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
You're not Blind
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
and there's a rumour, rumour around that she's been here again
and that note on the shelf, she didn't even write it herself.
You're not blind: you know what she's going to do.
You're not blind: and who she's going to do it to.
You're not blind: You can see where she's been by her eyes.
You're not blind: but you'll wish that you were when you see her with me.
And it really makes her laugh when you give her those eyes.
Don't you know its bad for your health? All those things you do to yourself.
You're not blind: you know what she's going to do.
You're not blind: and who she's going to do it to.
You're not blind: You can see where she's been by her eyes.
You're not blind: but you'll wish that you were when you see her with me.
If you've got such good taste why've you got that look on your face?
There's no reason for tears 'cause this has been happening for years
And it's so easy. Jesus!
You're not blind: you know what she's going to do.
You're not blind: and who she's going to do it to.
You're not blind: You can see where she's been by her eyes.
You're not blind: When you, when you see it you want to die.
You're not blind
You're not blind
You're not blind
You're not blind: but you'll wish that you were when you see her with me.
The song "You're Not Blind" by Pulp tells the story of a man who is aware of his partner's infidelity but instead of confronting her, he secretly suffers in silence. The opening lines of the song "I heard you take it lying down, staring up at the ceiling" implies that he is aware of her cheating and passively accepts it. The rumours of his partner's affair and the note on the shelf that she didn't write hint that he is not entirely oblivious to her actions.
The chorus "You're not blind: you know what she's going to do. You're not blind: and who she's going to do it to. You're not blind: You can see where she's been by her eyes. You're not blind: but you'll wish that you were when you see her with me." highlights that he is aware of the consequences of seeing his partner with someone else, yet he refuses to act on it.
The second verse implies that he may be aware of the harm he is causing himself, but he continues to endure the situation "Don't you know its bad for your health? All those things you do to yourself." The song finishes with the repeated chorus, emphasizing his knowledge of the situation, but lack of action.
Overall, the song presents a story of a man in a toxic relationship, who refuses to take control of his life and make a change.
Line by Line Meaning
I heard you take it lying down. Staring up at the ceiling
I know you've been feeling defeated and helpless, lying down and staring at the ceiling, unable to confront the situation at hand.
and there's a rumour, rumour around that she's been here again
There's a rumor going around that she's been coming over to your place again behind your back.
and that note on the shelf, she didn't even write it herself.
The note on your shelf that you thought she left for you- she didn't even write it herself, someone else did.
You're not blind: you know what she's going to do.
You're not blind to her actions, you know exactly what she's going to do next.
You're not blind: and who she's going to do it to.
You also know who she plans to hurt with her actions.
You're not blind: You can see where she's been by her eyes.
Her eyes tell the story of where she's been and who she's been with.
You're not blind: but you'll wish that you were when you see her with me.
You may be aware of her actions now, but you'll still feel the sting of jealousy and regret when you see her with me.
She says she has to take a bath every time that you touch her
She claims she has to wash off the feeling of being touched by you, a sign of her disinterest and lack of attraction.
And it really makes her laugh when you give her those eyes.
She finds it amusing how you still look at her with eyes full of longing and desire, despite her lack of interest.
Don't you know its bad for your health? All those things you do to yourself.
You may not realize it, but all the pain and suffering you inflict on yourself by staying in a toxic relationship is detrimental to your health and well-being.
If you've got such good taste why've you got that look on your face?
You have good taste, yet you continue to put up with someone who doesn't appreciate you, and it shows on your face.
There's no reason for tears 'cause this has been happening for years
You shouldn't be surprised or upset by her actions, as they've been going on for years without your acknowledgement or confrontation.
And it's so easy. Jesus!
It's so easy for her to manipulate and deceive you, it's almost like a miracle, in a negative sense.
When you, when you see it you want to die.
When you finally see her actions for what they are and the effect they have on you, you'll feel like crawling into a hole and disappearing.
You're not blind
A statement of fact: you are fully cognizant of the situation, regardless of how it may appear.
Contributed by Caleb T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.