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
07
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm doing fine.
'cause there are things
To pass the time.
Smoke a cig
And drink some tea
Watch a programme
On TV.
'cause I'm sorted out, and how.
I've got it all set up you see.
But when I close my eyes it happens to me.
You're a nightmare
And you've made it all wrong
You're a nightmare to me
Oh oh
You're a nightmare
Oh and I just can't see
Why you should keep on happening to me.
Oh yeah.
Well it stopped some time in May,
Whilst you were still away.
Was I in bed or on a bus
Doing something pathetically ridiculous?
I never noticed it at first
But when you came back it got worse.
It's the idea of you, you see
When I close my eyes it happens to me.
Oh you're a nightmare
And you've got it all wrong
You're a nightmare to me
Oh oh
You're a nightmare
And I just can't see
Why you should keep on
Happening to me
You're a nightmare
And you've got it all wrong
You're a nightmare to me
Oh oh
You're a nightmare
And I just can't see
Why you should keep on
Happening
Happening to me
Oh oh oh
And there were hotel bedroom birthdays
Sleep in factory hallways
I remember always.
Yeah there were hotel bedroom birthdays
And sleep in factory hallways
I remember always
Why do you keep on
Hanging round
Can't you see it gets me down?
Because when I look at you I see
Somebody I just don't want to be
Oh whoa you're a nightmare
And you got it all wrong
You're a nightmare to me
Oh oh
You're a nightmare
And you just can't see
Why you should keep on
Happening to me
You're a nightmare
And you've got it all wrong
Yeah you're a nightmare to me
Oh oh
You're a nightmare
And I just can't see
Oh why why you should keep on
Happening to me
You're a mightmare
And you've got it all wrong
Oh you're a nightmare to me
Oh oh
You're a nightmare
Oh and I just can't see
Why you're
Why you're
You're always hanging around
You're always hanging round
You're always hanging around
You're always hanging round
You're always hanging round
You're always hanging round
You're always hanging round
You're always hanging round.
The lyrics of "07" by Pulp tell the story of someone who is seemingly content with their life, passing time by smoking, drinking tea, and watching TV. However, when they close their eyes, they are haunted by memories of a past relationship. The person they were with is now seen as a nightmare, as their presence makes them feel uncomfortable and reminds them of the things they don't want to be. The memories are triggered by the simple idea of this person, regardless of where they are or what they are doing.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of frustration and confusion as to why these memories continue to happen. The singer questions why this person should keep happening to them, and why they continue to hang around even though it clearly upsets them. The use of the word "nightmare" is particularly interesting as it suggests something that the singer cannot escape from despite their efforts to move on with their life. The repetition of the phrase "you're always hanging around" adds to this sense of being trapped and unable to break free from the past.
Line by Line Meaning
All day, I'm doing fine.
I am passing my time without any trouble through the day.
'Cause there are things to pass the time.
There are enough activities to keep me occupied throughout the day.
Smoke a cig and drink some tea.
I like to smoke cigarettes and have tea during my free time.
Watch a programme on TV.
I prefer watching TV to pass my leisure time.
I just don't care where you are now 'cause I'm sorted out, and how.
I am content with my current situation and do not care about your whereabouts at the moment.
I've got it all set up you see.
I have arranged everything according to my liking.
But when I close my eyes it happens to me.
When I close my eyes, I cannot help but think about something or someone unpleasant that bothered me earlier.
You're a nightmare and you've made it all wrong.
You have caused me trouble and made things unpleasant for me.
You're a nightmare to me oh oh.
You are a source of distress for me.
Well it stopped some time in May, whilst you were still away.
My unpleasant thoughts stopped in May when you were absent.
Was I in bed or on a bus doing something pathetically ridiculous?
I was possibly doing something foolish or unproductive when I last experienced troublesome thoughts.
I never noticed it at first but when you came back it got worse.
Initially, I did not pay attention to my uneasy feelings, but it worsened upon your return.
It's the idea of you, you see. When I close my eyes it happens to me.
The thought of you (probably in a negative way) troubles my mind when I close my eyes.
And there were hotel bedroom birthdays. Sleep in factory hallways. I remember always.
I have memories of staying in hotel rooms on birthdays and sleeping in factory hallways.
Why do you keep on hanging round? Can't you see it gets me down?
I do not understand why you keep bothering me, can you not see that it has a bad effect on me?
Because when I look at you I see somebody I just don't want to be.
When I look at you, I am reminded of something or someone negative that I do not want to associate with.
Oh whoa you're a nightmare and you got it all wrong.
You are causing me distress and you are doing it inappropriately.
Yeah you're a nightmare to me oh oh.
You are a source of distress for me.
Oh why why you should keep on happening to me.
I cannot understand why you keep bothering me.
You're always hanging round.
You never seem to leave me alone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, NICK BANKS, RUSSELL SENIOR, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
undertherainbow
Dead sexy. "If fashion is your trade, then when you're naked I guess you must be unemployed yeah." Brilliant line.
Louize Ramos
Jarvis is so damnnnn talented I love him so much
Lucia marti
Aww i love his high voice he is so young there
Dana
Really REALLY GREAT SONG AND INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCE !
Rolando Hinojosa
Great performance !
Ezel
Aw I fancy him a lot
Thrustus Simmonds
Genius at work. You, @jarvizcocker, have a wonderful channel. Many treasures. Thank you!
welshdragon2008
Yes its true. The legend is correct.
This is my favourite Pulp track.
Luisina
0:29 this is me singing this song in the shower
I N
<3