Elvis Costello – Pump It Up

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Send "Pump It Up" Ringtone to Cell

I've been on tenterhooks, ending in dirty looks
List'ning to the Muzak, thinking 'bout this 'n' that
She said, "That's that, I don't want to chitter-chat"
Turn it down a little bit or turn it down flat
Pump it up, when you don't really need it
Pump it up, until you can feel it

Down in the pleasure center, hell-bent or heaven-sent
Listen to the propaganda, listen to the latest slander
There's nothing underhand that she wouldn't understand
Pump it up, until you can feel it
Pump it up, when you don't really need it

She's been a bad girl, she's like a chemical
Though you try to stop it, she's like a narcotic
You want to torture her, you want to talk to her
All the things you bought for her, putting up your temperature
Pump it up, until you can feel it
Pump it up, when you don't really need it

Out in the fashion show, down in the bargain bin
You put your passion out under the pressure pin
Fall into submission, hit-and-run transmission
No use wishing now for any other sin
Pump it up, until you can feel it
Pump it up, when you don't really need it

Send "Pump It Up" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit

Track duration: 03:18

"Pump It Up" as written by Elvis Costello

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Pump It Up song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:The song was inspired by a groupie, Farrah Fuckit Monor, who had everyone but ended up with Steve Nieve for about 2 years. The last verse compares relationships to a career in music, in both cases, no use wishing now for any other sin
    Flag lagerfrenzyon April 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Every genre of music existed before there was a name to classify it, when people say Elvis is punk they mean punk idealism (do I REALLY need to reference the SNL performance of Radio, Radio). And for F's sake, Pump It Up is to Elvis as Needle and the Damage Done is to Neil. Masturbation? Really?
    Flag arrpadge1on February 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think that "Pump it up" is a reference to erection OK but don't think it's about jerking off! There are so many references to a woman in the song, that to me, it's a reference to "pumping it up" to have sex with her when he "don't really need it", because she is such a difficult person (there's nothing underhand she wouldn't understand). However, his physical and psychological dependence on her is very intense, despite the dangers in the relationship, so he pretty much has to keep on having sex with her - which is what I take from the reference to her being "like a narcotic".
    Flag finnegan63on June 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Despite some denials of this song being about jerking off, I think this song is about just that, but in a different way than some percieve. I think it's about getting pushed around all day every day by people, things, etc. And at the end of hte day, all you can do is masturbate. It's that simple.
    Flag GOMETS81on February 07, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Ramones were great, so is Elvis C. ILoveLife full of hate for someone using Love in their name...and by the way, Ramones excelled at their instruments.
    Flag kevwizon October 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song IS about masturbation. Don't get hung up, everyone's doing it, remember?
    Flag SMCon May 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song's about club life in the late-'70s, and about amphetamines. Come on, he's on tenterhooks - as in, he's extremely tense and/or horny. Classic EC double-entendre. The whole song makes references to both being 'pumped up' on drugs and trolling for a girl who'll have sex with him. Pretty unambiguous for an EC song.
    Flag Kid Gravityon March 31, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is obviously about erectile dysfunction.
    Flag ArmpitJellyon February 18, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:How can anyone state that Elvis C is punk!!!!
    His dad was a big band leader, he has music in his blood - he came along at the same time as punk, but he was far more knowledgable about music, chords, structure etc.
    Flag nagromnaion January 06, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Coming from a second-hand source, Elvis once said that the song's about a night out with a bit of "assisted insomnia"

    (Best drug euphemism ever, by the by)
    Flag pumkinhedon October 25, 2006   Link

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