Originally called "Arabicus Pulp" (although they shortened it to Pulp within a year), the band achieved sudden success some thirteen years after their formation and became known during the Britpop era as much for their music as for frontman Cocker's antics (notably conducting a stage invasion during Michael Jackson's performance of Earth Song at the 1996 BRIT Awards).
Achieving little success off the back of a Peel session in 1981, Pulp were finally able to release their debut album, It, in 1983. This album and its 1986 follow-up, Freaks, showcased a Pulp keen on Nick Drake (notably on the It single, My Lighthouse), with strong folk roots and little sign of the tendencies for storytelling and acid house music which would eventually bring forth success.
After the release and commercial flop of "Freaks", the band disbanded for a year, but reformed a year later to record a third album, Separations. Delayed for three years after its recording, Separations showed Cocker's increasing exposure to acid house, featuring multiple synths, and a hit single, My Legendary Girlfriend, which helped Pulp's career start to rocket.
Their next single, Babies, which would eventually feature on their 1994's commercial breakthrough His 'n' Hers, and it was the first example of the Pulp-sound most listeners associate with the band--cheap synths, rolling guitars, and Cocker's deadpan vocals telling a story. "His 'n' Hers" in sound, was lumped in with the Britpop movement of the time, receiving commercial and critical acclaim. However, it was the 1995 single Common People, which finally saw them become known, eventually charting at number 2 in the UK charts. Awash with Britpop guitars, catchy keyboard lines and that trademark Cocker vocal performance it has remained a favorite. A successful appearance at Glastonbury that summer cemented their fame, and their success was subsequently confirmed by the release of Different Class, which arrived at the peak of the Britpop movement and featured this song and other UK hits as Disco 2000 and Sorted for E's & Wizz.
Their last two albums, 1998's darker This Is Hardcore, -an album that marked the end of the Britpop era- and 2001's more downbeat We Love Life were commercial successes, but Pulp were no longer as famous or trendy as they had been in the height of Britpop. Following their curation of a music festival, Auto, in 2002, the band announced that they would be embarking on an "indefinite hiatus".
In 2003, Jarvis Cocker released an album as Relaxed Muscle and then two solo efforts, 2006's Jarvis and 2009's Further Complications.
On 8th November 2010, it was announced that the band with its most relevant lineup will reform to play a series of gigs in summer 2011.
Discography:
It 1983
Freaks 1986
Separations 1992
His 'n' Hers 1994
Different Class 1995
This Is Hardcore 1998
We Love Life 2001
Official website:
http://www.pulppeople.com
Common People
Pulp Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
"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
@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
@natechenry
Pulp -Common people
The Smashing Pumkins - 1979
The verve - bittersweet symphony
Oasis - Wonderwall
The La's - There She Goes
Tal Bachman - Shes So High
David Gray- This years Love
R.E.M - Losing my religion
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
Pearl Jam - Alive
Are all classical Jams of the 90s
@felixj5000
Don’t worry. You’re not the only one who is listening to this masterpiece in 2024*.
@arielzaitcev4704
PHEW
@jonathanaldecoa1099
Awesome fucking tune🕺
@jonathanaldecoa1099
You have good taste mate
@geezuschrist2734
never fail like common people...
@jonathanaldecoa1099
@@geezuschrist2734 🔥🕺🤪
@irregularhatred
WHO'S LISTENING IN MARCH 2024?
@roswilliams2899
Me. Love this song...
@AstrologywithPeter-jn2hh
Me
@christinaderecki4229
ALWAYS in March! 😊