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
Master of the Universe
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Eyes and graze your kness because your master is displeased, because you
Dared to doubt his word, his polished surface dulls and cracks. Your
Bitter laughter breaks his back. I am the master of this universe. I
Taught you everything you know. Now you must bear your master's curse for
I will not let you go. Now you must walk this town 'til down in every
Public open place, your master's look upon your face. Oh now look what you
Have done; you've spoilt it all for everyone. The master masturbates alone
Him hard and keep him nude. You cut your master down to size. Now he
Cries and he cries now. Now he begs both night and day. He lets you take
Him on your knee. He comes on losing consciousness, he dearly loves his
New mistress. Now he repeats it every night. Every night on point og
Death - "You are the master of the universe". You are the master of the
Universe.
The lyrics of Pulp's "Master of the Universe" explore the themes of power, control, and the consequences of challenging authority. The song portrays an individual who believes they are the master of the universe and demands complete obedience from their followers. However, when someone questions their authority, their polished surface begins to dull and crack, revealing their flaws and insecurities. The master then sees fit to punish the doubter with a curse, forcing them to display their submission in public places.
The second part of the song takes a dark turn, as the lyrics describe the master as a grotesque and pathetic figure who is reduced to masturbating alone in a corner of his follower's home. The once powerful master is now dependent on his follower's scraps and abuse to survive, which highlights the fragility of power and control.
Overall, the song suggests that the desire for power and control can lead to isolation, degradation, and a loss of humanity. It also serves as a warning to those who seek to dominate and exploit others that their actions may ultimately lead to their downfall.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the master of this universe and I've got so big it hurts.
I am the one in control here, and my power has become overwhelming.
Raise your Eyes and graze your kness because your master is displeased, because you Dared to doubt his word, his polished surface dulls and cracks.
Look up to me and bow down before me, because you disobeyed me and caused me to seem flawed.
Your Bitter laughter breaks his back.
Your mocking laughter hurts my ego and makes me feel powerless.
I am the master of this universe. I Taught you everything you know. Now you must bear your master's curse for I will not let you go.
I am the one who has taught you everything you know, and you're stuck with me. You must accept my punishment when you disobey me.
Now you must walk this town 'til down in every Public open place, your master's look upon your face.
Now you have to walk around town with my disapproving gaze on you all day, in every public place.
Oh now look what you Have done; you've spoilt it all for everyone.
Look at what you've done. You've ruined everything for everyone.
The master masturbates alone In a corner of your home. You feed him scraps when in the mood.
I am so powerless that I resort to sneaking to a corner of your home to masturbate. You only give me attention when you feel like it.
You beat Him hard and keep him nude. You cut your master down to size. Now he Cries and he cries now.
You mistreat me, and bring me down from my high horse. Now I feel weak and powerless.
Now he begs both night and day. He lets you take Him on your knee. He comes on losing consciousness, he dearly loves his New mistress.
Now I am so desperate that I beg for your attention day and night. You're the one in charge now, and I submit to you completely.
Now he repeats it every night. Every night on point og Death - "You are the master of the universe". You are the master of the Universe.
I repeat the same mantra every night, reminding myself that you are the one in control now. You really are the master of the universe.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS COCKER, PETER MANSELL, RUSSELL SENIOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind