Growing up with an older brother Mark and a younger sister Joanne, Young first went to work at the Vauxhall Motors factory and in his spare time played in several bands as bass guitarist. Read Full BioPaul Young born Paul Antony Young on 17 January 1956 in Luton, Bedfordshire) is an English pop musician. Young was the lead singer in blue eyed soul group Q-Tips before going solo in 1982. Young's biggest worldwide hit followed in 1985 with a version of Daryl Hall's "Everytime You Go Away". The song reached #1 on the U.S. pop charts.
Growing up with an older brother Mark and a younger sister Joanne, Young first went to work at the Vauxhall Motors factory and in his spare time played in several bands as bass guitarist. The first group for which he became lead singer was Kat Kool & The Kool Kats. In the late 1970s he joined the Streetband, who had one Top 20 hit in the UK, with the humorous, novelty track "Toast", reaching No. 18 in November 1978.
In December 1979 the Streetband broke up and Young formed the Q-Tips, who established their name by playing live and supporting The Who on their 1982 tour but had no chart hits in the UK, although their single "Letter Song" did enjoy minor success in mainland Europe.
The Q-Tips went their separate ways in 1982, and Young was signed by CBS Records as a solo performer, uniting the fields of New Wave and Soul. His first two singles, "Iron Out the Rough Spots" and a cover of Nicky Thomas’ "Love of the Common People" had no success, but the third, a cover of the Marvin Gaye B-side "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" was No. 1 in the UK singles chart for three weeks in the summer of 1983, the first of fourteen British Top 40 singles.
Similar success followed all over Europe. In the UK, follow-up single "Come Back and Stay" reached No. 4, and a re-release of "Love of the Common People" made it to No. 2, while his début album No Parlez was certified platinum in various countries.
Young's style at the time was a warm, approachable white soul, though he sometimes received playful criticism for his fashion decisions. However, his choice of an Antony Price leather suit for the cover of No Parlez was impractical for stage, where an energetic show dictated more robust clothing.
1984 was a difficult year for Young, as his first heavy promotional and live concert tour of America affected his vocal cords to the extent that he couldn't sing at all for most of the year. He recovered, however, to famously perform the opening line to the Band Aid single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" and his second album, The Secret of Association, secured his future success in the U.S., Japan and Australia. Young's biggest worldwide hit came from this album in 1985 with a version of Daryl Hall & John Oates's album track "Everytime You Go Away". The song reached #1 on the U.S. pop charts.
His third and fourth albums, Between Two Fires, in 1986, and Other Voices, in 1990, were commercial failures (though the latter was a success in the US) but a popular duet, "Senza una donna-Without a Woman", with Italian blues singer Zucchero in 1991 and a corresponding greatest hits album (which also featured duets with Clannad and Joni Mitchell) returned him to success. It also included a new track, 'I’m Only Foolin Myself'. He sung "Radio Ga Ga" with Queen in 1992, at the tribute concert to the recently deceased Freddie Mercury.
In 1992, Paul Young formed Los Pacaminos, a Tex-Max style live band including other top-class musicians such as Jamie Moses and the late Matt Irving. The group have released two albums, with a third scheduled for released in 2024.
In 1993, Young released The Crossing, which produced his first solo Top 20 hit since 'Everytime You Go Away', 'Now I Know What Made Otis Blue'. After this, Young was freed from his contract with CBS. In 1994, he released the covers album Reflections, which was a commercial failure.
He reformed the Q-Tips for a short series of concerts that year in 1993. A year later he suffered significant vocal damage, which has followed him ever since. He contributed to the Vangelis album Voices in 1995. Young sang the British national anthem "God Save the Queen", on the eve of England's Euro '96 semifinal match against Germany.
In 1997, he released his final album to feature original material on EastWest Records. The album featured his final UK Top 40 hit, 'I Wish You Well' and abandoned soul in favour of a more country style somewhat similar to that of Garth Brooks. In 2006 and 2016, he released covers albums, Rock Swings On The Wild Side of Swing and Good Thing, with the former being only released in Germany.
Paul still actively tours solo and with Los Pacaminos and is releasing a new albums both solo and with his group in 2023. He spends his time with his family and following his past time of cooking.
www.paul-young.com/
Love of the Common People
Paul Young Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning | Line by Line Meaning
Water in the milk
From a hole in the roof
Where the rain came through
What can you do, hmmm?
Tears from your little sister
Crying because she doesn't have
A dress without a patch
For the party to go
But you know she'll get by
'Cause she's living in
The love of the common people
Smiles from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
And she can
It's a good thing
You don't have bus fare
It would fall through the hole
In your pocket and you'd lose it
In the snow on the ground
You got to walk into town
To find a job
Tryin' to keep your hands warm
When the hole in your shoe
Let the snow come through
And chill you to the bone
Somehow you'd better go home
Where it's warm
Where you can live in
The love of the common people
Smile from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
And she can
Living on a dream ain't easy
But the closer the knit
The tighter the fit
And the chills stay away
'Cause we take 'em in stride
For family pride
You know that faith
Is your foundation
With a whole lot of love
And a warm conversation
But don't forget to pray
It's makin' it strong
Where you belong
And we're living in
The love of the common people
Smiles from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
And she can
Yes, we're living in
The love of the common people
Smile's from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
Living in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
Living in the love of the common people
Smile's really hard
On a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
And she can
The song "Love of the Common People" by Paul Young is a tale of perseverance, hope, and the love and support of family amidst financial struggle. The lyrics describe the reality of living on free food tickets, with water in the milk, and a hole in the roof where rain comes through. Despite such struggles, the family finds the strength to persevere, with the little sister crying because she doesn't have a dress without a patch for a party, but ultimately getting by. The family's love and warmth for each other shines through as the father promises to buy his children a dream to cling to, while the mother loves them just as much as she can. The family's faith and prayers act as a foundation that strengthens their bond as they navigate through difficult times.
The song is an ode to the working-class and their struggles, with the lyrics evoking a strong sense of community and the importance of family in tough times. The song has been covered numerous times by various artists, including Nicky Thomas, who made it a top 10 hit in the UK in 1976. The song has also been covered by country artists such as John Denver and Dolly Parton.
Line by Line Meaning
Living on free food tickets
Living in poverty, relying on assistance for basic needs such as food
Water in the milk
Food and drink are both scarce and often contaminated
From a hole in the roof
The living conditions are substandard and the home is in disrepair
Where the rain came through
The roof does not provide adequate shelter
What can you do, hmmm?
Feeling helpless and trapped in poverty
Tears from your little sister
The emotional toll of poverty on family members, particularly children
Crying because she doesn't have
Lacking basic necessities like clothing
A dress without a patch
Even the most basic items are out of reach
For the party to go
Being excluded from social events and activities because of poverty
But you know she'll get by
Despite the struggles, there is a sense of hope and resilience
'Cause she's living in
Finding joy and love in the midst of poverty
The love of the common people
The support and care of the community
Smiles from the heart
Genuine happiness despite challenging circumstances
Of a family man
The importance of a father figure in providing for and supporting the family
Daddy's gonna buy you
The sacrifices parents make to provide for their children
A dream to cling to
Hopes and aspirations for a better future, instilled by parents
Mama's gonna love you
The unconditional love and support of a mother
Just as much as she can
Despite limited resources and immense challenges
It's a good thing
Finding silver linings and gratitude despite difficult circumstances
You don't have bus fare
Being unable to afford transportation
It would fall through the hole
The physical condition of clothing and accessories is poor
In your pocket and you'd lose it
Even small amounts of money can be easily lost or wasted
In the snow on the ground
The harsh realities of winter weather in poverty
You got to walk into town
The lack of options for transportation and the need to walk long distances
To find a job
The persistent struggle to find reliable work
Tryin' to keep your hands warm
Navigating the physical discomfort of the cold and poor clothing
When the hole in your shoe
The physical condition of clothing and accessories is poor
Let the snow come through
The elements and weather penetrate even the most basic items
And chill you to the bone
The physical suffering of winter weather in poverty
Somehow you'd better go home
The importance of a stable and warm home environment, despite its inadequacies
Where it's warm
The relief and comfort found in shelter and warmth
Living on a dream ain't easy
The challenges of striving for a better life in spite of overwhelming obstacles
But the closer the knit
The importance of family and community support in overcoming challenges
The tighter the fit
The strength and resilience that comes from close relationships
And the chills stay away
Finding warmth and comfort in relationships and community
'Cause we take 'em in stride
Overcoming obstacles with a sense of determination and perseverance
For family pride
The strength and pride that comes from supporting and providing for one's family
You know that faith
The role of faith and spirituality in coping with life's difficulties
Is your foundation
The importance of faith as a source of strength and resilience
With a whole lot of love
Finding strength, comfort and joy in love and relationships
And a warm conversation
The healing power of meaningful communication and connection with others
But don't forget to pray
The importance of faith and spirituality in navigating life's challenges
It's makin' it strong
The transformative power of faith and spirituality in fostering resilience and strength
Where you belong
The importance of community, family and relationships in finding a sense of belonging and identity
And we're living in
Finding joy and love in the midst of poverty
Yes, we're living in
Despite the challenges, finding a sense of meaning and purpose in life
Smile's really hard
The sheer difficulty of finding joy and happiness in the midst of poverty
On a family man
The pressure and responsibility of providing for a family, particularly for fathers
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, BROADWAY MUSIC CORPORATION
Written by: John David Hurley, Ronnie Stephen Wilkins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
prithvi shetty
Living on free food tickets
Water in the milk
From a hole in the roof
Where the rain came through
What can you do, hmmm?
Tears from your little sister
Crying because she doesn't have
A dress without a patch
For the party to go
But you know she'll get by
'Cause she's living in
The love of the common people
Smiles from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
And she can
It's a good thing
You don't have a bus fare
It would fall through the hole
In your pocket and you'd lose it
In the snow on the ground
You got to walk into town
To find a job
Tryin' to keep your hands warm
When the hole in your shoe
Let the snow come through
And chill you to the bone
Somehow you'd better go home
Where it's warm
Where you can live in
The love of the common people
Smile from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
And she can
Living on a dream ain't easy
But the closer the knit
The tighter the fit
And the chills stay away
'Cause we take 'em in stride
For family pride
You know that faith
Is in your foundation
With a whole lot of love
And a warm conversation
But don't forget to pray
It's makin' it strong
Where you belong
And we're living in
The love of the common people
Smiles from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
And she can
Yes, we're living in
The love of the common people
Smile's from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
Living in
The love of the common people
Smiles from the heart
Of a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
Living in
The love of the common people
Smile's really hard
On a family man
Daddy's gonna buy you
A dream to cling to
Mama's gonna love you
Just as much as she can
And she can
Summy Philip
Lyrics
Living on free food tickets
Water in the milk from a hole in the roof
Where the rain came through
What can you do?
Tears from your little sister crying
Because she doesn't have a dress without a patch for the party to go
Oh
But you know she'll get by.
'Cause she's living in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man.
Daddy's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
And mama's gonna love her just as much as she can and she can.
It's a good thing you don't have busfare
It would fall through the whole in your pocket
And you'd lose it in the snow on the ground.
You gotta walk into town to find a job.
'Trying to keep your hands warm when the hole in your shoe
Let's the snow come through and it chills you to the bone
So boy
You better go home where it's warm.
Where you can live in the love of the common people
Smiles from the heart of the family man.
Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to
And mama's gonna love you just as much as she can and she can.
Living on a dream ain't easy
But the closer the knit the tighter the fit
And the chills stay away
You have to take 'em in stride
For family pride.
You know that faith is your foundation
And with a whole lot of love and warm conversation
But don't forget to pray it's making it strong where you belong.
And we're living on the love of the common people
Yes
We're living of the love of the common people
mav112365
Paul Young is probably the most underappreciated vocalist of the big 80's New Wave era.
paulyoungchannel ♪
Oh yes and thanks for being an amazing fan I wanna thank you for your love and support which you showed towards me all this while, I want to let you know that your likes and comments on my page have never gone unnoticed🌹🌹
Maurice Bastarache
Definitely! I’m pushing 60 now and have rediscovered Paul Young’s songs. Underrated singer!
DJ DJAS
Underappreciated?
1
UK Number 1s
6
UK Top 10s
14
UK Top 40s
20
UK Top 75s
3
Weeks at Number 1
30
Weeks in Top 10
82
Weeks in Top 40
122
Ian Olver
Love this song.Backing vocals top class as well.Cant beat the 80s
Janet D.
The Fabulous Wealthy Tarts!!!!
Sandra Graham
Reminds me of my dad, it was his favourite Paul Young song. We used to listen to it on our journeys from our home in Northamptonshire to visit family in both Newcastle upon Tyne and Scotland. Been 31 years since my dad died now he was only 36. Still get shivers and know my dad is around when I hear it now and again on the radio.
ian andrews
Just said same to my friends this song reminds me of so many childhood memories it's awesome 👌💖
Arturo Del Fabbro
This Is the first song that i heard from Paul Young , but i don' t remember when It happened . So very special for me too.
Stormin Boy
The original is good but Paul Young smashed this as a cover. God bless ur dad xx