Babies

"Babies" is a song written and released by British rock group Pulp. Featuring lyrics about a boy spying on his friend's sister from a wardrobe, the song features a guitar riff that drummer Nick Banks had played for Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker. Though poppier and lighter than much of the band's earlier material, the band was pleased with the song and was released as a single. "Babies" was first released as a single for Gift Records in 1992, accompanied by a music video directed by Cocker. Though it failed to chart, the song was included on the band's next album, His 'n' Hers and was later remixed for the Sisters EP in 1994. This new EP release became a top 20 hit when re-released in 1994, peaking at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart. It has since seen critical acclaim and has been named by many writers as among Pulp's best songs. Background Jarvis Cocker discussed the song with Will Hodgkinson in the 2009 Sky Arts Jarvis Cocker: Songbook. Cocker described the genesis for the song being when Pulp's drummer Nick Banks played a few mistaken chords on the guitar, leading to some interesting sounds that Cocker then worked into a song. In another interview, Banks recalled that the band had switched instruments as a way to generate new song ideas. He explained: Cocker summed up the song as "a fairly poppy song with slightly iffy subject matter." He explained of the song's meaning, Babies' is just a thing you get up to when you are fourteen and certain things are still taboo and you get into situations because of curiosity." The Stanhope Road referred to in the song is in the Intake area of Sheffield.