I took her to a Supermarket (a totally true ode to Pulp) 🛒

By Hazel Meredith-Lloyd

 

When I was in my twenties

and my future stretched ahead of me

like a freshly rolled red carpet,

I lived and breathed Britpop.

 

One day, to my joy and disbelief,

whilst meandering round Safeway with my sister,

we spotted Jarvis Cocker,

Candida, and the rest of Pulp,

resplendent in clothes,

vibrant and out of place in our hometown.

 

I was pushing a trolley

much like the one Jarvis rides

in their much loved ‘Common People’ video.

We followed him, the song playing loudly in my mind,

replacing the supermarket Muzak.

 

Still unable to believe this was happening,

and too shy to approach our idol,

we trailed him to the ten items or less till.

 

I had my colour-change Matey bubble bath

to buy with my Safeway ABC points.

He had, I suspect, more than ten items

but I wouldn’t like to cast such a slur

and I really can’t be sure.

 

Later that day,

we found out he’d signed autographs

outside the supermarket

to others braver than us

And he’d asked if there was anywhere local

‘good to dance’.

 

Yes! Only the club we went to

all the time

apart from, for some mad reason,

that evening.

 

Later still, I discovered

I’d had my camera in my bag

the whole time.

No phone camera or smart phone yet,

but a reel of film

with photos of my then boyfriend’s new haircut.

 

 

The press reported the band had been

on their way to Wales

to escape the flurry of publicity

following his on stage behaviour

towards Michael Jackson at the Brits,

stopping off in our little town,

laying low and stocking up on essentials.

 

 

I’m 55 now

and the Safeways is Home Bargains.

But I still remember the day

my Britpop idol got away

as I swapped my supermarket loyalty points

for a novelty bath product.

 

I think Jarvis would approve of it

being Home Bargains now

and I imagine the lyrics he’d write

about the fact we may be aged,

but our passion for music hasn’t faded.

If I listen closely, close my eyes and sway

I’m sure I can hear him melodically say…

 

"And we’ve swapped the dancefloor for discount homeware,

but you never forget the feeling,

of losing yourself in the rhythm and sound, 

with your eyes to the floor or the ceiling "

🛒🛒🛒🛒🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🎵🛒🛒🛒🛒