Sunrise
by Pulp

Album: We Love Life (2001)
Charted: 23
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "Sunrise" was released as a double A-side along with "The Trees" in October 2001, as a lead-up single before the parent album We Love Life's release in November. It charted in the UK at #23.
  • Jarvis Cocker has a simple summary of what he was going for in the lyrics: "They say the darkest hour is just before the dawn, don't they? I don't know if it's true, but they say it. I always hate it when you've been at an all-night party and then suddenly the sun starts coming up and you think, 'Why didn't I go home an hour ago?' You feel unnatural because every other creature's just waking up and the birds start doing the dawn chorus and you feel out of step with nature. So on a simple level the song's just about trying to react to the sunrise in a better way and not to screw things up for yourself."
  • The instrumental to this song bears several noticeable similarities to "Set The Twilight Reeling" by Lou Reed - and given perhaps the similarities in terms of theme (sunset/sunrise/twilight), maybe this link was no coincidence.
  • The Fat Truckers did a remix of "Sunrise" for the single release - uniquely, they removed all instrumentation and instead composed the track solely from loops and quick-cuts of Jarvis Cocker sighing and breathing heavily. The resulting mix is quite unlike anything you are ever likely to hear.
  • The BBC satirical comedy show Monkey Dust used "Sunrise" in the soundtrack during it's run from 2003-2005.
  • Twenty-four years after "Sunrise," Pulp recorded a sequel called "A Sunset" as the closing rack for their 2025 album More.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

John Lee Hooker

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Tim McIlrath of Rise Against

Tim McIlrath of Rise AgainstSongwriter Interviews

Rise Against frontman Tim McIlrath explains the meanings behind some of their biggest songs and names the sci-fi books that have influenced him.

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.