Pencil Skirt

Pulp's song "Pencil Skirt" delves into the murky waters of forbidden desire and illicit relationships. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a clandestine affair, where the protagonist is entangled with someone who is already engaged. The imagery of the pencil skirt being raised like a veil suggests a moment of revealing intimacy, while the mention of the fiancé zipping up his flies adds a layer of betrayal and secrecy. This sets the stage for a narrative steeped in temptation and moral ambiguity.

The chorus reveals the protagonist's willingness to be the secret lover, offering to be around when the fiancé is not in town. There's a sense of thrill and excitement in doing something wrong, as indicated by the line, "I really love it when you tell me to stop, Oh it's turning me on." This line captures the essence of the song's exploration of the darker side of human desires, where the forbidden becomes irresistibly alluring. The protagonist's actions are driven by a mix of lust and a desire to disrupt the status quo, as seen in the lines about kissing the lover's parents and making the lover sad.

The song's bridge further emphasizes the protagonist's disregard for moral boundaries, with lines like "If you look under the bed then I can see my house from here" and "watch my conscience disappear." These lines suggest a complete surrender to the illicit affair, with no regard for the consequences. The repeated acknowledgment of the ugliness and wrongness of the situation, coupled with the admission that it turns the protagonist on, highlights the complex interplay of guilt, desire, and rebellion. Pulp's "Pencil Skirt" is a provocative exploration of the allure of forbidden love and the thrill of breaking societal norms.