Common People (At Glastonbury 1995
Pulp Lyrics

She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge,
A girl from Greece who wanted to learn came to the UK

She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College,
She was specifically studying sculpture at Saint Martin's College in London

That's where I, Caught her eye.
This is where the songwriter first saw her

She told me that her Dad was loaded,
The girl confided that she had a rich father

I said "In that case I'll have a rum and coca-cola."
The songwriter joked that he should order something expensive then

She said "Fine." And in thirty seconds time she said,
She agreed, and soon afterwards she told him something else

I want to live like common people, I want to do whatever common people do, I want to sleep with common people, I want to sleep with common people, Like you.
She expressed a desire to live like ordinary people, do what they do and even sleep with someone like him

Well what else could I do I said "I'll see what I can do."
The songwriter agreed to help and said that he would see what he could do

I took her to a supermarket, I don't know why, But I had to start it somewhere, So it started there.
He took her to a supermarket, for some reason, as a starting point.

I said pretend you've got no money, She just laughed and said, "Oh you're so funny." I said "Yeah? Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here.
He suggested that she pretend to be poor but she found it amusing, he pointed out that others in the supermarket were not smiling which highlights poverty not being amusing.

Are you sure you want to live like common people, You want to see whatever common people see, You want to sleep with common people, You want to sleep with common people, Like me.
He asks her again if this is really what she wants, to live like the lower class and sleep with someone of that class.

But she didn't understand, She just smiled and held my hand.
She didn't quite grasp what he was getting at but held his hand in a loving way anyway

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.
He lays out some suggestions for her to try in order to live like the common people

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.
He tells her that even if she does these things, she still won't truly understand the hardship of living like the lower class, since she can always call her rich father to save her from any problems.

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 dance and drink and screw, Because there's nothing else to do.
He states that she will never understand the struggles of a life lived by common people, and the only thing they have to comfort them is dancing, drinking, and sex

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.
He suggests that instead of living like common people, she should just pretend and sing and laugh along with them. He mocks her for thinking that being poor is cool.

Like a dog lying in a corner, They will bite you and never warn you, Look out,they'll tear your insides out.
He warns that living like common people will be dangerous, giving the imagery of dogs that will bite without warning and cause internal damage.

'Cause everybody hates a tourist, Especially one who thinks it's all such a laugh, Yeah and the chip stain's grease, Will come out in the bath.
He points out that tourists, especially those who think that poverty is funny, are not well liked, and that their dirty laundry will follow them home

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.
He confronts her about her lack of understanding of what it feels like to have no control or purpose in life like the common people. He is in awe of the perseverance of the underdogs

You'll never live like common people You'll never do what common people do You'll 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
He repeats that she will never truly live like common people because she can always turn to her wealth. He states that common people cope with their situations by indulging in dancing, drinking and sex

I want to live with common people like you.....
The girl still wants to live with common people despite the warning, the songwriter acclaims and empathizes