Living on Government hand-outs
Water in the milk from a hole in the roof
Where the rain comes through
What can you do? You can't move

You got tears from your little sister
Crying 'cause she don't have a dress without a patch in
For the party to go
Aw, but you know she'll get by 'cause she's

Living in the love of the common people
Smiles through the heart of the family man
Poppa's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Momma's gonna love her just as much as she can
And she can

It's a good thing you don't have bus fares
They would fall through a hole in your pocketand you'd lose them
In the snow on the ground
You gotta walk into town to find a job

Trying to keep yourself warm
But the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
And chills you to the bone
So now you better go home where it's warm and you can

Living in the love of the common people
Smiles through the heart of the family man
Poppa's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
Momma's gonna love her just as much as she can
And she can

Living on dreams ain't easy

Overall Meaning

"Love of the Common People" by Stiff Little Fingers depicts the struggles of a working-class family living in poverty. The singer describes living in a home with a leaky roof, where water drips down into the milk. The family's inability to move out of the dilapidated home is highlighted. The lyrics emphasize the difficult circumstances of everyday life, such as not affording a new dress for a party, having to walk long distances to find work, and trying to keep warm in the winter with holes in their shoes. Despite their hardships, the family survives on the love and support of each other, conveyed through the repeated chorus "Living in the love of the common people, smiles from the heart of the family man."

The song celebrates the perseverance and resilience of families who live in poverty. It acknowledges the harsh realities of their day-to-day existence while also highlighting the strength that comes from a loving family. The lyrics emphasize the importance of community and depict a family who draws strength from each other in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Living on Government hand-outs
Living off of welfare, unable to support oneself financially

Water in the milk from a hole in the roof
The roof of the house leaks, causing water to mix with the milk

Where the rain comes through
Referring to the same leaky roof where water enters the house

What can you do? You can't move
Unable to afford to move and find a better place to live

You got tears from your little sister
The artist's sister is crying due to her inability to afford proper clothes for a party

Crying 'cause she don't have a dress without a patch in
The sister is crying because she cannot afford to buy a new dress for a party without patches or blemishes

For the party to go
She needs the dress for the party she's planning on attending

Aw, but you know she'll get by 'cause she's
Despite her difficulties, the sister will manage because she's surrounded by love and support

Living in the love of the common people
Finding happiness and support from one's community

Smiles through the heart of the family man
The father is happy and supportive of his family

Poppa's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
The father will support his daughter's aspirations and provide her with a hopeful outlook on life

Momma's gonna love her just as much as she can
The mother will always support and care for her child to the best of her abilities

And she can
The daughter will thrive under her parents' love and support

It's a good thing you don't have bus fares
It's fortunate that the singer doesn't have to pay for bus fare, given their dire financial situation

They would fall through a hole in your pocket and you'd lose them
The singer's pockets are also in poor condition, causing items like bus fares to fall through them

In the snow on the ground
Bus fare and other items may be lost in the snow

You gotta walk into town to find a job
The artist must walk to town to search for employment since they cannot afford transportation

Trying to keep yourself warm
Struggling to stay warm in the harsh winter weather

But the hole in your shoe lets the snow come through
The poor condition of the singer's shoes means that snow can get inside, making it difficult to stay warm

And chills you to the bone
The cold weather is so harsh it makes the artist feel extremely cold

So now you better go home where it's warm and you can
The artist must return home to escape the cold and be comforted by love and support

Living in the love of the common people
The community's love and support is what keeps the artist going through tough times

Smiles through the heart of the family man
The father's happiness and support is a guiding light for the family

Poppa's gonna buy her a dream to cling to
The father will provide his daughter with hope for the future

Momma's gonna love her just as much as she can
The mother's love will always carry her children through tough times

And she can
With love and support, the daughter will be able to overcome adversity

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