common people

One of several reasons why I sometimes think brilliantly written pop songs may save us yet.

Common People
Pulp (Different Class, 1995)

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 in thirty seconds time she said,

"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"
Well what else could I do?
I said "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"
But she just laughed
And said "oh you're so funny".
I said "yeah?
Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here".

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.
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
'cos when you're laid in bed at night
Watching roaches climb the wall
If you called your Dad he could stop it all.

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.

Sing along with the common people,
Sing along and it might just get you thru'
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.

Like a dog lying in a corner,
They will bite you and never warn you
Look out, they'll tear your insides out
'cos everybody hates a tourist
Especially one who thinks
It's all such a laugh
Yeah!

And the chip stains' 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!

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 then dance and drink and screw
Because there's nothing else to do