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
Last Day of the Miners' Strike
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and frightening old ladies,
I dreampt that I was living back
in the mid 1980's.
People marching, people shouting,
people wearing pastel leather.
The future's ours for the taking now,
if we just stick together.
[Chorus]
And I said "Hey, lay your burden down.
Seems the last day of the miners' strike,
was the Magna Carta in this part of town"
Well my body sank below the ground
it became as black as night,
overhead the sounds of horses hooves,
people fighting for their lives.
Some joker in a headband was still
getting chicks for free.
And big brother was still watching you
back in the days of '83.
[Chorus]
Well, by 1985 I was as cold
as cold could be,
but no-one's underground to dig me out
and set me free.
'87 socialism gave way to socialising
so put your hands up in the air
once more the North is rising
[Chorus]
Sing Hallelujah, sing Hallelujah,
Don't let them fool you again
sing Hallelujah
By now I'm sick and tired of just
living in this hole,
so I took the ancient tablets, blew off the dust,
swallowed them whole.
Oh come on let's get together,
oh come on the past is gone.
Well the very first Commandment,
Come on! Come on, let's get it on!
Let's get it on!
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Pulp's song Last Day Of The Miners Strike paint a vivid picture of the social and political climate of Britain during the mid-1980s. The reference to kids spitting on the Town Hall steps and frightening old ladies speaks to the disillusionment and anger of the youth during this period, while the dream of living back in the 1980s highlights the nostalgia that pervaded the time. The reference to people marching, shouting, and wearing pastel leather speaks to the spirit of protest and rebellion that was so prevalent during this time.
The chorus of the song, "Hey, lay your burden down. Seems the last day of the miners' strike, was the Magna Carta in this part of town," refers to the end of the historic miners' strike that took place in Britain from 1984 to 1985. The Magna Carta was a medieval charter that established the principle that the king was subject to the law, and it is often seen as a cornerstone of modern democracy. The reference to the miners' strike being the Magna Carta in this part of town suggests that the end of the strike marked a turning point in the struggle for political and economic freedom in Britain.
The second verse of the song portrays a sense of despair and hopelessness, with the singer's body sinking below the ground and becoming as black as night. The reference to people fighting for their lives and a joker in a headband getting chicks for free suggests that there was a sense of chaos and lawlessness during this period, and that the struggle for social and political change was far from over.
Line by Line Meaning
Kids are spitting on the Town Hall stepsand frightening old ladies,
Children are spitting on the steps of the Town Hall and scaring elderly women.
I dreampt that I was living back in the mid 1980's.People marching, people shouting,people wearing pastel leather.
The singer had a dream about living in the 1980s, where people protested and wore bright-colored leather clothing.
The future's ours for the taking now,if we just stick together.
If people unite, they can take control of their future.
And I said "Hey, lay your burden down.Seems the last day of the miners' strike,was the Magna Carta in this part of town"
The end of the miners' strike was significant like the Magna Carta document in that town's history.
Well my body sank below the groundit became as black as night,overhead the sounds of horses hooves,people fighting for their lives.
The artist describes feeling buried alive and hears the chaos of people fighting and horses galloping above them.
Some joker in a headband was stillgetting chicks for free.And big brother was still watching youback in the days of '83.
In 1983, someone wearing a headband was still impressing women, and government surveillance was still a concern.
Well, by 1985 I was as coldas cold could be,but no-one's underground to dig me outand set me free.'87 socialism gave way to socialisingso put your hands up in the aironce more the North is rising
In 1985, the singer felt hopeless, buried, and forgotten. By 1987, socialism had given way to socializing, and now the North is rising again.
Sing Hallelujah, sing Hallelujah,Don't let them fool you againsing Hallelujah
The artist urges listeners to sing praises to prevent being fooled again.
By now I'm sick and tired of justliving in this hole,so I took the ancient tablets, blew off the dust,swallowed them whole.
The artist is fed up with their current situation and decides to take drastic action, by taking ancient tablets.
Oh come on let's get together,oh come on the past is gone.Well the very first Commandment,Come on! Come on, let's get it on!Let's get it on!
The artist urges unity among listeners and excitedly promotes getting things done, moving forward.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Nick Banks, Burt Bacharach, Candida Doyle, Jarvis Cocker, Mark Webber, Richard Hawley, Stephen Mackey
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ridirkens
dad bass sound !!! Amazing
MARIONEXXES
Where have the miners been?
angel death face
the band are from sheffield, but the pic is leeds. anyone notice that?
Hale Bopp
Don't get me wrong, I think early Pulp were great - Cocker's "This is Hardcore" is an absolute classic video, the guy's clearly gifted but just in my opinion a tad let down by that deep vein of relentless persecution complex.
And just out of interest that "Joker in the headband who was still getting chicks for free" had a group whose album "Brothers in Arms" alone sold more than three times Pulp's whole repertoire.
illiterate thug
Equating commercial success with...
...what exactly?
illiterate thug
"group whose album "Brothers in Arms" alone sold more than three times Pulp's whole repertoire."
'Pebble glass'?
No.
'Chip-on-shoulder'?
No.