Originally called "Arabicus Pulp" (although they shortened it to Pulp within a year), the band achieved sudden success some thirteen years after their formation and became known during the Britpop era as much for their music as for frontman Cocker's antics (notably conducting a stage invasion during Michael Jackson's performance of Earth Song at the 1996 BRIT Awards).
Achieving little success off the back of a Peel session in 1981, Pulp were finally able to release their debut album, It, in 1983. This album and its 1986 follow-up, Freaks, showcased a Pulp keen on Nick Drake (notably on the It single, My Lighthouse), with strong folk roots and little sign of the tendencies for storytelling and acid house music which would eventually bring forth success.
After the release and commercial flop of "Freaks", the band disbanded for a year, but reformed a year later to record a third album, Separations. Delayed for three years after its recording, Separations showed Cocker's increasing exposure to acid house, featuring multiple synths, and a hit single, My Legendary Girlfriend, which helped Pulp's career start to rocket.
Their next single, Babies, which would eventually feature on their 1994's commercial breakthrough His 'n' Hers, and it was the first example of the Pulp-sound most listeners associate with the band--cheap synths, rolling guitars, and Cocker's deadpan vocals telling a story. "His 'n' Hers" in sound, was lumped in with the Britpop movement of the time, receiving commercial and critical acclaim. However, it was the 1995 single Common People, which finally saw them become known, eventually charting at number 2 in the UK charts. Awash with Britpop guitars, catchy keyboard lines and that trademark Cocker vocal performance it has remained a favorite. A successful appearance at Glastonbury that summer cemented their fame, and their success was subsequently confirmed by the release of Different Class, which arrived at the peak of the Britpop movement and featured this song and other UK hits as Disco 2000 and Sorted for E's & Wizz.
Their last two albums, 1998's darker This Is Hardcore, -an album that marked the end of the Britpop era- and 2001's more downbeat We Love Life were commercial successes, but Pulp were no longer as famous or trendy as they had been in the height of Britpop. Following their curation of a music festival, Auto, in 2002, the band announced that they would be embarking on an "indefinite hiatus".
In 2003, Jarvis Cocker released an album as Relaxed Muscle and then two solo efforts, 2006's Jarvis and 2009's Further Complications.
On 8th November 2010, it was announced that the band with its most relevant lineup will reform to play a series of gigs in summer 2011.
Discography:
It 1983
Freaks 1986
Separations 1992
His 'n' Hers 1994
Different Class 1995
This Is Hardcore 1998
We Love Life 2001
Official website:
http://www.pulppeople.com
04. Little Girl
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Little girl (with blue eyes)
Everybody looks at you
(Well, it's your day)
And you're
Stepping from the black car
But you'll be getting back in soon
(And on your way)
Little girl (with blue eyes)
There's a hole in your heart
And one between your legs
You've never had to wonder
Which one he's going to fill
In spite of what he said
You'll never get away
Hey
You'll give it up one day
Come what may
Dad's not got a shot-gun
But his look's enough to murder you
(See what you've done)
And forget about the paintings
'Cause you'd better get the washing done
(Oh something's wrong)
Little girl (with blue eyes)
There's a hole in your heart
And one between your legs
You've never had to wonder
Which one he's going to fill
In spite of what he said
You'll never get away
Hey
You'll give it up one day
Come what may
Face down on the pavement
Chalk lines round your little hands
(Hit and run)
And now a
Mother sits in silence
In a darkness she can't understand
(Where you've gone)
Oh
Little girl (with blue eyes)
There's a hole in your heart
And one between your legs
You've never had to wonder
Which one he's going to fill
In spite of what he said
You'll never get away
Hey
You'll give it up one day
Come what may.
The song "Little Girl" by Pulp deals with the themes of sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence against women. The song is a heartbreaking portrayal of a young girl who is being groomed and exploited by an older man, and the devastating consequences that follow. The lyrics describe the girl as being young and innocent, with blue eyes that attract attention. She is seen stepping out of a black car, representing the power dynamic between the abuser and the victim. The lyrics suggest that while the young girl may want to escape her situation, she has no other option but to stay with her abuser.
The song paints a picture of a society where sexual exploitation and abuse are normalized, and the victim is blamed for their abuse. The lyrics describe the father's anger and the mother's grief, but there is no mention of the abuser's punishment or the justice that should be served for the young girl. The line "There's a hole in your heart and one between your legs" is particularly poignant as it describes the physical and emotional damage that the abuse causes.
Overall, "Little Girl" by Pulp is a powerful and emotional song that sheds light on the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse. The lyrics are a reminder that these issues are still prevalent in our society, and it is important to support and protect those who are vulnerable.
Line by Line Meaning
You're just a
The singer is addressing a young female person.
Little girl (with blue eyes)
The person being addressed is a young girl with blue eyes.
Everybody looks at you
The singer observes that people pay attention to the young girl.
(Well, it's your day)
It is a special occasion for the young girl.
And you're
The artist describes what the young girl is doing.
Stepping from the black car
The young girl is getting out of a black car.
But you'll be getting back in soon
The young girl will soon be getting back into the car.
(And on your way)
The young girl is leaving.
Little girl (with blue eyes)
The artist again addresses the young girl and reminds us of her blue eyes.
There's a hole in your heart
The artist suggests that the young girl has emotional wounds.
And one between your legs
The singer implies that the young girl has been sexually violated.
You've never had to wonder
The artist acknowledges that the young girl has not been offered a choice in the matter.
Which one he's going to fill
The person who violated the girl will not give her an option in the matter.
In spite of what he said
The singer implies that the girl was lied to regarding what happened to her.
You'll never get away
The young girl will never escape from the painful experience.
Hey
The artist is drawing the listener's attention to the following line.
You'll give it up one day
The young girl will eventually have sex again.
Come what may
Regardless of what happens.
Dad's not got a shot-gun
The young girl's father does not possess a weapon to protect her.
But his look's enough to murder you
The father's expression might be dangerous enough to threaten the safety of the perpetrator.
(See what you've done)
The artist implies that the young girl's actions led to the father's anger.
And forget about the paintings
The artist suggests that the young girl's artistic interests are not relevant at this time.
Cause you'd better get the washing done
The young girl should focus on completing her chores.
(Oh something's wrong)
The artist suggests that there is a problem.
Face down on the pavement
The young girl is lying face-down on the pavement.
Chalk lines round your little hands
The authorities have drawn outline geometries around her hands using chalk.
(Hit and run)
The young girl was involved in a collision, and the driver fled the scene.
And now a
The artist is drawing attention to a different character in the story.
Mother sits in silence
The mother is unresponsive to the surrounding events.
In a darkness she can't understand
The mother is in a state of mental confusion, possibly grief or depression.
(Where you've gone)
The singer suggests that someone has gone missing, presumably the young girl.
Oh
The artist is drawing the listener's attention to the following line.
Little girl (with blue eyes)
The artist addresses the young girl once again and reminds us of her blue eyes.
There's a hole in your heart
The artist repeats the idea that the young girl is emotionally wounded.
And one between your legs
The singer reiterates that the young girl has been sexually assaulted.
You've never had to wonder
The girl's lack of choice and the unforgiving nature of the situation are emphasized again.
Which one he's going to fill
The horrifying reality of what happened is reiterated.
In spite of what he said
The girl was misled and lied to regarding the events.
You'll never get away
The girl will never be able to escape from the trauma.
Hey
The artist is drawing the listener's attention to the following line.
You'll give it up one day
The young girl will have sex again eventually.
Come what may.
Regardless of what happens.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, PETER D MANSELL, RUSSELL SENIOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Venus Joy
The song is about Jarvis ‘ mother Christina. It always breaks my heart no matter how many times I listen to it.
Venus Joy
The doll is really creepy
Venus Joy
Russell Page