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
Bob Lind
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a song comes on the radio telling you that "The Only Way is Down".
You're out of luck, you're out of time, get out of here.
Your lover just traded you in for the very same model but a much more recent year.
It will not stop, it will get worse from day to day 'til you admit that you're a fuck-up; like the rest of us.
Oh, that's the time you fall apart .
That's the time the teardrops start & that's the time you fall in love again.
Yeah, that's the time you fall in love again.
And it's oh so fine getting out of your mind as long as you can find your way back in.
You want someone to screw your brains out
I'd say they're running out of time & they'd only go & cut themselves on the daggers of your mind.
This is your future.
This is the sentence you must serve 'til you admit that you're a fuck-up like the rest of us.
Oh, that's the time you fall apart.
That's the time the teardrops start & that's the time you fall in love again.
When you've had enough, when you've had too much,
When you got knocked down & you never got up.
That's the time you fall in love again.
Oh, when you walked into the room I could not breathe, I could not speak.
Please could I hide myself inside you?
As far inside as it's possible to be.
Can you assist me? I could not make it on my own.
Can I give you all the love I have?
It's not much but I'll try & raise a loan.
I have no pride left, no, no there is nothing I'm trying to prove
No, I am a fuck-up; just the same as you.
Oh, I guess this is where I fall apart
And I guess this is where the teardrops start but I don't care 'cause I just fell in love again.
And I'd had enough - well, far too much
I just fell down, could you please help me up?
"'cause if you help me maybe I could fall in love again. Na na na.
The lyrics of Pulp's song Bob Lind tap into the feeling of hopelessness and despair that can come from hitting rock bottom. The first few lines describe the sensation of thinking you're treading water, but ultimately realizing that you're actually drowning. The next verse talks about a song on the radio that speaks to this feeling, saying that the only way to go is down. The singer is out of luck and out of time, and has been replaced by someone newer and better. The chorus kicks in and emphasizes the idea that only when you fall apart and the tears start is when you can fall in love again. The recreational pursuits that used to make you feel alive have lost their luster and you're left wanting something more. When you finally hit bottom, you're left with no pride and nothing to prove, just like everyone else. The singer is so desperate that they ask someone to hide them inside them, as they can't make it on their own.
Overall, the song paints a grim picture of what it's like to be at the end of your rope. However, it also suggests that this can be a transformative experience, one that allows you to start anew and fall in love again.
Line by Line Meaning
When you think you're treading water, but you're just learning how to drown.
You may think you're fine, but things aren't going well and you're headed for worse.
And a song comes on the radio telling you that "The Only Way is Down".
The world reminds you that things can always get worse.
You're out of luck, you're out of time, get out of here.
Your time is over and it's time to move on.
Your lover just traded you in for the very same model but a much more recent year.
Your significant other has found someone better than you.
It will not stop, it will get worse from day to day 'til you admit that you're a fuck-up; like the rest of us.
Things will continue to go poorly until you accept your faults like the rest of us do.
Oh, that's the time you fall apart .
In difficult times, you may break down.
That's the time the teardrops start & that's the time you fall in love again.
Amidst sadness, you may find new love.
Yeah, that's the time you fall in love again.
Love can come when you least expect it.
The recreational pursuits that made you shine have worn you thin.
Activities that once made you happy now exhaust you.
And it's oh so fine getting out of your mind as long as you can find your way back in.
It's okay to lose yourself in activities as long as you can find your way back to reality.
You want someone to screw your brains out
You desire sexual satisfaction.
I'd say they're running out of time & they'd only go & cut themselves on the daggers of your mind.
I fear that someone may be hurt by your sharp tongue.
This is your future.
Your future is bleak if you don't change.
This is the sentence you must serve 'til you admit that you're a fuck-up like the rest of us.
This is your punishment until you acknowledge your faults like everyone else does.
When you've had enough, when you've had too much,
When you're reached your limit.
When you got knocked down & you never got up.
When life knocks you down and you don't get back up.
That's the time you fall in love again.
Love can come when you least expect it.
Oh, when you walked into the room I could not breathe, I could not speak.
You left a lasting impression on me.
Please could I hide myself inside you?
I desire the comfort and safety of your presence.
As far inside as it's possible to be.
I want to be as close to you as possible.
Can you assist me? I could not make it on my own.
I need your help to succeed.
Can I give you all the love I have? It's not much but I'll try & raise a loan.
I may not have much, but I will give you all the love I can.
I have no pride left, no, no there is nothing I'm trying to prove
I have no more ego; I'm not trying to prove anything to anyone.
No, I am a fuck-up; just the same as you.
I acknowledge that I have faults like everyone else.
Oh, I guess this is where I fall apart
This is where I break down.
And I guess this is where the teardrops start but I don't care 'cause I just fell in love again.
I may be sad, but falling in love makes it all worthwhile.
And I'd had enough - well, far too much
I've reached my limit; I can't take anymore.
I just fell down, could you please help me up?
I need your help to get back up.
'cause if you help me maybe I could fall in love again. Na na na.
If you help me, I may find love again.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, MARK ANDREW WEBBER, NICK BANKS, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind