Common People (John Peel 09/09/94)

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 30 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, 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, I can't see anyone else smilin' 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
And 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 then 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 laughin' at you
And the stupid things that you do
Because you think that poor is cool

Like a dog lyin' in a corner
They will bite 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 stain's 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 else to go

You are amazed that they exist
And they burn so bright
While 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
Watchin' 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 what 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 nothin' else to do

I wanna live with common people like you
I wanna live with common people like you
I wanna live with common people like you