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
Sylvia
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well, you look like her to me
The way she wore her hair then
Oh, he way she used to be
I've not seen her for a long time
Though I've heard she's still around
Who's a year younger than her
She's living in the country now, yeah
Oh, she's trying to get better
Her beauty was her only crime
Yeah, I remember Sylvia
So keep believing
And do what you do
I can't help you but I know things are gonna get better
And please stop asking what it's got to do with you
Oh, keep believing 'cause you know that you deserve better
Who's this man you're talking to?
Can't you see what he wants to do?
He thinks if he stands near enough then he will look as good as you
Oh, he don't care about your problems
He just wants to show his friends
I guess I'm just the same as him
Oh, I just didn't know it then
I never understood you really
And I know it's too late now
You didn't ask to be that way
Oh, I'm sorry, Sylvia
So keep believing
And do what you do
I can't help you but I know things are gonna get better
And please stop asking what it's got to do with you
Oh, keep believing 'cause you know that you deserve better
Oh, it's true, yeah
So please stop asking what it's got to do with you
Oh, keep believing 'cause you know that you deserve better
Oh, yeah, you know that you deserve better
Oh, yeah, you know that you deserve better
Oh, Sylvia
The opening verse of Pulp’s song Sylvia reminisces about a woman named Sylvia whom the singer had known or at least desired in the past. The lyrics note that Sylvia had a distinct hairstyle and had changed since the singer last saw her. The lyrics provide some details about Sylvia’s current life, including that her father has moved on with a younger woman and that Sylvia herself is trying to better herself while living in the countryside. The chorus repeats the message to believe in oneself and that things will improve while acknowledging that there is little the singer can do to help Sylvia.
In the second verse, the lyrics suggest that Sylvia is having a conversation with a man who only wants to be around her to show off to his friends. The singer confesses that they did not really understand Sylvia when they knew her but that they regret that now. The chorus repeats twice more to conclude the song, with an added emphasis on knowing that one deserves better.
Line by Line Meaning
You look just like Sylvia
The person addressed looks strikingly similar to Sylvia
Well, you look like her to me
Though it may not be a perfect likeness, there is enough similarity to Sylvia for the singer to observe it
The way she wore her hair then
The person's hairstyle resembles how Sylvia used to wear hers
Oh, the way she used to be
The person's resemblance to Sylvia also includes the mannerisms, behavior, or personality that the artist associates with Sylvia's past self
I've not seen her for a long time
The artist has not seen Sylvia in a significant period of time
Though I've heard she's still around
The singer has received word that Sylvia is still alive
Her father's living with some girl
Sylvia's father is currently residing with another woman
Who's a year younger than her
The other woman is one year younger than Sylvia
She's living in the country now, yeah
Sylvia is currently residing in a rural or countryside area
Oh, she's trying to get better
Sylvia is experiencing some sort of physical or mental illness and is working towards recovery
Her beauty was her only crime
Sylvia's good looks may have caused her some trouble or negative attention in the past
Yeah, I remember Sylvia
The artist has clear memories of Sylvia and her past experiences
So keep believing
And do what you do
The singer advises the person being addressed to maintain their optimistic outlook and continue their current course of action
I can't help you but I know things are gonna get better
While the singer cannot offer direct assistance, they are confident that the future will bring improvement
And please stop asking what it's got to do with you
The singer suggests that the person stop worrying about whether or not the situation affects them personally and focus on their own positive attitude
Oh, keep believing 'cause you know that you deserve better
The artist encourages the person to maintain their faith in themselves and their worthiness for something better
Who's this man you're talking to?
The artist asks about the identity of someone the person has been conversing with
Can't you see what he wants to do?
The singer believes that the man in question has ulterior motives or harmful intentions towards the person
He thinks if he stands near enough then he will look as good as you
The singer believes that the man is trying to use the person's good looks to boost his own image or popularity
Oh, he don't care about your problems
The artist believes that the man does not have genuine concern for the person's well-being or struggles
He just wants to show his friends
The artist believes that the man is trying to impress or prove something to his social circle
I guess I'm just the same as him
Oh, I just didn't know it then
The artist realizes that they have been guilty of the same behavior in the past but did not recognize it at the time
I never understood you really
The singer admits to not having a complete understanding of the person or their experiences
And I know it's too late now
The artist has come to the realization that they can no longer make up for past mistakes or missed opportunities
You didn't ask to be that way
The singer acknowledges that the person's situation or appearance was not necessarily of their own choosing or control
Oh, I'm sorry, Sylvia
The singer offers an apology to Sylvia for any wrongs or shortcomings in their relationship or understanding
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, MARK ANDREW WEBBER, NICK BANKS, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vesna Milosavljevic
You look just like Sylvia
Well, you look like her to me
The way she wore her hair then
Oh, he way she used to be
I've not seen her for a long time
Though I've heard she's still around
Her father's living with some girl
Who's a year younger than her
She's living in the country now, yeah
Oh, she's trying to get better
Her beauty was her only crime
Yeah, I remember Sylvia
So keep believing
And do what you do
I can't help you but I know things are gonna get better
And please stop asking what it's got to do with you
Oh, keep believing 'cause you know that you deserve better
Who's this man you're talking to?
Can't you see what he wants to do?
He thinks if he stands near enough then he will look as good as you
Oh, he don't care about your problems
He just wants to show his friends
I guess I'm just the same as him
Oh, I just didn't know it then
I never understood you really
And I know it's too late now
You didn't ask to be that way
Oh, I'm sorry, Sylvia
So keep believing
And do what you do
I can't help you but I know things are gonna get better
And please stop asking what it's got to do with you
Oh, keep believing 'cause you know that you deserve better
Oh, it's true, yeah
So please stop asking what it's got to do with you
Oh, keep believing 'cause you know that you deserve better
Oh, yeah, you know that you deserve better
Oh, yeah, you know that you deserve better
Oh, Sylvia
Roiy Benkel
You look just like Sylvia:
Well you look like her to me -
the way she wore her hair then.
Oh, the way she used to be.
I've not seen her for a long time
though I've heard she's still around.
Her father's living with some girl
who's a year younger than her.
She's living in the country now yeah.
Oh, she's trying to get better.
Her beauty was her only crime.
Yeah, I remember Sylvia.
*So keep believing & do what you do,
I can't help you but I know things are gonna get better.
& please stop asking
what it's got to do with you.
Oh, keep believing 'cos you know that you deserve better.
Who's this man you're talking to?
Can't you see what he wants to do?
He thinks if he stands near enough then he will look as good as you.
Oh, he don't care about your problems. He just wants to show his friends.
I guess I'm just the same as him -
I just didn't know it then.
I never understood you really
& I know it's too late now.
You didn't ask to be that way.
Oh, I'm sorry Sylvia.
[*Repeat]
So keep believing & do what you do,
I can't help you but I know things are gonna get better.
Yeah you know that you deserve better. [x2]
Oh Sylvia.
Jason Coleridge
Best Pulp guitar solo ever! used to play this for hours on my old Strat, back in the late 1990s.
A G
Great song .... can’t believe it’s been 20 years
Nesalejan
El dramastismo de esta canción (en especial al final de la canción con el solo de guitarra) es impresionante. Una obra maestra, épico
lyonslaforet
I agree. This Is Hardcore is one of the finest albums released in 1998.
gerardo javier robín
muy peri muy buena banda, tiene un sonido compacto, emotivo, duro y dulce a la vez típico de bandas inglesas post pank, new romatic, de duran duran y sapndaud ballet a la fecba LO MEJOR QUE HE ESCUCHADO ME REFIERO A TODOS LOS TEMAS DE PULP, no existen letras fríbolas para esta banda
beepst
The number of views is insulting. This song should have at least 2 million views.
KitTheCat Carr
@K-leb I'm 18 and Pulp are one of my favourite bands.
K-leb
Pulp hasn't really kept up with the newer, younger crowd that uses YouTube so much. It's a shame because they're a brilliant band and some of their peers such as Blur have remained pretty relevant on the internet. I think a lot of teenagers and young adults these days would really vibe with Pulp if only they knew it.
spider- man
Hell yeah
Alexandra Frey
scandalous. truly. scandalous.