This Is Hardcore
Pulp · This Is Hardcore
You name the drama and I'll play the part.
It seems I saw you in some teenage wet dream.
I like your get-up if you know what I mean.
I want it bad.
I want it now.
Oh can't you see I'm ready now.
I've seen all the pictures, I've studied them forever.
I wanna make a movie so let's star in it together.
Don't make a move 'til I say "Action."
Oh here comes the Hardcore life.
Put your money where your mouth is tonight.
Leave your make-up on and I'll leave on the light.
Come over here babe and talk in the mic.
Oh yeah I hear you now.
It's gonna be one hell of a night.
You can't be a spectator. Oh no.
You got to take these dreams and make them whole
Oh this is Hardcore -
there is no way back for you.
Oh this is Hardcore -
this is me on top of you
and I can't believe it took me this long.
That it took me this long.
This is the eye of the storm.
It's what men in stained raincoats pay for
but in here it is pure. Yeah.
This is the end of the line.
I've seen the storyline played out so many times before.
Oh that goes in there.
Then that goes in there.
Then that goes in there.
Then that goes in there.
And then it's over.
Oh, what a hell of a show
but what I want to know:
what exactly do you do for an encore?
Cos this is Hardcore.
This Is Hardcore
Pulp's self-titled album marked a stark departure from the band's earlier Britpop exuberance, embracing a darker, more introspective sound. The title track serves as a powerful manifesto for this shift, characterized by a driving, relentless rhythm and Jarvis Cocker's intense, spoken-word delivery. The recording captures the band's transition into a more mature and experimental phase, blending rock energy with a sense of urban exhaustion. As a centerpiece of their discography, the song reflects the group's willingness to deconstruct their own identity, moving away from the polished pop of the mid-nineties toward a grittier, more complex musical landscape. It remains a defining moment in their career, showcasing their ability to evolve while maintaining their signature lyrical wit and emotional resonance.