Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of a narrator grappling with a lost love, oscillating between desperation and a defiant assertion of self-worth. Initially, the narrator searches for a misplaced item, a metaphor for the lost connection, questioning where this past love might have gone. This search quickly morphs into an acknowledgment of a new presence, a woman described as a 'lady' and a 'woman,' whose physical presence and movement are captivating. This new figure offers a distraction, a way to cope with the absence of the original love, even if the relationship feels transactional ('selling pictures of herself to German businessmen'). The central tension lies in the narrator's conflicting desires: the longing for the return of the original love versus the immediate gratification and distraction offered by the new woman. The narrator expresses a weariness with loneliness and a desire for immediate comfort, stating, 'I don't wanna try too hard, I don't wanna wait too long.' Yet, the repeated questioning, 'Where have you gone?', underscores the persistent ache of the original loss. The lyrics suggest a complex coping mechanism, using the 'lady' as a temporary balm while still fixated on the departed lover. A striking element is the contrast between the narrator's initial vulnerability and the later, almost boastful, declaration of resilience. The bridge and outro reveal a narrator who claims to have 'carried on' and 'got along' while the other person was gone, even admitting to 'went with other women.' This defiance, however, feels tinged with the same desperation that fueled the initial search, as the narrator still anticipates the return of the original love, stating, 'I know that you're coming home.' The repeated, almost frantic, chorus of 'She's a woman' and the later 'Shake it, shake it, shake your body' seem to be a way to assert control and presence, both for himself and perhaps as a performance for the returning lover. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their raw portrayal of emotional whiplash. The narrator is caught between a past that haunts and a present that distracts, unable to fully commit to either. The repeated phrases, like 'Where have you gone?' and 'I carried on,' highlight this internal tug-of-war. The shift from searching for something lost to celebrating a new presence, only to circle back to the hope of the original love's return, creates a compelling, if somewhat disoriented, emotional landscape that captures the messy reality of heartbreak and rebound.

Pulp - Pop, Rock

She’s a Lady

6K Plays

Duration: 5:49

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[Verse 1] Are you trying to put me on? I turned around and it was gone Did I leave it in your car? On a table in a bar? Or in your bed between the sheets? The places where we used to meet Wherever love has gone I need to know [Chorus] 'Cause she's a woman, oh yeah, baby She's a woman, ma-ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma-ma-ma She's a lady, oh, and I just love the way she moves The way she moves, yeah, watch her [Verse 2] When you left, I didn't know how I was going to forget you I was hanging by a thread and then I met her Selling pictures of herself to German businessmen Well, that's all she wants to do, come on, come on I don't wanna try too hard, I don't wanna wait too long I don't wanna live alone, with all this crap that pulls me down Oh, tell me now how would it feel if I could touch you once again [Bridge] Where have you gone? Where have you gone? The moon has gone down on the sun Oh yeah, I know that you're coming home, you couldn't leave me on my own Everybody, can't you see? She's coming back to me Whilst you were gone, I got along I didn't die, I carried on Oh yeah, you've got to hold me tight, got to make it through the night Stayed in bed all day to feel okay, I felt okay [Verse 3] Oh, I felt sick and tired, yes, I did She lived at her father's place Played his records, though they jumped Wore her body back to front I tried hard to make it work Kissed her where she said it hurt But I was always underneath [Chorus] 'Cause she's a woman, oh yeah, baby She's a woman, ma-ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma-ma-ma She's a lady, and I just love the way she moves The way she moves [Verse 4] I don't know why you pretend that it causes you pain When you know very well you're gonna do it again You're gonna do it again, you're gonna do it again, and again And again, and again, and again, and again And keep it going, going all night long! Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma, ma-ma-ma-ma-ma Ma-ma-ma, ma-ma-ma, ma-ma-ma, ma Ma-ma-ma, ma-ma, ma-ma-ma Shake it, shake it, shake your body, yeah [Verse 5] Oh, I know it's gonna happen It might not be today, it might not be tomorrow Or even the day after, but some time soon You're gonna see, you're gonna You're gonna, you're gonna come back to me! [Outro] Whilst you were gone, I got along I didn't die, I carried on, oh ma-ma-ma Went out drinking every night just so I could feel alright Stayed in bed all day to feel okay, I felt okay Where have you gone? Where have you gone? The moon has gone down, gone down on the sun, oh yeah I know that you're coming home, you wouldn't leave me on my own Everybody, can't you see? She's coming back to me Where have you gone? Where have you gone? No, I didn't die, oh no, I carried on, yeah, oh, oh, oh Working every night just so I could feel alright Stayed in bed all day, oh, okay Whilst you were gone, I got along I didn't die, I carried on Yeah, I went with other women, what else can I say? I guess I kind of missed you whilst you were away Whilst you were gone Stop

Credits

Writers: Russell Senior
Steve Mackey
Candida Doyle
Jarvis Cocker
Nick Banks

She’s a Lady

She’s a Lady

Lyrics

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Credits