The Mark Of The Devil
Pulp Lyrics


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The mark of the devil is upon you
Your look is no happier than mine
Damnation is waiting in the mirror
But you shouldn't mind
Their legs start a feeling in your stomach
Their eyes knock you backwards with a glance
Your pride sinks unnoticed in the river
Given half a chance

And your past is just a bedroom full of implements of cruelty
And a list will bind your eyes as you grow old
But you want to join the laughter sharing simple shreds of feeling
But you fidget and your heart is growing cold

Smiles left unfollowed start to haunt you
Chances that perished long ago
The devil is waiting in the bathroom
With your worthless soul
The years pull their weight down on your cheekbones
The nights out are hanging from your waist
The years float like dust held in the sunlight
With an aftertaste

And your past is just a bedroom full of implements of cruelty
And a list will bind your eyes as you grow old
But you want to join the laughter sharing simple shreds of feeling
But you fidget and your heart is growing cold
La la lala lala la la...
And your past is just a bedroom full of implements of cruelty
And a list will bind your eyes as you grow old
And you want to join the laughter sharing simple shreds of feeling
But you fidget and your heart is growing cold
And your past is just a bedroom full of implements of cruelty
And a list will bind your eyes as you grow old
And you want to join the laughter sharing simple shreds of feeling
But you fidget and your heart is growing cold




La la la la
Oh

Overall Meaning

The song "Mark of the Devil" by Pulp is a haunting depiction of someone who is haunted by their past and struggling to connect with others in the present. It begins with the assertion that the "mark of the devil" is upon the singer, and that their look is no happier than that of the person they are addressing. The singer seems to be saying that they are both struggling, but it is unclear whether the other person is aware of this.


The lyrics go on to describe a sense of damnation waiting in the mirror, but the singer insists that the other person "shouldn't mind." There is a sense of inevitability throughout the song, as if the singer and the other person are both caught in the grip of something greater than themselves. The lyrics suggest that there is a strong sexual component to this, with the other person's legs starting a feeling in the singer's stomach, and their eyes knocking the singer backwards with a glance.


As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is haunted by a past that is full of "implements of cruelty," and that this is what is holding them back from joining in the laughter and sharing simple shreds of feeling with others. The years are pulling down on their cheekbones, and they feel as if their heart is growing cold. The singer is trapped by their past and cannot find a way to move forward.


Overall, "Mark of the Devil" is a powerful and deeply felt song that explores themes of sexual desire, regret, and the weight of the past. It is a haunting and evocative piece of music that captures the sense of being trapped by circumstances beyond one's control.


Line by Line Meaning

The mark of the devil is upon you
You bear a mark of evil, a sense of corruption and sin that surrounds you.


Your look is no happier than mine
You don't seem any happier than I am, both of us carrying our own weights and struggles.


Damnation is waiting in the mirror
The reflection in the mirror brings an impending sense of doom and punishment.


But you shouldn't mind
Despite the looming threat, you shouldn't be worried about it.


Their legs start a feeling in your stomach
The physical presence of others is enough to elicit a reaction in your gut and body.


Their eyes knock you backwards with a glance
The gaze of others has a powerful impact on you, strong enough to knock you down.


Your pride sinks unnoticed in the river
Your sense of pride and self-worth slowly fades away without any acknowledgment or notice.


Given half a chance
If given the opportunity or circumstance to improve, things could be different.


And your past is just a bedroom full of implements of cruelty
Your past is a painful and difficult place filled with tools, objects, and memories that caused harm and suffering.


And a list will bind your eyes as you grow old
As you age, the weight and burden of your regrets and mistakes will weigh down on you to the point of becoming unable to overlook them.


But you want to join the laughter sharing simple shreds of feeling
You desire to be a part of a shared experience of joy and connection with others through simple emotions and experiences.


But you fidget and your heart is growing cold
Despite wanting to connect, you're nervous and anxious, leading to a sense of detachment and emptiness.


Smiles left unfollowed start to haunt you
Unreceived or ignored smiles from others become a source of distress and anxiety for you.


Chances that perished long ago
Opportunities that have already passed and cannot be regained.


The devil is waiting in the bathroom
A negative and possibly dangerous presence lurks in the bathroom waiting for you.


With your worthless soul
This negative presence seeks your soul and deems it worthless, only adding to your sense of worthlessness and despair.


The years pull their weight down on your cheekbones
The weight and toll of time, aging, and the accumulated difficulties is evident on your face and body.


The nights out are hanging from your waist
The memories and experiences of past nights and festivities hang from you, a reminder of better times that have passed.


The years float like dust held in the sunlight
Time feels ephemeral and momentary, like flecks of dust in the sunlight, easily lost and forgotten.


With an aftertaste
Yet, despite the fleeting nature of time, there is a lingering and bitter aftertaste to it all.




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Marko Lukic

just perfect! love their dark twist in the 80s

Laika Pupkino

Love this song. Sounds like Pulp doing The Damned

nirvanoni

It's strange.... It's something like pop, but darker, and it has this 60's feeling...

Pongo Pygmaeus

Sort of like St Etienne meets The Fatima Mansions

javamakeup

Pulp en chile ya no puedo esperar por verlos, soy tan feliz!!!!!! :)

dementeddame138

This was uploaded on my birthday, 2 years ago!!! Oooh how magical!! Puuuuullllpppp!!!♥♥♥

Vlad dislav

this song it's awesosme :3

dementeddame138

Thank you!!!♥♥♥

URB4NMUT4NTS

soooooooooo lovely <3 <3 <3

Sean Gomez

it's the best<3 ty

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