Live On
Pulp Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I woke up in the morning I was still alive
The mirror says I'm fifty-five years old
If I don't look his way, I'm gonna do okay
I'm gonna last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
Last another day without your love
Oh no one lives alone for more than half a year
That's what a friend of mine once said to me
There's more things in the world than holding hands and kissing girls
You've got to last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
Last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
Last another day without your love

Oh but I dreamt of you last night
And the world split into two
I tried to listen to some records but they were all
Singing about you
I can't live on never knowing where my soul is going when I die
I can't last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
I can't last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
I can't last another day without your love

Oh yeah, well I realise
I should think about somebody new instead
That's what I tried to do, but the ones I liked looked just like you
Gotta last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
Last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
Last another day without your love


Oh but I dreamt of you last night
And the world split into two
I tried to listen to some records but they were all
Singing about you
I can't live on never knowing where my soul is going when I die
I can't last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
I can't last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
I can't last another day without your love

It's okay, I'm not a kid anymore
I can last another day without your love
If I focus all my thoughts on something stupid
I can last another day without your love
Ooh gonna last another day
Last another day
Last another day
Last another day
Last another day
Last another day
Last another day
Good god

Oh but I dreamt of you last night
And the world split into two
I tried to listen to some records but they were all
Singing about you
I can't live on never knowing where my soul is going when I die
I can't last another day without your love
Ma ma ma ma ma ma
I can't last another day without your love




Ma ma ma ma ma ma
I can't last another day without your love.

Overall Meaning

The song "Live On" by Pulp is about the struggle of moving on from a past relationship. The singer wakes up in the morning, realizing they are still alive and accepting their current age of fifty-five. The singer notes that they will be able to last another day without their ex-lover's love if they avoid looking in the mirror. The singer reflects on the advice given to them by a friend that no one can live alone for more than half a year, but that there are more things in the world than holding hands and kissing. However, despite this advice, the singer is unable to stop dreaming of their ex-lover and the world splits into two in their dream. They try to distract themselves with music, but everything reminds them of their former love.


The singer admits to themselves that they can't live on never knowing where their soul is going and that they can't last another day without their ex-lover's love. However, they attempt to move on by focusing their thoughts on something stupid, believing that they can last another day without their ex. The repetition of "ma ma ma" throughout the song creates a sense of urgency and desperation.


Overall, "Live On" is a poignant representation of the experience of trying to move on from a past relationship while longing for that person.



Line by Line Meaning

I woke up in the morning I was still alive
The singer is alive and well in the morning


The mirror says I'm fifty-five years old
The singer looks at his reflection and sees a 55-year-old man


If I don't look his way, I'm gonna do okay
As long as the singer doesn't focus on his reflection or age, he will be fine


I'm gonna last another day without your love
The artist believes he can survive without the love of the person he's singing about


Oh no one lives alone for more than half a year
The artist's friend believes that no one can truly be alone for more than six months


That's what a friend of mine once said to me
The singer recalls advice from his friend


There's more things in the world than holding hands and kissing girls
The singer believes that there is more to life than just romantic love


Ma ma ma ma ma ma
Repetitive vocalization for emphasis


Oh but I dreamt of you last night
The artist had a dream about the person he's singing about


And the world split into two
In the dream, the artist experienced a dramatic split in reality


I tried to listen to some records but they were all Singing about you
The singer struggled to find any solace or distraction, as all the songs he listened to reminded him of the person he dreams about


I can't live on never knowing where my soul is going when I die
The artist is anxious about the unknown fate of his soul after death


I can't last another day without your love
The singer feels he cannot survive without the love of the person he's singing about


Oh yeah, well I realise I should think about somebody new instead
The singer acknowledges that he should move on and consider other romantic prospects


That's what I tried to do, but the ones I liked looked just like you
The singer attempted to find someone new, but kept being drawn to people who resembled the person he's singing about


It's okay, I'm not a kid anymore
The artist accepts that he is not young and naive in matters of love anymore


If I focus all my thoughts on something stupid I can last another day without your love
The artist tries to distract himself with silly thoughts and activities to survive without the love of the person he's singing about


Ooh gonna last another day
The singer will survive without the love he desires


Last another day
Repetitive vocalization for emphasis


Good god
Expression of exasperation and/or exhaustion




Contributed by Eli H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

hallospacegirl

one of my very favourites

Georgia

wow well this is class

Lauren Crabtree

was this not on the us release or something?

Will

mamamamamammamamamamamama

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