Featuring Stefan Babcock on vocals and guitar, Steve Sladkowski on guitar and vocals, Nestor Chumak on bass and vocals, and Zack Mykula on drums and vocals, all longtime friends who met in elementary school, PUP formed in 2010 under the name Topanga. The original name was a reference to Topanga Lawrence, a character played by Danielle Fishel on the '90s sitcom Boy Meets World, but when the members learned Fishel would be reviving the character in 2014 in a spin-off titled Girl Meets World, they chose to change the name to PUP, standing for "Pathetic Use of Potential." Topanga released a digital EP titled Oceans, and positive press and attention from other bands helped create a buzz about the group. In 2013, they became PUP, releasing their self-titled debut album through the Royal Mountain label. The album was a hit with both critics and fans, with the group being named Best Live Show and Best New Artist by CBC Radio 3. The band toured extensively, playing throughout Canada and making their way to England and the United States. By the end of 2013, PUP had signed a record deal with the well-established punk label Side One Dummy, and spent much of 2014 and 2015 touring in support of Side One Dummy's reissue of their debut LP, launching their first headlining tours of the United States and Canada, as well as making their Australian debut.
In February 2016, PUP teased a new single called "DVP" in advance of their second full-length album, The Dream Is Over. Released in May of that year, the album's title is a reference to a prognosis Babcock received from his doctor: he'd severely damaged his vocal cords after enduring years of non-stop touring. In true punk fashion, PUP used the doctor's glib comment as the rallying cry for another set of hard-hitting, self-deprecating punk tunes. The band promoted the effort with an international tour over the next year before returning to the studio to write and record a follow-up. They spent most of 2018 working on the album, which saw release in April 2019. Titled Morbid Stuff, the record was produced with Dave Schiffman (the Mars Volta, Weezer) and lyrically focused on Babcock's struggles with depression. A year later, PUP offered up their commentary on the state of the world with This Place Sucks Ass, a six-song EP whose title referenced one of their long-standing touring inside jokes. With COVID-19 putting a halt to live performances, the group returned to the studio in 2021 to record their fourth album. Produced by Peter Katis (the National, Frightened Rabbit), 2022's wild The Unraveling of Puptheband saw the group augmenting their normally guitar-based sound with synthesizers, piano, and horns.
Biography by Mark Deming
There is another artist using the same name:
2) PUP is a Chinese-Korean rapper.
Mabu
PUP Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with the help of my father
out of the lake in mid-june
I pulled my car, Mabu
I need an engine that runs
It came down to the wire
it gets me high
it makes her go
now, that she's gone (so soon)
I need a car like Mabu
and you know, she'll come around
I need an engine that runs
I drive my car through lakes and lagoons, oh oh oh
I drive my car, my car Mabu, oh oh oh
And I know, when she's gone I swear I'll change
I need a car (I miss her anyway)
I need an engine that runs.
The lyrics to PUP's song Mabu tell a story of a person's strong attachment to their car, Mabu. The song starts with the singer reminiscing about the time they first brought Mabu out of a lake in mid-June with the help of their father. The car is so precious to them that they sing about needing an engine that runs just to keep Mabu running. The song then shifts to the current situation where Mabu isn't running properly, and the singer needs to "put the pump to the tire" to get it going. Their attachment to Mabu is so strong that they sing about driving it through lakes and lagoons. They miss Mabu dearly and sing about their plans to change when she is gone. Overall, the lyrics speak to the singer's love of their car and how much it means to them.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to the water
I went to the lake or river
with the help of my father
accompanied by my dad
out of the lake in mid-june
I took my car out of the lake in June
I pulled my car, Mabu
I retrieved my car named Mabu
I need an engine that runs
I require a functioning engine
It came down to the wire
there was a deadline approaching
put the pump to the tire
inflate the tire with an air pump
it gets me high
it makes me feel exhilarated
it makes her go
it powers the car to move
now, that she's gone (so soon)
the car is now gone, and it happened unexpectedly fast
I need a car like Mabu
I desire a vehicle similar to Mabu
and you know, she'll come around
I believe I will find a car like Mabu in the future
I drive my car through lakes and lagoons, oh oh oh
I enjoy driving my car in water bodies like lakes and lagoons
I drive my car, my car Mabu, oh oh oh
I love driving my car named Mabu
And I know, when she's gone I swear I'll change
I acknowledge my attachment to my car, but promise to move on when it's gone
I need a car (I miss her anyway)
I require a car (despite missing Mabu)
I need an engine that runs.
I still need a working engine for my car
Contributed by Elena R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@shayna849
since i haven’t seen anyone posting any lyrics, i decided that i should ignore all of my pressing responsibilities and write ‘em myself
enjoy
I went down to the water (oh oh oh)
With the help of my father
Out of the lake in mid-June
I pulled my car, Mabu
I need an engine that runs
It came down to the wire (oh oh oh)
Put the pump to the tire (oh oh oh)
It gets me hi-igh-igh-igh
It makes her go-o-o-o
Now that she's gone so soon
I need a car like Mabu
And you know, she'll come around (oh oh oh)
I need an engine that runs
I drive my car through lakes and lagoons, oh oh oh (oh oh oh)
I drive my car, my car Mabu, oh oh oh
And I know, when she's gone I swear I'll change
I need a car (I miss her anyway)
I need an engine that runs
@theneedledrop
Amazing video!
@RobCervi
it actually makes me so happy you listen to PUP, you should totally review them!
@danbrady3196
People need to know about PUP Fantano.
@jiggyy
Y U NO REVIEW?!?
@notyurrealdad8743
Glad you like them too PUPany BANDtano
@Kel336
Fuck you bitch
@willeeuhm
Favorite memory from Warped Tour is when I asked these guys why they didn't play Mabu and they got so excited because no one had ever asked them that before. Great dudes <3
@MissSherlock90
WHYYY it's an awesome song!!
@Curtis.Carpenter
William Seamon where did you see them play?! I live in vancouver Canada and would killl to travel anywhere to see them perform ;(
@BossEncounter
At least we get The Menzingers in Oct.