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
The Professional
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got nothing that I want to say / I'm gonna say it anyway
I know you think that I've lost it, baby
I know you think that my star is fading / Used to be a contender
Now you're just a pretender / Psychic karaoke every weekend
You don't fit those clothes anymore
Why don't you take them back to the charity store
While you're there you could always hand yourself in
You hide behind your woman when you're out in your town
Show her up and blame her for holding you down
Holding you down, holding you down
You're the only one who's holding you down
You're only ever polite when you're out of your box
Cocker's short for... sucker / Sucker of... / Oh, oh
La na na na / Oh, oh / Sucker of... / Oh, oh / La na na na
Oh, oh / When I got up today I had that feeling again
Everything was OK, then the world started shaking
Now I'm trying to sleep it away / Oh but I can't sleep it away
Can you answer this question, can you answer it right:
Have you ever done anything good in your life?
Have you ever done anything that wasn't just for yourself?
Are you capable of giving? / Are you capable of giving just for the sake of it,
without expecting anything in return?
I'm only trying to give you what you've come to expect
Just another song 'bout single mothers and sex
Single mothers and sex, single mothers and sex
Just another song 'bout single mothers and sex
OK, you've heard it before, it's nothing special
But it's a living, can't you see / I'm a professional
Oh, oh / La na na na / Oh, oh / I'm a professional
Oh, oh / La na na na / Oh, oh / Sleep on my darling
Sleep on, don't wake as I leave / I've been rehearsing this scene so long now
Don't interrupt me as I do it for real / The bedroom floor is treacherous
A teacup could be disastrous / ''cause it'll mean I would have to say
What was written on the letter I posted yesterday
So that it would get here / When I was gone / And you awoke
Oh, she'll meet me from the train / And she'll never know a thing
About how I talk with my mouth full / And only bath once a week
How I'm nicer the first time you meet me than the next
And I'm rapidly losing interest in sex / Yeah, I'm rapidly losing interest in sex
What's the point in making it over-emotional? / You can do it the hard way
Or you can be a professional / Oh, oh / La na na na
Oh, oh / I'm a professional / Oh, oh / La na na na
Oh, oh / Sleep on my darling / Sleep on my love / Sleep on my darling
Sleep on my love / Sleep on my darling / Sleep on my love
Sleep on my darling / Sleep on my love
The lyrics to Pulp's "The Professional" seem to be a reflection on the life of a musician or performer. The opening lines seem to refer to the feeling of being back on stage and performing after a break. However, the singer is struggling to keep up with the demands of being in the public eye, as indicated by the line "I can't even hold myself erect."
The second verse seems to be directed at someone who doubts the singer's abilities. The line "Used to be a contender / Now you're just a pretender" could be interpreted as someone who is once successful but is now seen as past their prime. The references to "psychic karaoke" and no longer fitting into clothes indicate that the singer may be struggling to keep up with the latest trends and expectations in the industry.
The last verse asks some existential questions about the singer's own purpose and worth. The repeated question of whether the singer has done anything good in their life or whether they are capable of giving without expecting anything in return are a commentary on the shallowness of the music industry and the lack of true connection between performers and their audience. The final lines of the song seem to be a reflection on this sense of emptiness and disillusionment, as the singer is left to sleep alone while their lover remains blissfully unaware and happy.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Professional" seem to be a mix of wistfulness, self-doubt, and cynicism towards the music industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I'm back in the full effect / I can't even hold myself erect
I am back in the spotlight, but I am struggling to keep myself together.
I got nothing that I want to say / I'm gonna say it anyway
I don't have anything important to say, but I will speak regardless.
I know you think that I've lost it, baby
You think I am not as talented as I used to be.
I know you think that my star is fading / Used to be a contender / Now you're just a pretender
You believe that I'm not as successful as I once was, and that I am a fake.
Psychic karaoke every weekend
I go to a karaoke bar, and pretend to be a psychic while performing.
You don't fit those clothes anymore / Why don't you take them back to the charity store / While you're there you could always hand yourself in / You're into green issues - start recycling
Your clothes no longer fit you, give them to charity, and while you're there, see if they can recycle you too, since you care about the environment.
You hide behind your woman when you're out in your town / Show her up and blame her for holding you down / Holding you down, holding you down / You're the only one who's holding you down
You use your partner as an excuse for why you are not succeeding when in reality, you are the only one holding yourself back.
You're only ever polite when you're out of your box / Cocker's short for... sucker / Sucker of... / Oh, oh / La na na na / Oh, oh / Sucker of... / Oh, oh / La na na na
You only act polite when you are sober, and 'Cocker' is short for 'sucker' because you are a pushover.
When I got up today I had that feeling again / Everything was OK, then the world started shaking / Now I'm trying to sleep it away / Oh but I can't sleep it away
I woke up with anxiety, but thought everything was alright until everything suddenly went wrong. I am trying to ignore it by sleeping, but I can't.
Can you answer this question, can you answer it right: / Have you ever done anything good in your life? / Have you ever done anything that wasn't just for yourself? / Are you capable of giving? / Are you capable of giving just for the sake of it, / without expecting anything in return?
Can you answer honestly whether you have done something good in your life, for someone other than yourself, and without expecting anything in return?
I'm only trying to give you what you've come to expect / Just another song 'bout single mothers and sex / Single mothers and sex, single mothers and sex / Just another song 'bout single mothers and sex
I am just trying to deliver what you want, which is songs about sex and single mothers, like every artist in the industry.
OK, you've heard it before, it's nothing special / But it's a living, can't you see / I'm a professional / Oh, oh / La na na na / Oh, oh / I'm a professional
You've heard this before, it's not unique, but it's how I make a living, and I am a professional at it.
Sleep on my darling / Sleep on, don't wake as I leave / I've been rehearsing this scene so long now / Don't interrupt me as I do it for real / The bedroom floor is treacherous / A teacup could be disastrous / ''cause it'll mean I would have to say / What was written on the letter I posted yesterday / So that it would get here / When I was gone / And you awoke / Oh, she'll meet me from the train / And she'll never know a thing
Sleep as I leave, I have rehearsed this departure for so long. Don't interrupt me now as I actually do it. The bedroom floor is dangerous, even a misplaced teacup could ruin everything. If I don't leave the letter I posted, so it arrives after I am gone, my significant other will see it, and I don't want that. But after I leave, they will be none the wiser, and we will meet up later.
About how I talk with my mouth full / And only bath once a week / How I'm nicer the first time you meet me than the next / And I'm rapidly losing interest in sex / Yeah, I'm rapidly losing interest in sex
I will now disclose some unflattering things about myself, like how I talk with my mouth full, and only shower once a week. I act nicer the first time we meet, but then lose interest in sex quickly.
What's the point in making it over-emotional? / You can do it the hard way / Or you can be a professional / Oh, oh / La na na na / Oh, oh / I'm a professional / Oh, oh / La na na na / Oh, oh
Why make life more challenging than it has to be? You can either do it the hard way or take a professional approach to handle everything.
Sleep on my darling / Sleep on my love / Sleep on my darling / Sleep on my love / Sleep on my darling / Sleep on my love / Sleep on my darling / Sleep on my love
Go back to sleep, my love, while I take care of everything.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CANDIDA DOYLE, JARVIS BRANSON COCKER, MARK ANDREW WEBBER, NICK BANKS, STEPHEN PATRICK MACKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind