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
Ansaphone
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I don't even know if I should phone you
Someone sending me letters
Saying you've been going with other fellers
And they bored you
But I don't want to cry
Or talk for hours
To a machine on the end of a telephone line
Oh do it any time 'cause there's never no-one home
Never no-one home
Leave your message on the ansaphone
I'm not trying to be clever
But at least we're not still living together
All those calls in the evening
If I answered they'd hang up without speaking
And they bored you
But I don't want to cry
Or talk for hours
To a machine on the end of a telephone line
Oh it just kills me when all you've got to do is call
Oh do it any time 'cause there's never no-one home
Never no-one home
Leave your message on the ansaphone
"Hello, its me.
I just wanted to call and say it doesn't matter what you get up to.
I just want you to stay in touch. That's all."
Are you really not at home?
Or are you there but not alone?
Screening calls you don't want to receive
Meaning calls, calls that come from me
Oh I need to see you
It's not enough for me just to hear you
You said you'd be here by ten thirty
But you want to stay out and be dirty
Oh it just kills me when all you've got to do is call
Oh do it any time 'cause there's never no-one home
Never no-one home
Leave your message on the ansaphone.
The song Ansaphone by Pulp is a lament by the singer who seems to have been left behind by their beloved. It is clear from the lyrics that they have been trying to reach out to the person they miss, but they receive no reply. The singer is clearly hurt and somewhat confused by the situation, as evidenced by the lines, "Saying you've been going with other fellers and they bored you." They seem to be trying to make sense of why their loved one has left them and why they are not returning their calls.
The use of the ansaphone, or answering machine, throughout the song serves as a symbol of the distance that has grown between the singer and their loved one. The singer is left talking to a machine, and their loved one is seemingly not interested in picking up the phone or returning their calls. It is a poignant reminder of how technology can both connect and isolate people.
Despite their hurt, the singer does not seem to be bitter or angry. They are resigned to their fate and accept that their loved one might be out doing things that they cannot control. They just simply want to stay connected, even if that means leaving messages on an ansaphone. Overall, the song Ansaphone is a beautifully crafted, bittersweet take on the ways we connect and disconnect with our loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I know I don't own you
I acknowledge that I do not have any ownership or control over you.
But I don't even know if I should phone you
I am unsure if it is appropriate for me to call you.
Someone sending me letters
I am receiving correspondence from an unknown person.
Saying you've been going with other fellers
The letters claim that you are spending time with other men.
And they bored you
The letters suggest that you are not interested in your current situation.
But I don't want to cry
I do not want to become emotional.
Or talk for hours
I do not want to engage in lengthy discussions.
To a machine on the end of a telephone line
I do not want to speak with an answering machine.
Oh it just kills me when all you've got to do is call
It upsets me that you could easily call me, but you choose not to.
Oh do it any time 'cause there's never no-one home
You can call me anytime because there is never anyone at home.
Never no-one home
There is no one available to answer the phone.
Leave your message on the ansaphone
Please leave a message on the answering machine.
I'm not trying to be clever
I am not attempting to be deceitful or manipulative.
But at least we're not still living together
Although we are no longer living together, I still desire communication.
All those calls in the evening
Numerous calls are being made in the evening.
If I answered they'd hang up without speaking
If I were to answer the phone, the person on the other end would hang up without saying anything.
And they bored you
The caller is uninteresting to you.
Hello, its me.
Introducing oneself during a phone call.
I just wanted to call and say it doesn't matter what you get up to.
I am calling to say that I do not care how you occupy your time.
I just want you to stay in touch. That's all.
I desire communication and nothing more.
Are you really not at home?
I am questioning whether you are not at home.
Or are you there but not alone?
Or are you present but not alone?
Screening calls you don't want to receive
You are selectively choosing which calls to answer.
Oh I need to see you
I have a strong desire to physically be with you.
It's not enough for me just to hear you
Merely hearing your voice is not sufficient for me.
You said you'd be here by ten thirty
You promised or agreed to be present by 10:30.
But you want to stay out and be dirty
You have chosen to remain out and engage in activities that may not be appropriate.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, MARK ANDREW WEBBER, NICK BANKS, RUSSELL SENIOR, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
agile beast
Oh I know I don't own you
But I don't even know if I should phone you
Someone sending me letters
Saying you've been going with other fellers
And they bored you
But I don't want to cry
Or talk for hours
To a machine on the end of a telephone line
Oh it just kills me when all you've got to do is call
Oh do it any time 'cause there's never no-one home
Never no-one home
Leave your message on the ansaphone
I'm not trying to be clever
But at least we're not still living together
All those calls in the evening
If I answered they'd hang up without speaking
And they bored you
But I don't want to cry
Or talk for hours
To a machine on the end of a telephone line
Oh it just kills me when all you've got to do is call
Oh do it any time 'cause there's never no-one home
Never no-one home
Leave your message on the ansaphone
"Hello, its me.
I just wanted to call and say it doesn't matter what you get up to.
I just want you to stay in touch. That's all."
Are you really not at home?
Or are you there but not alone?
Screening calls you don't want to receive
Meaning calls, calls that come from me
Oh I need to see you
It's not enough for me just to hear you
You said you'd be here by ten thirty
But you want to stay out and be dirty
Oh it just kills me when all you've got to do is call
Oh do it any time 'cause there's never no-one home
Never no-one home
Leave your message on the ansaphone.
Marcus Tillman
In my top five Pulp songs list. Should've been its own single. Great hooks as usual.
lewan gillard
Don't know why, but this songs makes me think it would've been great being about in the 90's when all this great music was coming out, like Oasis, Blur, Pulp, Suede and loads more. Love this song, just oozes with freedom and the feeling of being unstoppable. Also though, it sounds kinda sad cos it’s like it’s highlighting the end of something, maybe the end of how much fun Britpop was, (even though this album came out in the middle of Britpop)
Kal Fisher
I was there and it was great.
Kal Fisher
Like and supergrass, cast, menswear, gene, ash, ride, suede, god so so many bands
Kal Fisher
Mile end is an equally tragic oerfect kind of song/anthem.
Andy Bullemor - Music
It was great so much great music in all genres
kris wilkinson
I was there and it was great
Donna Sadler
Ufff, endless love for this song. One of my fave b-sides ever of any band. Possibly favourite Pulp song, definately in the top 5 - so many great songs though. Bah!
Marcus Tillman
Completely agree. Best b-side ever
Peter 'Dimultica' Campbell
Was going through a few boxes of items a couple of weeks back and realised I still have the original CD single of Disco 2000 with this brilliant song on the 'b' side. :-)