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Common People
Pulp Lyrics


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She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
That's where I
Caught her eye
She told me that her dad was loaded
I said, "In that case, I'll have a rum and Coca-Cola"
She said, "Fine"
And then in thirty seconds time, she said

I wanna live like common people
I wanna do whatever common people do
Wanna sleep with common people
I wanna sleep with common people
Like you
What else could I do?
I said, "I'll, I'll see what I can do"

I took her to a supermarket
I don't know why
But I had to start it somewhere
So it started there
I said, "Pretend you've got no money"
She just laughed and said
"Ha, you're so funny"
I said, "Yeah? Ha
I can't see anyone else smiling here
Are you sure?"

You wanna live like common people
You wanna see whatever common people see
Wanna sleep with common people
You wanna sleep with common people
Like me
But she didn't understand
She just smiled and held my hand

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
Still you'll never get it right
'Cause when you're laid in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad, he could stop it all, yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
Never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And then dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do, ow

Woo, woo, ch-ch

Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get you through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh along even though they're laughing at you
And the stupid things that you do
Because you think that poor is cool, oh

Like a dog lying in a corner
They will bite you and never warn you
Look out, they'll tear your insides out
'Cause everybody hates a tourist
Especially one who thinks it's all such a laugh
Yeah, and the chip stains and grease
Will come out in the bath

You will never understand
How it feels to live your life
With no meaning or control
And with nowhere left to go
You are amazed that they exist
And they burn so bright
Whilst you can only wonder why

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'Cause when you're laid in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad, he could stop it all, yeah

Never live like common people
Never do what common people do
Never fail like common people
Never watch your life slide out of view
And then dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do

Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Oh, la-la-la-la
Oh, la-la-la-la
Oh, la-la-la-la
Oh, la-la, la-la-la-la-la
Oh yeah

Overall Meaning

"Common People" by Pulp is a satirical story about a wealthy girl who tells the singer she wants to live like ‘common people’ so she asks him to show her how. The song is filled with irony and social commentary, with frontman Jarvis Cocker portraying the arrogance of the privileged who romanticize poverty and the working class. The song was released in 1995, a year that saw the UK face rising unemployment and social unrest, which partly inspired the song.


The girl in the song came from Greece and had a thirst for knowledge. She studied sculpture at Saint Martin’s College, which is where the singer caught her eye. She tells him that her dad was loaded, and he replied that he will have a rum and coke then. In just thirty seconds, she asks him if she can live like “common people.” So, the singer decides to take her to a supermarket to begin her education of living like a common person.


The song is a critique of people's fascination with poverty without actually experiencing it. The girl in the song romanticizes living like common people without fully understanding what it means to live in poverty. The singer tries to teach her how to be working-class through his experiences, taking her to the supermarket, pretending to have no money, and renting a flat above a shop. He tells her to cut her hair and get a job, but she never really understands what it’s like to be truly working-class. The chorus of the song is a mocking repetition of the girl's desire for a "normal" life.


Line by Line Meaning

She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She came from Greece seeking knowledge and education


She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
She devoted her time to studying sculpture at Saint Martin's College


That's where I Caught her eye
That's when I caught her attention


She told me that her dad was loaded
She shared with me that her dad was wealthy


I said, "In that case, I'll have a rum and Coca-Cola"
I suggested a drink to celebrate her dad's wealth


She said, "Fine" And then in thirty seconds time, she said
She agreed and shortly after expressed her desire to live like common people


I wanna live like common people I wanna do whatever common people do Wanna sleep with common people I wanna sleep with common people Like you What else could I do? I said, "I'll, I'll see what I can do"
She wants to experience the lifestyle and daily activities of common people, and even wants to be intimate with someone from this community. I attempted to help fulfil her desire.


I took her to a supermarket I don't know why But I had to start it somewhere So it started there
I felt compelled to start our common people experience somewhere, so I took her to a supermarket


I said, "Pretend you've got no money" She just laughed and said "Ha, you're so funny" I said, "Yeah? Ha I can't see anyone else smiling here Are you sure?"
I suggested roleplaying as someone without money, but she didn't take it seriously


You wanna live like common people You wanna see whatever common people see Wanna sleep with common people You wanna sleep with common people Like me But she didn't understand She just smiled and held my hand
I tried to explain what it means to live like common people, but she didn't get it, instead, she just held my hand with a smile


Rent a flat above a shop Cut your hair and get a job Smoke some fags and play some pool Pretend you never went to school Still you'll never get it right 'Cause when you're laid in bed at night Watching roaches climb the wall If you called your dad, he could stop it all, yeah
I listed some activities that might be typical of common people, such as renting a flat above a shop, getting a job after cutting your hair, smoking cigarettes and playing pool, and in some way wishing to forget about education. But even if you try to follow these activities, common people still face challenges, such as bug infestations, and the only remedy for these challenges is the wealth of their parents.


You'll never live like common people You'll never do whatever common people do Never fail like common people You'll never watch your life slide out of view And then dance and drink and screw Because there's nothing else to do, ow
It's not possible to truly live life like common people, experience their failures or watch their lives fall apart. Or engage in activities they might resort to, such as dancing or drinking, because they have no other option.


Sing along with the common people Sing along and it might just get you through Laugh along with the common people Laugh along even though they're laughing at you And the stupid things that you do Because you think that poor is cool, oh
One can sing along and identify with common people, and in doing so might experience some ease. Even when people laugh at you while trying to conform to their way of life, the need to be trendy by acting poor is ridiculous


Like a dog lying in a corner They will bite you and never warn you Look out, they'll tear your insides out 'Cause everybody hates a tourist Especially one who thinks it's all such a laugh Yeah, and the chip stains and grease Will come out in the bath
When behaving like a tourist or finding humour in a situation that upsets common people, they'll attack to show their displeasure. It's gnarly and will leave a lasting impression when realized. The filth may become apparent once in a safe place.


You will never understand How it feels to live your life With no meaning or control And with nowhere left to go You are amazed that they exist And they burn so bright Whilst you can only wonder why
One will never appreciate how it feels to live a life with no purpose, control or destination, and be amazed at how common people still manage to live in such situations with such vitality, while they remain confused and wondering why.


Never live like common people Never do what common people do Never fail like common people Never watch your life slide out of view And then dance and drink and screw Because there's nothing else to do
An appeal not to live like common people or experience their failures, because there's nothing else to do when it happens.


Wanna live with common people like you Wanna live with common people like you Wanna live with common people like you Wanna live with common people like you Wanna live with common people like you Wanna live with common people like you Wanna live with common people like you Oh, la-la-la-la Oh, la-la-la-la Oh, la-la-la-la Oh, la-la, la-la-la-la-la Oh yeah
A concluding chant, expressing the singer's desire to live as or with common people.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Candida Mary Doyle, Jarvis Branson Cocker, Nick Banks, Russell Senior, Stephen Patrick Mackey

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@GuzHarrison

LYRICS

She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
That's where I
Caught her eye
She told me that her dad was loaded
I said, in that case I'll have rum and Coca-Cola
She said fine
And then in thirty seconds time she said

I wanna live like common people
I wanna do whatever common people do
Wanna sleep with common people
I wanna sleep with common people
Like you
Oh what else could I do
I said I'll, I'll see what I can do

I took her to a supermarket
I don't know why
But I had to start it somewhere
So it started there
I said pretend you've got no money
She just laughed and said
Oh you're so funny
I said; yeah
I can't see anyone else smiling in here
Are you sure?

You wanna live like common people
You wanna see whatever common people see
Wanna sleep with common people
You wanna sleep with common people
Like me
But she didn't understand
She just smiled and held my hand

Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'Cause when you're laid in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad he could stop it all, yeah

You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
And you dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do

Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get you through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh along even though they're really laughing at you
And the stupid things that you do
Because you think that poor is cool

Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
Wanna live with common people like you
I wanna live with common people like you
Oh, la, la, la, la
Oh, la, la, la, la
Oh, la, la, la, la
Oh, la, la, la, la
Oh you



All comments from YouTube:

@Loser4

This is one of the most lyrically impressive songs I've ever heard.

@jaysonmcewen4056

Agreed.

@fishels3895

I like how the second half is very dark “never fail like common people, and watch your life slide out of view”

Damn

@mar15115

The second half just hits so hard

@Dima98rus_

Indeed. Especially since "Rent a flat above the shop". Lyrics impressed me too, true words)

@TheEggplantThatAteChicago

@@fishels3895 It's pretty dark throughout.

102 More Replies...

@edvp8613

R.I.P Steve Mackey, the bass guitarist of Pulp. Thank you for this beautiful music.

@1220b

Absolutely agree Pulp made beautiful music. Steven Mackey will be missed.

@thomasmuller7092

❤❤❤❤

@DoubleSmackJacksSmackAttack

"Pretend you got no money"
"You're so funny!"
"yeah, I can't see anyone else smiling here..."
such a biting line, this song is way smarter than the top of the pop charts people let on

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