Common people

"Common people" is a Pulp song from 1995, covered by The Gliding Faces from their 2026 Eye to eye project. The song details an encounter with class tourism.

Lyrics

She came from Greece
She had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at
St 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 see what I can do."

I took her to a supermarket
I dunno why, but I had to start it somewhere
So it started
There
I said, "pretend you've got no money"
And she just laughed and said, "ha! You're so funny!"
I said, "yeah! 
Well, I can't see anyone else smiling in here!"
Are you sure?

You wanna live like common people
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
And when you're laying in bed at night
Watching 'roaches climb the wall
If you called your dad he could stop it all, yes

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

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

Like a dog lying in a corner
They will bite you and never warn ya, 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

But you'll 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
When you're laying in bed at night
Watching 'roached climb the wall
If you called your dad, he could stop it all, yeah

You'll never live like common people
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

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

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

La la la la
You, la la la la la
You, la la la la la
Oh, la la la la la la
Oh yeah

Versions

Common people artwork.

• Appears on Eye to eye.
• Single mix and remixes appear on "Common people" maxi single (q.v.)

Maxi single release

1. "Common people" (single mix) - 4.41
2. "Maria" - 4.31
3. "True faith" - 4.32
4. "Common people" (extended mix) - 7.05
5. "Common people" (LorD and Master remix) - 7.24
6. "Common people" (Konzept remix) - 4.04
7. "Common people" (Xxäm remix) - 7.15
8. "Common people" (People Theatre remix) - 5.40
9. "Common people" (E39 mixshow) - 5.20

Release date: 25 September 2026.

Personnel

• Written by Jarvis Cocker, Russell Senior, Steve Mackey, Nick Banks and Candida Doyle.
• Produced and performed by Daniel Graham and Max Herring.
• Additional production and remix on tracks 4, 5 and 6 by Daniel Graham for The Gliding Faces, LorD and Master and Konzept respectively.
• Additional production and remix on track 7 by Max Herring for Xxäm.
• Additional production and remix on track 8 by Peter Rainman for People Theatre.
• Additional production and remix on track 9 by Peter Tanico for E39.