addiction. The singer talks about being "hung on a clothes hook" and listening to music as they become entranced by someone's mouth. The person they are with tells them to turn the music down, but they want to keep experiencing the pleasure of the moment. They describe a world where pleasure is everything, and lying is pervasive, but they can solve any mystery.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Pump it up," which can be interpreted in different ways. It could be a command to turn up the music, to increase the intensity of the experience, or it could refer to the use of drugs to enhance pleasure. Additionally, the phrase "When you don't really need it, until you can feel it" suggests that the singer is seeking out pleasure for pleasure's sake, without any real need or purpose.
The line "Aroma de tabaco, condimento químico" refers to the scent of tobacco and chemical seasoning, which could be interpreted as references to drugs. The singer might be trying to resist the temptation to indulge in these substances, but they find it difficult to control their desires. The final lines of the song are repetitions of "Don't really need it, no quiero que te olvides" ("don't really need it, I don't want you to forget"), which could suggest regret or a desire to hold onto the moment.
Overall, the lyrics of "Pump It Up" convey a sense of hedonism and recklessness, with a hint of regret for the consequences of indulging in one's desires.
Line by Line Meaning
Me veo colgado de un gancho de ropa
I feel like I'm just hanging around, waiting for something to happen
Escuchando música, alucinando con tu boca
Listening to music and being mesmerized by your words
Ella dice, eso es, bájalo un poquito más
She says to turn it down a bit
Ya no quiere más hablar, es mejor olvidarlo
She doesn't want to talk about it anymore, it's better to forget it
(Pump it up) When you don't really need it
Boosting or increasing things to an unnecessary level
(Pump it up) Until you can feel it
Elevating until it becomes tangibly noticeable
Abajo donde hay placer
In the depths where pleasure is found
El cielo y el infierno ves
You see heaven and hell
Se pone el mundo al revés
The world is turned upside down
Mentiras en mis ojos ves
You see lies in my eyes
No hay un misterio que no pueda resolver
There isn't a mystery that I can't solve
Aroma de tabaco, condimento químico
Smelling tobacco and chemical spices
Tratas de decirle stop, ¿eres un narcótico?
You try to tell her to stop, are you a drug?
Te hace alucinar, reir y volar
It makes you hallucinate, laugh, and fly
Todo los puedes perder, cuando esto empiece a arder
You can lose everything when it all starts to burn
Ella tiene su show
She has her own thing going on
Pero su energia en low
But her energy is low
Ella pone la pasión
She brings the passion
Yo le doy corazón
I give it my all
No hay sumisión
There's no surrender
Vengo a relajarme
I come to relax
Tentación sin remordiendo
Temptation without regret
Don't really need it
You don't really need it
No quiero que te olvides
I don't want you to forget
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Elvis Costello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marcbriggs4449
Having had several ankle sprains in my life, watching Elvis's feet in this makes me grit my teeth -- what a great song
@mag-nm7tw
I noticed the same thing. Lol
@wmallensmith7508
Holy double-jointed ankles, Batman!
@katebeck1788
I can imagine 😅
@damitdw3917
I'm 😔😐 slightly pigeon 🐦 toed.. hahahaha!!
@robadams5799
I was just about to comment about his funky ankles. I was reminded of how great this song was when it was played in the background of an AFV montage.
@vikinglord7545
That bass line is ridiculously awesome.
@ludannelasyvyus1824
8/20/2023 @ @vikinglord7545 On most, if not all songs in which the bassist in Elvis's group in this video that he plays on have cool bass work, though not all as punchy as Pump It Up.
Also: Joe Jackson's bassist plays "awesome" punchy bass lines as well.
@jimbarrofficial
Yes, first thing I noticed. Costello's band is not a footnote; very underrated in all ways.
@ivanjulian2532
This song was mixed so well. Each instrument just at the right level. EC's voice nice and clear. The drums sound killer. There's so much "space" in this mix.